Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 189B(2)(d) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on masses and dimensions and amending Directive 70/156/EEC relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 22. 05. 1997 COM(97) 229 final - COD 348 OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on masses and dimensions and amending Directive 70/Î 56/EEC relating to the type- approval of motor vehicles and their trailers AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC Treaty Parliament on 09-04-1997 adopted two amendments to the common position adopted by the Council on 28-11-1996 on a European Parliament and Council Directive on masses and dimensions and amending Directive 70/156/EEC. In accordance with Article 189b(2)(d) of the Treaty, the Commission hereby delivers a favourable opinion on these amendments, on the following grounds: 1 2 The proposed additional wording in Amendment 1 (recital 1) is a matter of clarification and does not change the substance of the paragraph. The proposed additional wording in Amendment 2 (recital 6) refers "to pursue the constant improvement of safety, in particular regarding to the use of certain categories of carriages or trailers". It stresses the importance of the improvement of safety of vehicles and trailers, an objective to which the Commission can adhere. For these reasons, the Commission has decided, in line with Article 189a of the EC Treaty, to alter its proposal so as to incorporate the amendments adopted by the Parliament. Given the closeness of the dates of entry into force foreseen in the common position, it considers it a matter of urgency that the Council modifies its common position accordingly and adopts the text in question. Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on masses and dimensions and amending Directive 70/156/EEC relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty) 4 Common position of the Council Amendments by Parliament (Amendment 1) Recital 1 the Whereas total harmonisation of technical requirements for motor vehicles is necessary smooth the achieve functioning of the internal market; to the Whereas total harmomsation of technical requirements for motor vehicles is necessary smooth achieve functioning of the internal market while a high level of safety for the ensuring public. the to (Amendment 2) Recital 6 a as consequence, the Whereas, harmomsation of the maximum authorised masses of motor vehicles and their trailers to be registered in the member States does not appear to be feasible in the short term; whereas on the other hand it does now to achieve, as far as appear feasible possible, their maximum dimensions, and to deal with the question of masses by providing for the possibility of a uniform procedure to registration/in-service determine maximum permissible masses of vehicles in each member State; the harmonisation of the a as consequence, the harmomsation of the Whereas, harmomsation of the maximum authorised masses of motor vehicles and their trailers to be registered in the member States does not appear to be feasible in the short term; whereas on the other hand it does now to achieve, as far as appear feasible possible, their maximum dimensions, to deal with the question of masses by providing for the possibility of a uniform procedure to registration/in-service determine maximum permissible masses of vehicles in each member State, and to pursue the constant in particular with regard to certain categories of trailers; improvement safety, the of M- ISSN 0254-1475 COM(97) 229 final DOCUMENTS EN 07 06 Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-219-EN-C ISBN 92-78-19734-3 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg - 5"