COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 201 final 
Brussels, 19 April 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
fixing an end date for the derogation 
accorded to Ireland and the United Kingdom 
in directive 89/.../EEC 
on the weights and dimensions and certain other 
technical characteristics of certain road vehicles 
(presented by the Commission) 
&wv to* 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
General Comments 
1. Directive 89/.../EEC (1) amending Directive 85/3/EEC (2) 
lays down the maximum authorized weights for 2, 3 and 4 
axle vehicles and 4 axle combined vehicles intended for 
the transport of goods and of passengers. 
2. At the time of adoption of Directive 85/3/EEC regulating 
the maximum authorized weights and dimensions for 5 and 6 
axle vehicles, a temporary derogation was accorded to 
Ireland and the UK as regards certain provisions 
concerning weights of Directive 85/3/EEC. 
The reason given for this derogation was that certain 
portions of the road network in Ireland and the United 
Kingdom did not make it possible at that stage to apply 
all the provisions of this Directive. 
The Commission has submitted to the Council two reports 
on this issue and a proposal (3) to fix the end date of 
this derogation at 31 December 1996. 
3. At the adoption of Directive 89/.../EEC on 14 March 1989 
a new temporary derogation was accorded to Ireland and 
the UK as regards certain maximum authorized weights for 
the 2, 3 and 4 axle vehicles and 4 axle combined 
vehicles• 
The reasons given for this new derogation are the same as 
for the derogation accorded in Directive 85/3/EEC. 
Therefore the Commission proposes on the basis of the 
above-mentioned reports to fix the end date for this new 
derogation also at 31 December 1996. 
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Contents of the Proposal 
4. In the recitals explicit reference is made to Directive 
89/.../EEC on which the proposal is based. 
The fifth and sixth recital refer to the reports and the 
proposal of the Commission concerning the similar 
derogations accorded in Directive 85/3/EEC. 
5. In Article 1 the end date for the derogation is fixed at 
31 December 1996. 
(1) ... 
(2) O.J. No. L 2, 3.01.1985, 
(3) COM(87)34 and COM(88)759 
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PROPOSAL 
FOR A COUNCIL 
DIRECTIVE FIXING AN END DATE FOR THE DEROGATION 
ACCORDED TO IRELAND AND THE UNITED KINGDOM 
IN DIRECTIVE 89/.../EEC 
ON THE WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER 
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CERTAIN ROAD VEHICLES 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, 
Having, regard to Council Directive 89/.../EEC on the weights and dimensions and 
certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehiclesO), and in 
particular Article 1(4) trereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas Directive 89/.../EEC lays down maximum authorized 
weights and dimensions of certain road vehicles; 
Whereas the state of certain portions of the road network 
in Ireland and the United Kingdom did not make it possible 
at the stage of adoption of Directive 89/.../EEC to apply 
all the provisions of this Directive; 
Whereas the application of some of these provisions in 
those Member States was therefore temporarily deferred; 
Whereas Article 1 (4) of Directive 89/..*/EEC 'provides 
that the Council shall take a decision before 
30 June 1989 and by qualified majority on the date on 
which the derogation should come to an end;. 
(1) 
4-
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Whereas the Commission transmitted two reports to the 
Council, on 4 February 1987 and 12 January 1989 
respectively, concerning the development of the 
circumstances which justified similar derogations accorded 
to Ireland and the UK in the past; 
Whereas the information provided in the 
abovementioned reports leads to the conclusion that 
derogations under Directive 89/.../EEC would not be 
justified after 31 December 1996, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE : 
Article 1 
The derogation provided for Ireland and the United 
Kingdom in the third indent of Article 1 (4) of Directive 
89/.../EEC shall come to an end on 31 December 1996. 
Article 2 
Member States shall take the measures necessary to 
comply with this Directive not later than 31 December 
1995. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 
The provisions adopted pursuant to the first paragraph shall 
make express reference to this Directive. 
Member States shall communicate to the Commission the provisions 
of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. 
Article 3 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done in Brussels, For the Council 
S 
COMPETITIVE IMPACT STATEMENT 
The proposed Directive fixes the closing date for the 
derogation accorded to Ireland and the United Kingdom in 
Directive 89/.../EEC on 31 December 1996. As from this date 
vehicles in the UK and Ireland may circulate with the same 
weights as in the rest of the Community. 
The impact on small and medium enterprises will be two fold : 
- Enterprises in the UK and Ireland can operate under the 
same more economical conditions as in the other Member 
States. 
Lorries entering the territory of the UK and Ireland do 
not need to adapt their loading to the specific 
situation of these countries. 
In general the impact of this measure will be positive for 
enterprises involved in transport in the whole Community. 

Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 201 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
fixing an end date for the derogation accorded to Ireland and the United 
Kingdom in Directive 89/.../EEC on the weights and dimensions and 
certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles 
(presented by the Commission) 
19.4.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 — 6 pp. — Format: 21.0 x 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-48398-9 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-149-EN-C 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 201 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
fixing an end date for the derogation accorded to 
Ireland and the United Kingdom in Directive 
89/.../EEC on the weights and dimensions and 
certain other technical characteristics of certain road 
vehicles 
(presented by the Commission) 
07 06 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-149-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-48398-9 19.4.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES