A4-0031/99

Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 92/106/EEC on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States (COM(98)0414 - C4-0485/98 - 98/0226(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas all workers, including those in the transport sector, benefit from having a collectively agreed minimum uninterrupted rest period, as laid down in Directive 93/104/EC(1);

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(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.

(Amendement 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas the existing measures in favour of the performance and the competitive position of combined transport have insufficient impact, and should be improved to encourage the transfer of goods from road transport to modes which are more environmentally friendly, safer, more energy efficient and cause less congestion, like rail, inland waterways and maritime transport for the longer part of the journey;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the existing measures in favour of the performance and the competitive position of combined transport have insufficient impact, and should be improved to encourage the transfer of goods from road transport to modes which are more environmentally friendly, safer, more energy efficient and cause less congestion, like rail, inland waterways and maritime transport for

as long a part of the journey as possible;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 2a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the poor position of combined transport results mainly from variations in the services provided by railway undertakings and from the level of transhipment (terminal) costs;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 7

>Original text>

Whereas Community-wide exemptions of combined transport from restrictions on driving at weekends, during the night, holiday periods and during periods of high pollution of the ambient air are justified in order to ensure the reliability and regularity of combined transport services throughout the Community and taking into account that the major part of the journey in this form of transport is covered by modes other than road and that in certain cases vehicles used for the road leg may be required to adhere to the latest standards for noise and pollution,

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1(1)

Article 1(1), first indent (Directive 92/106/EEC)

>Original text>

- each individual road section shall be no more than 20% of the total kilometres of the journey by the other mode or modes mentioned,

>Text following EP vote>

- the distance travelled by road is as short as possible and not more than 40% of the total kilometres of the journey,

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(5)

Article 5(1) and (2) (Directive 92/106/EEC)

>Original text>

5. In Article 5(1) 'two' is replaced by 'three' and in paragraph 2 the first three indents are replaced by the following:

'- the number of vehicles, swap bodies and containers expressed in 20-foot equivalent units.'

>Text following EP vote>

5.

In Article 5(1) 'two' is replaced by 'three' and in paragraph 2 the second and third indents are replaced by the following:

'- the number of vehicles, swap bodies and containers expressed in 20-foot equivalent units.'

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1(6)

Article 6(1), introduction (Directive 92/106/EEC)

>Original text>

1. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the taxes and user charges mentioned in paragraph 3 which are applicable to road vehicles (lorries, tractors, trailers or semi-trailers), when engaged in combined transport as defined in Article 1, are reduced or reimbursed by a standard amount or exempted according to the following rules:

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the taxes and user charges mentioned in paragraph 3 which are applicable to road vehicles (lorries, tractors, trailers or semi-trailers), when engaged regularly in combined transport as defined in Article 1, are reduced or reimbursed by a standard amount or exempted according to the following rules:

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1(7a) (new)

Article 6(3a) (new) (Directive 92/106/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

7a. After Article 6(3) the following paragraph 3a is inserted:

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

'3a. Member States may, at their own discretion and on the basis of the use of terminals on their territory, reduce or reimburse the taxes specified in paragraph 3 that are applied to vehicles used in combined transport operations other than those referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Instead of reducing or reimbursing the taxes specified in paragraph 3, Member States may also provide for appropriate financial incentives.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Such reductions or reimbursement of taxes and financial incentives shall, however, be limited to an amount corresponding to the amount of tax normally applicable to tractor units or any other vehicles engaged in combined transport.'

(Amendment 9)

ARTICLE 1(8)

Article 9a (Directive 92/106/EEC)

>Original text>

8. The following Article 9a is inserted:

'Article 9a

1. Vehicles for the transport of goods shall be exempted from all restrictions relating to weekends, nights, public holidays and periods of high pollution of the ambient air, during the time such vehicles are engaged in combined transport as defined in Article 1.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

2. However, when other road transport of goods is forbidden on certain roads in order to reduce noise, a Member State may require, for the road legs carried out in its territory, that vehicles exempted by paragraph 1 shall have the following limited sound level. They shall conform to the Community standard for initial entry into service of vehicles of Directive 70/157/EEC as last amended for noise, after five years after a new standard becomes effective. In case of restrictions because of high pollution of the ambient air based on Directive 96/62/EC, the standard for new vehicles of Directive 88/77/EEC as last amended on emissions, may be required as well after five years after a new standard becomes effective.

>Text following EP vote>

>Original text>

3. Paragraph 1 is not applicable in case of a general driving ban, when the circulation of all vehicles used for private purposes is forbidden.'

>Text following EP vote>

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 92/106/EEC on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States (COM(98)0414 - C4-0485/98 - 98/0226(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council COM(98)0414 - 98/0226(SYN) ((OJ C 261, 19.8.1998, p. 10.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c, 75 and 84(2) of the EC Treaty (C4-0485/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0031/99),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament and the conciliation procedure to be opened;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.