No C 214/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 8. 90 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive harmonizing and rationalizing reports on the implementation 
of certain Directives relating to the environment 
COM(90) 287 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 2 August 1990) 
(90/C 214/04) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas some Community Directives relating to the 
environment require the Member States to establish a 
report on the measures taken to implement them; 
whereas the Commission drafts a consolidated report; 
whereas other Community directives relating to the envi­
ronment call for no such reports; 
Whereas the existing provisions on the establishment of 
reports stipulate different intervals between reports and 
set different requirements for the content; whereas 
experience has shown that neither the Member States 
nor the Commission have always been able to meet the 
deadlines for establishing these reports; 
Whereas such an obligation should be introduced to 
enable the Member States and the Commission alike to 
assess the progress made in implementing these 
Directives throughout the Community's territory and, at 
the same time, to provide the general public with a 
source of information on this subject; 
Whereas the existing provisions should be harmonized to 
make them more consistent and more complete on a 
sector basis; 
Whereas harmonization of these existing provisions, and 
introduction of such provisions where none have been 
laid down, must not prejudice the Member States' 
specific obligations to inform the Commission under the 
separate provisions made in certain of the abovemen-tioned instruments, as regards exceeding the limits or 
derogating or deviating from the system established 
therein; 
Whereas the interval at which the Member States submit 
these reports to the Commission should be fixed at three 
years, with a one-year interval between sectors; whereas 
one year after the abovementioned reports are submitted 
the Commission should publish a consolidated report on 
the sector concerned; 
Whereas, in particular, the report on the implementation 
of Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1976 
concerning the quality of bathing water should appear 
annually and in sufficient time to inform the public of 
the quality of bathing water in the immediate future, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
The purpose of this Directive is to rationalize and 
improve the dispositions on the transmission of infor­
mation and the publication of reports concerning certain 
Community Directives on the protection of the envi­
ronment. 
Article 2 
1. The following paragraph shall replace the corre­
sponding provisions of the Directives listed in Annex 1: 
'At intervals of three years, and for the first time by 1 
September 1991, the Member States shall send to the 
Commission a report on the implementation of this 
Directive. The report shall be drawn up on the basis 
of a questionnaire or outline which the Commission 
shall send to the Member States six months before 
the above date. 
The Commission shall publish at three-year intervals, 
and for the first time in 1992, a report on the 
implementation of this Directive.' 
29. 8. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 214/7 
2. The text in the first subparagraph shall be inserted 
into the corresponding new provisions of the Directives 
listed in Annex 2. 
Article 3 
The following paragraph shall replace Article 13 of 
Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1975 
concerning the quality of bathing water (1). 
'Every year, and for the first time by 31 December 
1991, the Member States shall send to the 
Commission a report on the implementation of this 
Directive. The report shall be drawn up on the 
implementation of this Directive. The report shall be 
drawn up on the basis of a questionnaire or outline 
which the Commission shall send to the Member 
States six months before the abovementioned date. 
The Commission shall publish annually, and for the 
first time in 1992, a consolidated report based on the 
reports mentioned in the first subparagraph.' 
Article 4 
1. The following paragraph shall replace the corre­
sponding provisions in the Directives listed in Annex 3: 
'At intervals of three years, and for the first time by 1 
September 1992, the Member States shall send to the 
Commission a report on the implementation of this 
Directive. The report shall be established on the basis 
of a questionnaire or outline which the Commission 
shall send to the Member States six months before 
the above date. 
The Commission shall publish at three-year intervals, 
and for the first time in 1994, a report on the 
implementation of this Directive.' 
2. The text set out in paragraph 1 shall be inserted as 
Article 15a of Council Directive 84/360/EEC of 28 June 
1984 on the combating of air pollution from industrial 
plants (2). 
O OJ No L 31, 5. 2. 1976. 
O OJ No L 188, 16. 7. 1984. Article 5 
1. The following paragraph shall replace the corre­
sponding provisions of the Directives listed in Annex 4: 
'At intervals of three years, and for the first time by 1 
September 1993, the Member States shall send to the 
Commission a report on the implementation of this 
Directive. The report shall be drawn up on the basis 
of a questionnaire or outline which the Commission 
shall send to the Member States six months before 
the above date. 
The Commission shall publish at three-year intervals, 
and for the first time in 1994, a report on the 
implementation of this Directive.' 
