No C 248/24 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 29.10.  75 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 14 January  1975  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  of the 
proposal  for  a Council  Directive  concerning  the 
approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
relating  to the  rear-registration-plate  illuminating 
device  of motor  vehicles  and their  trailers; 
Having  regard  to Article  100 of the EEC  Treaty; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 January  1975  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up an 
Opinion  and a report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 2 April  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Marvier; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 24 
April  1975  (129th  plenary  session  of 23 and  24 April 
1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject  to the 
following  comments. 
Done  at Brussels,  24 April  1975. 1. The  Committee  welcomes  the  fact  that  the 
proposal  for a Directive  takes  into  account  existing 
international  requirements,  in particular  those  of the 
United  Nations  Economic  Commission  for Europe; 
this will  facilitate  trade  beyond  the borders  of the 
Community. 
2. As  regards  the provisions  of Article  5 of the 
proposal,  the  Committee  asks  the  Commission  to 
specify  as from  what  number  of illuminating  devices 
the Member  State  which  has  granted  the  type 
approval  is to take  the necessary  measures,  if it finds 
that the illuminating  devices  offered  for sale  do not 
conform  to the approved  type. 
3. The  Committee  would  also  draw  attention  to 
the standpoint  which  it has  already  adopted  in 
connection  with  other  proposals  for directives  on the 
question  of the communication  to the Commission  of 
all draft  provisions  which  the Member  States  intend 
to adopt  in the field  covered  by the Directive  (Article 
11 of the present  Directive);  in the Committee's  view 
the Member  States  should  be obliged  to provide  such 
information. 
4. Finally,  the  Committee  wonders  whether  the 
provisions  of Article  9, (the field  of application  of the 
Directive)  ought  not  logically  to come  at the 
beginning  of the proposal. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the approximation  of the laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to towing  hooks  on motor  vehicles 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in the  Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No C 24 of 1 February  1975,  page  13. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 20 January  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  100  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
29.10.75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 248/25 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 129th  plenary  session, 
held  in Brussels  on 23 and  24 April  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 21 January  1975,  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities,  of the 
proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  the 
approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
relating  to towing  hooks  on motor  vehicles; 
Having  regard  to  Article  100  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 January  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  and  report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 2 April  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Marvier; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 24 
April  1975  (129th  plenary  session  of 23 and  24 April 
1975), HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the Commission's  proposal, 
subject  to the following  comments: 
1. Article  4 (2) states  that  once  notification  of the 
Directive  has  been  effected,  the Member  States  have 
to inform  the  Commission  of all  draft  laws, 
regulations  or administrative  provisions  wW  h they 
intend  to adopt  in the field  covered  by the I ctive. 
1.1. The  Committee  considers  that  in certain 
versions  (French,  Dutch  and  Danish)  this  passage  is 
worded  too vaguely  and  does  not oblige  the Member 
States  to provide  the information  necessary;  it would 
like a more  precise  wording  to be employed,  such  as 
the French  'les Etats  membres  sont  tenus'  or, where 
appropriate,  its equivalent  in other  languages.  The 
Committee  has already  expressed  a similar  wish  in its 
Opinions  on other  proposals  for directives. 
2. The  Committee  regrets  that  the proposal  gives 
no indication  as to where  towing  hooks  are  to be 
mounted  and  considers  that  for  ease  of use  they 
should  be fitted  where  they  are easily  accessible  and 
visible. 
Done  at Brussels,  24 April  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE