Proposal for a Council Decision on the accession by the European Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 28. 01. 1999 COM(1999) 14 final 99/0018 (AVC) Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the accession by the European Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (presented by the Commission) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1. General Following Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, the EC has become a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 1958 Revised Agreement on 24 March 1998 and adopted 78 regulations annexed to that Agreement. Article 3(3) of that Decision states, in particular, that the Community may decide to apply a regulation which it had not adopted on accession to the revised agreement if, following Parliamentary assent, regulation by a qualified majority. the Council approves that At the 116th meeting of the UNECE's "Working Party on Vehicle Design", an amendment to Regulation No 67 was adopted in respect of the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas. That Regulation is not mentioned in the list of regulations recognised by the EC set out in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC. The amended version of Regulation No 67 is intended, in particular, to remove the technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles that exist between the contracting parties, while at the same time ensuring a high level of safety and environmental protection. It should be pointed out that the EC can only accede to the amended version of Regulation No 67 if that amendment actually takes effect on the date(s) specified therein. It is also laid down that that Regulation will be incorporated into the approval system for motor vehicles and will thus supplement the legislation in force within the Community. It must be stressed that the EC will take its decision regarding accession to that regulation on the basis of the document available in the official languages of the UNECE (French, English and Russian). Regulation No 67 is thus annexed solely to the French and English versions. In pursuance of Article 4(5) of Decision 97/836/EC, Regulation No 67 will, however, be published in the Official Journal in all of the official languages of the Communities before its entry into force. 2. Content of the proposal for a Decision The proposal for a Decision is intended to enable the Community to accede to UNECE Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles that are fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas. *** 2 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the accession by the European Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997 with a view to accession by the European Community to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions ('Revised 1958 Agreement')1, and in particular Article 3(3) and the second indent of Article 4(2) thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2, Having regard to the assent of Parliament3, (1) Whereas the amended version of Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles that are fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas will remove the technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties in respect of the special equipment fitted to such motor vehicles; whereas the uniform requirements of that Regulation ensure a high level of safety and environmental protection; (2) Whereas the contracting parties have been notified of the amended version of Regulation No 67, which will enter into force, in all of the contracting parties not having made their disagreement known, on the date(s) specified therein in the form of a regulation annexed to the Revised 1958 Agreement; (3) Whereas that Regulation should be incorporated into the approval system for vehicles and should thus supplement Community legislation currently in force; 1 2 3 OJ L 346, 17. 12. 1997, p. 78. OJ C OJ C 3 HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article The European Community shall accede to UNECE Regulation No 67 on the approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas, as amended and as notified to the contracting parties4, if the measure or amendment enters into force on the date(s) specified therein. Done at Brussels, For the Council The President 4 Cf. Document TRANS/WP. 29/R. 808/Rev. 2 UNECE. 4