2. The following paragraph shall be inserted into the 
corresponding new provisions of the Directives listed in 
Annex 5: 
'The Commission shall each year transmit to the 
Member States the information which it has received 
pursuant to this Article.' 
3. The reference to 'annual report' in the second 
subparagraph of Article 10 (4) of Council Directive 
80/779/EEC, listed in Annex 5, shall be amended to 
'three-year report.' 
Article 6 
1. The Member States shall introduce such laws, regu­
lations and administrative provisions as are needed to 
comply with the provisions of: 
— Articles 2 and 3 by 1 January 1991 at the latest, 
— Articles 4 and 5 by 1 January 1992 at the latest. 
They shall immediately notify the Commission of the 
measures taken. 
2. The existing provisions of the Directives concerned 
shall remain in force until the dates mentioned in 
paragraph 1. 
Article 7 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
No C 214/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 8. 90 
ANNEX 1 
Directives amended by Article 2 (1) 
(a) Article 13 (1) of Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain 
dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community ('). 
(b) Article 14 of Council Directive 78/176/EEC of 20 February 1978 on waste from the titanium dioxide 
industry (2). 
(c) Article 16 of Council Directive 78/659/EEC of 18 July 1978 on the quality of fresh waters needing 
protection or improvement in order to support fish life (*). 
(d) Article 8 of Council Directive 79/869/EEC of 9 October 1979 concerning the methods of 
measurement and frequencies of sampling and analysis of surface water intended for the abstraction of 
drinking water in the Member States (4). 
(e) Article 14 of Council Directive 79/923/EEC of 30 October 1979 on the quality required of shellfish 
waters (5). 
(f) Article 16 (1) of Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater 
against pollution by certain dangerous substances (6). 
(g) Article 5 (1) and the first subparagraph of 5 (2) of Council Directive 82/176/EEC of 22 March 1982 
on limit values and quality objectives for mercury discharges by the chlore-alkali electrolysis 
industry (7)-
(h) Article 5 (1) and 5 (2) of Council Directive 83/513/EEC of 26 September 1983 on limit values and 
quality objectives for cadmium discharges (*). 
(i) Article 6 (1) of Council Directive 84/156/EEC of 8 March 1984 on limit values and quality objectives 
for mercury discharges by sectors other than the chlore-alkali electrolysis industry ('). 
(j) Article 5(1) and 5 (2) of Council Directive 84/491/EEC of 9 October 1984 on limit values and quality 
objectives for discharges of hexachlorocyclohexane (10). 
(k) Article 6(1) and 6 (2) of Council Directive 86/280/EEC of 12 June 1986 on limit values and quality 
objectives for discharges of certain dangerous substances included in List 1 of the Annex to Directive 
76/464/EEC ("). 
(') OJ No L 129, 18. 5. 1975. 
O OJ No L 54, 25. 2. 1978. 
O OJ No L 222, 14. 8. 1978. 
(4) OJ No L 271, 29. 10. 1979. 
O OJ No L 281, 10. 11. 1979. 
(') OJ No L 20, 26. 1. 1980. 
O OJ No L 81, 27. 3. 1982. 
(') OJ No L 291, 24. 10. 1983. 
(') OJ No L 74, 17. 3. 1984. 
O OJ No L 274, 17. 10. 1984. 
(") OJ No L 181, 4. 7. 1986. 
29. 8. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 214/9 
ANNEX 2 
Directives amended by Article 2 (2) 
(a) Article 9a of Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of 
surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States ('). 
(b) Article 17a of Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended 
for human consumption (2). 
(') OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975. 
(2) OJ No L 229, 30. 8. 1980. 
ANNEX 3 
Directives amended by Article 4 
(a) Article 7a of Council Directive 75/716/EEC of 24 November 1975 on the approximation of the laws 
of the Member States relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels ('). 
(b) Article 8 of Council Directive 80/779/EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide values 
for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates (2). 
(c) Article 18 of Council Directive 82/501/EEC of 24 June 1982 on major-accident hazards of certain 
industrial activities (3). 
(d) Article 6 of Council Directive 82/884/EEC of 3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the air ("). 
(e) Article 8 of Council Directive 85/203/EEC of 7 March 1985 on air quality standards for nitrogen 
dioxide (5). 
