COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 10.11.1995 
COM(95) 540 final 
94/0286 (COD) 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
amending Directive 70/220/EEC 
on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to measures to be taken 
against air pollution from emissions from motor vehicles 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
On 19 December 1994 the Commission sent to the European Parliament and the 
Council a proposal for a Directive amending Directive 70/220/EEC relating to measures 
to be taken against air pollution from emissions from motor vehicles. The aim of this 
proposal is to "align" the limit values for this category of vehicles with those for 
passenger cars laid down in Directive 94/12/EC in order to apply the same degree of 
stringency to all categories of vehicle. 
The European Parliament adopted the proposal at the first reading on 
20 September 1995, subject to 18 amendments. 
The Commission accepted four of these amendments designed to clarify the bases of 
the proposal. 
The Commission did not, however, accept the other amendments. These come into 
the following categories: 
The amendments designed to make the limit values applicable to light 
commercial vehicles more stringent. These amendments go beyond the mere 
extension of the measures already adopted for passenger cars in 
Directive 94/1 2/EC, which is the purpose of this Directive. The measures 
enabling further progress to be made will be proposed in the context of a 
subsequent stage, which will correspond to the "Stage 2000" phase of 
emission reductions for passenger vehicles based, for its part, on the Auto/Oil 
programme. 
The amendment abolishing the additional period of one year for adaptation of 
low-powered vehicles. The vehicles in this category are subject to a special 
test procedure (sometimes called the "Panda" cycle) which will be discontinued 
in 1 997. An additional period is necessary to permit adaptation to the change 
of cycle and to more stringent limit values. 
The amendments designed to specify 31 December 1 995 as the final date for 
submission by the Commission of its proposals for "Stage 2000". The date in 
Article 4 of the proposal, i.e. 30 June 1996, is more realistic. 
The amendments changing the specific rules on tax incentives. The proposed 
rules merely confirm those already adopted in the framework of 
Directive 94/12/EC on passenger cars, and it would not be appropriate to 
amend them in the context of this proposal. However, the situation will be 
reviewed on presentation of the proposals for reducing passenger car emissions 
from the year 2000, particularly in the light of the results of the Auto/Oil 
programme. 
The amendments concerning amalgamation of categories II and III for light 
commercial vehicles. The Commission examined this possibility when drawing 
up its proposal, but rejected it owing to the considerable technical differences 
between the vehicles of the two categories, which necessitate the application 
of separate limit values. 
Finally, the amendments concerning provisions not covered by this Directive, 
in particular those on inspection and maintenance of vehicles in service, the 
granting of tax incentives to remove old vehicles from circulation and the 
application of emission standards to old vehicles from the year 2000. 
The Commission therefore accepts Parliament's first four amendments to its proposal 
and recommends that the Council follow suit so that a common posmon can be 
adopted at the Council meetrng of Environment Mfnrsters on 18/Î9 December 1995. 
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive 
amending Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation 
of the laws of the Member States relating to 
measures to be taken against air pollution 
from emissions from motor vehicles 
COMMISSION TEXT m AMENDMENTS 
Fourth recital 
Whereas it is recognized that the 
development of transport in the 
Community has entailed significant 
constraints for the environment; 
whereas a certain number of official 
estimates of the increase in traffic 
density have proved to be lower than 
the actual figures; whereas for that 
reason stringent emission standards 
should be laid down for all motor 
vehicles; Whereas it is recognized that the 
development of transport in the 
Community has entailed significant 
constraints for the environment and it is 
also agreed that the future development 
QÎ transport will cause a further 
increase in constraints for the 
environment: whereas official 
estimates of the increase in traffic 
density in the Community have so far 
proved to be lower than the actual 
trend: whereas for that reason very 
stringent emission standards should be 
laid down for all motor vehicles; 
Fifth recital 
Whereas the Commission has adopted 
a European programme on emissions, 
fuels and engine technologies (EPEFE); 
whereas that programme was 
established to ensure that proposals for 
future directives on pollutant emissions 
seek the best solutions both for the 
consumer and for the economy; 
whereas that programme deals with the 
pollution emitted by vehicles and the 
fuels which propel them; Whereas the Commission has adopted 
a European programme on emissions, 
fuels and engine technologies (EPEFE); 
whereas that programme was 
established to ensure that proposals for 
future directives on pollutant emissions 
seek the best solutions for the 
environment, for the consumer and for 
the economy; whereas that programme 
deals with the pollution emitted by 
motor vehicles and the fuels which 
propel them; 
m OJ C 390, 31.12.1994, p. 26. 
Seventh recital, last clause 
Whereas it is necessary to align the 
standards for light commercial vehicles 
with those for passenger cars so as to 
make them orme again at least as 
stringent as those for passenger cars; Whereas it is necessary to harmonize 
the standards for tight commercial 
vehicles with those for passenger cars 
so as to make them at least as 
stringent as those for passenger cars; 
Eighth recital 
Whereas the work undertaken by the 
Commission in this field has shown that 
the best technology currently available 
to the Community industry can be 
further improved in order to allow light 
commercial vehicles to comply with 
considerably reduced emission limits; 
whereas the proposed standards will 
apply both to the approval of new 
vehicle types and to the check on 
conformity of production, since the 
amended method of sampling and 
statistical evaluation removes the 
tolerances allowed for the limit values 
set under previous stages of Directive 
70/220/EEC; Whereas the work undertaken by the 
Commission in this field has shown that 
the best technology currently available 
to the Community industry can be 
further improved in order to allow light 
commercial vehicles to comply with 
considerably reduced emission limits; 
whereas the same is true of other, new 
technologies which are emerging: 
whereas the proposed standards will 
apply both to the approval of new 
vehicle types and to the check on 
conformity of production, since the 
amended method of sampling and 
statistical evaluation removes the 
tolerances allowed for the limit values 
set under previous stages of 
Directive 70/220/EEC; 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 540 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 01 14 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-581-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-95528-7 
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