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 The proposed additional wording in Amendment 1 (recital 1) is a matter of 
clarification and does not change the substance of the paragraph. 
2 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 
Whereas the total harmonisation of 
technical requirements for motor vehicles is 
necessary to achieve the smooth 
functioning of the internal market; Whereas the total harmomsation of 
technical requirements for motor vehicles is 
necessary to achieve the smooth 
functioning of the internal market while 
ensuring a high level of safety for the 
public. 
(Amendment 2) 
Recital 6 
Whereas, as a consequence, the 
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 
appear feasible to achieve, as far as 
possible, the harmonisation of their 
maximum dimensions, and to deal with the 
question of masses by providing for the 
possibility of a uniform procedure to 
determine the registration/in-service 
maximum permissible masses of vehicles in 
each member State; Whereas, as a consequence, the 
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 
appear feasible to achieve, as far as 
possible, the harmomsation of their 
maximum dimensions, to deal with the 
question of masses by providing for the 
possibility of a uniform procedure to 
determine the registration/in-service 
maximum permissible masses of vehicles in 
each member State, and to pursue the 
constant improvement of safety, in 
particular with regard to certain categories 
of trailers; 
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"