4. 4. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 90/3 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Commission proposal to amend Directive 85/210/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States concerning the lead content of petrol 
COM(87) 33 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 9 March 1987) 
(87/C 90/03) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas Council Directive 85/210/EEC of 20 March 
1985 on the approximation of the laws of the Member 
States concerning the lead content of petrol calls on the 
Member States to reduce, as soon as they consider it 
appropriate, to 0,15 g Pb/1 the permitted lead compound 
content, calculated in terms of lead of the leaded petrol 
put on their markets; 
Whereas the aforementioned Directive obliges Member 
States to take the necessary measures to ensure the avail­
ability and balanced distribution within their territories 
of unleaded petrol from 1 October 1989; 
Whereas serious damage to the environment and to 
public health has been observed and attributed to lead, 
and considering that leaded petrol is a major source of 
such pollution, Member States must be allowed to 
prohibit the marketing of regular leaded petrol; 
Whereas the European Community is committed to 
reducing the use of leaded petrol and whereas this is to 
be considered as part of a sustained effort to further 
limit the exposure of the population to lead in the 
environment; Whereas leaded premium petrol, which will continue to 
be available, ensures the satisfactory operation of all 
vehicles requiring leaded petrol, and that its use as a 
substitute for leaded regular petrol will not have any 
effect on the level of noxious emissions in the exhaust 
gases; 
Whereas at least six months notice should be given to the 
public before leaded regular petrol is banned from 
national markets; 
Whereas the Commission will present further proposals 
in this field, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Article 2 of Directive 85/210/EEC of 20 March 1985 is 
amended as follows: 
Article 2 
1. As from the entry into force of this Directive and 
subject to paragraphs 2 and 4, Member States shall 
continue to ensure the availability and balanced distri­
bution of leaded petrol within their territories.' 
Paragraph 2 is unchanged. 
Paragraph 3 is unchanged. 
Article 2 
4. On the justifiable grounds of the need to protect 
the environment and public health, Member States may 
prohibit the marketing within their territories of leaded 
petrol having a motor octane number (MON) lower than 
85,0 and a research octane number (RON) lower than 
No C 90/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 4.4. 87 
95,0 at the pump. If a Member State introduces such a 
prohibition it shall give at least six months notice to the 
public' 
Article 2 
1. Member States shall inform the Commission in 
advance of any measures they intend to take pursuant to 
this Directive. 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 128 
thereof, 
Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 
2 April 1963 laying down general principles for 
implementing a common vocational training policy (*), 
and in particular the Second and Tenth Principles, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the fundamental objectives of the common 
vocational training policy set down in the second 
principle of Decision 63/266/EEC refer in particular to 
the need to guarantee adequate vocational training for 
all and to avoid any harmful interruption between 
completion of general education and commencement of 
vocational training; 
Whereas the Tenth Principle of Decision 63/266/EEC 
states that special measures may be taken in respect of 
special problems concerning specific sectors of activity or 
specific categories of persons; 
Whereas the Council in its Resolution of 18 December 
1979 on linked work and training for young persons (2) 
affirmed that there is a continuing need to encourage the 
development of effective links between training and job 
(') OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63. 
(2) OJNoC 1, 3. 1. 1980, p. 1. 2. Member States shall communicate to the 
Commission the texts of 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. 
experience and to establish coordinated programmes and 
structures making for cooperation between the various 
bodies responsible; 
Whereas it is a priority objective that young people 
should be properly prepared for working life and their 
responsibilities as adults, and that measures be developed 
to improve the transition of young people from school to 
adult and working life; 
Whereas there is a need for all young people wishing to 
do so to receive one year or, if possible, two years 
vocational training in addition to their compulsory 
education, as agreed by the European Council at its 
meeting in June 1985 when it adopted the report of the 
ad hoc Committee on a People's Europe and mandated 
the Commission and the Council, acting within their 
respective powers, to ensure the implementation of the 
proposals contained therein; 
Whereas there is a need to promote further action and to 
build on the achievements as well as the measures pre­
viously taken at Community level in respect of vocational 
education and training and to complement the financial 
interventions in support of youth training currently 
carried out within the framework of the European Social 
Fund; 
Where there is a need to give a visible European 
dimension to the different policy measures designed to 
raise the standards of vocational education and training 
for young people throughout the Community and to 
place greater emphasis on better information for young 
people, on active participation and on the development 
of their entrepreneurial capacities; Proposal for a Council Decision adopting an Action Programme for the training and 
preparation of young people for adult and working life 
COM(87) 90final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 20 March 1987) 
(87/C 90/04)