16. 8. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 214/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 85/3/EEC on the weights, dimensions and 
certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles 
COM(88) 287 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 6 June 1988) 
(88/C 214/01) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 1. The following Article 4a is inserted : 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament. 
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas, in order to make combined vehicles more 
productive, manufacturers are proposing a maximum 
usable volume within the constraints imposed by Directive 
85/3/EEC 0); 
Whereas this increase in the usable volume involves a 
reduction in the space reserved for the driver and in the 
space between the motor vehicle and the semi-trailer which 
is occupied by special coupling devices; 
Whereas there is a consequent deterioration in the comfort 
and safety of the driver's working area; 
Whereas the current standards may be improved so as to 
lead to a better balance between the rational and economic 
use of commercial road vehicles and the requirements of 
road safety by making tractor units for semi-trailers more 
interchangeable while ensuring that the driver has enough 
room, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Council Directive 85/3/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 'Article 4a 
Articulated vehicles put into circulation before 1 July 
1989, which do not comply with the new specifications 
contained in points 1.6 and 4.4 of Annex I to the 
Directive shall be deemed to comply with such 
specifications for the purposes of Article 3(1) if they do 
not exceed the total length of 15,5 m.' 
2. Point 1.1. of Annex 1 is replaced by the following: 
'1.1. Maximum length 
— motor vehicle 12,00 m 
— trailer 12,00 m 
— articulated vehicle 16,50 m 
— road train 18,00 m 
— articulated bus 18,00 m (2).' 
3. The following point is inserted in Annex I: 
'1.6. Maximum distance between the fifth-wheel king 
pin and the rear of a semi-trailer 
12 m.' 
4. The following point 4.4 shall be inserted in Annex 1: 
'4.4. Semi-trailers 
The semi-trailer must comply with ISO inter­
national standard No 1726 (1973 version) 
relating to road vehicles (mechanical couplings 
between tractor units and semi-trailers).' 
(') OJ No L 2, 3. 1. 1985, p. 14. (2) Depending on the adoption of the Commission proposal on 
weights and dimensions of buses. 
No C 214/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 8. 88 
Article 2 
After consulting the Commission, the Member States shall 
bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 
1 July 1989. 
THE COUNCIL'OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 130Q (2) 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (*), 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas the Community has as its task, by establishing a 
common market and progressively approximating the 
economic policies of Member States, inter alia to promote 
throughout the Community a harmonious development of 
economic activity and closer relations between the States 
belonging to it; 
Whereas the Heads of State and Government emphasized 
the importance of health care as a major factor for 
economic growth and social development; 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of the 
situation, stressed the role of cooperation in health care and 
related areas for the future political, social and economic 
development of the Community; 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of 
biotechnology in Europe, has stressed the importance of 
medical biotechnology and bioinformatics (2); The Member States shall communicate to the Commission 
the texts of the main provisions of national law which they 
adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 3 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Whereas the Economic and Social Committee supports 
initiatives in this domain; 
Whereas with the emergence of advanced and mobile 
communication services and the progressive introduction 
of computing in health care and services, the conditions for 
major improvements for health care and possibilities for 
improved cost-effectiveness may be emerging; 
Whereas it is important for increasing the quality, 
flexibility and accessibility of health care in the Community 
that there should be adequate consultation of organizations 
working in this field; 
Whereas particular attention must be paid to questions of 
privacy, confidentiality and data protection and this can 
build on related work carried out in the framework of 
ESPRIT and RACE; 
Whereas developments in health care will benefit the 
general public and the building of a competitive European 
industry for developing and sustaining advances in health 
services; 
Whereas advances in health care will contribute to 
resolving pressing social needs associated with changing 
age structures 'in the Community, and to the earliest 
possible recognition of new diseases and health-care 
problems; Amended proposal for a Council Decision on a Community action in the field of information 
technology and telecommunications applied to health care — Advanced informatics in medicine 
(AIM) — Exploratory action 
COM(88) 315 final — SYN 95 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(3) of the EEC Treaty on 9 June 1988) 
(88/C 214/02) 
(!) OJ No C 355, 31. 12. 1987, p. 10. 
(2) OJ No C 76, 23. 3. 1987, p. 25. Whereas the concerted efforts in this domain will 
contribute to the creation of the internal market and