(f) Article 13 (1) of Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of 
environmental pollution by asbestos ('). 
(l) OJ No L 307, 27. 11. 1975. 
O OJ No L 229, 30. 8. 1980. 
(5) OJ No L 230, 5. 8. 1982. 
(4) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1982. 
(s) OJ No L 87, 27. 3. 1985. 
(') OJ No L 85, 28. 3. 1987. 
No C 214/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 8. 90 
ANNEX 4 
Directives amended by Article 5 (1) 
(a) Article 18 of Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils ('), last 
amended by Council Directive 87/101/EEC (2). 
(b) Article 12, subparagraphs 1 and 4, of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (3). 
(c) Article 10, subparagraphs 1 and 4, of Council Directive 76/403/EEC of 6 April 1976 on the disposal of 
polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (4). 
(d) Article 16 of Council Directive 78/319/EEC of 20 March 1978 on toxic and dangerous waste (5). 
(e) Article 12 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds ('). 
(f) Article 13 of Council Directive 84/631/EEC of 6 December 1984 on the supervision and control 
within the European Community of the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste (7). 
(g) Article 11 (1), 11 (2) and 11 (3) of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment 
of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (*). 
(h) Article 6 of Council Directive 85/339/EEC of 27 June 1985 on containers of liquids for human 
consumption ('). 
(i) Article 17 of Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, 
and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (10). 
(j) Article 26 of Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1988 on the approximation of laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of animals 
used for experimental and other scientific purposes ("). 
[*) OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975. 
;2) OJ No L 42, 12. 2. 1987. 
[') OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975. 
;4) OJ No L 108, 26. 4. 1976. 
;5) OJ No L 84, 31. 3. 1978. 
;6) OJ No L 103, 25. 4. 1979. 
{') OJ No L 326, 13. 12. 1984. 
[•) OJ No L 175, 5. 7. 1985. 
;') OJ No L 176, 6. 7. 1985. 
l0) OJ No L 181, 4. 7. 1986. 
") OJ No L 358, 18. 12. 1986. 
29. 8. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 214/11 
ANNEX 5 
Directives amended by Article 5 (2) and 5 (3) 
(a) Article 7 (4) of Council Directive 80/779/EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide 
values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates ('). 
(b) Article 5 (4) of Council Directive 82/884/EEC of 3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the 
air(2). 
(c) Article 7 (3) of Council Directive 85/203/EEC of 7 March 1985 on air quality standards for nitrogen 
dioxide (3). 
(') O] No L 229, 30. 8. 1980. 
(2) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1982. 
O OJ No L 87, 27. 3. 1985. 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) concerning the single administrative document 
COM(90) 363 final — SYN 290 
(Submitted by the Commission on 3 August 1990) 
(90/C 214/05) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a 
thereof, Regulation (EEC) No 1062/87 (J); whereas Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 1900/85 (4) as amended by Regu­
lation (EEC) No 1059/86 (5) stipulated that export and 
import declarations must be made on a document corre­
sponding to the specimen form drawn up in accordance 
with Regulation (EEC) No 679/85; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, Whereas Article 8 a of the EEC Treaty provides for the 
progressive establishment, over a period expiring on 31 
December 1992, of the internal market, which comprises 
an area without internal frontiers in which the free 
movement of goods, in particular, is ensured; 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 678/85 of 18 
February 1985 simplifying formalities in trade in goods 
within the Community (*) provides that the formalities 
connected with such trade are to be completed using a 
single administrative document; whereas the specimen 
form of that document was prescribed by Council Regu­
lation (EEC) 679/85 (2), as amended by Commission 
O OJ No L 79, 21. 3. 1985, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 79, 21. 3. 1985, p. 7. Whereas the effect of implementing that provision is to 
eliminate all checks and all formalities in respect of 
Community goods moving within the Community and, 
hence, to make the provisions laid down in Regulation 
(EEC) No 678/85, in principle, redundant; whereas, 
however, the single administrative document should still 
be used, where necessary, during the transitional period 
of the accession of Spain and Portugal to the 
Community in connection with trade between the 
Community as constituted on 31 December 1985 and 
Spain or Portugal and between the two last-mentioned 
O OJ No L 107, 22. 4. 1987, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 179, 11. 7. 1985, p. 4. 
(') OJ No L 97, 12. 4. 1986, p. 7.