OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2) (c) of the EC Treaty on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the roadside inspection of the roadworthiness condition of commercial vehicles that circulate on the roads of the European Community AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2) (c) of the EC Treaty on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the roadside inspection of the roadworthiness condition of commercial vehicles that circulate on the roads of the European Community

1. Background

1. On 11 March 1998 the Commission submitted a proposal for a Directive on the roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community (COM(1998)117-C4-0346/98-1998/0097(COD)) [1].

[1] OJ C 190, 18.6.1998, p. 10.

2. On 29 July 1998 the Economic and Social Committee gave a favourable opinion [2].

[2] OJ C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 112.

3. On 9 February 1999 [3] the European Parliament gave an opinion on the proposal at first reading.

[3] OJ C 150, 28.5.1999, p. 27.

4. The Committee of the Regions gave its opinion on the proposal on 22 September 1999.

5. The amended Commission proposal was forwarded to the Council on 15 October 1999.

6. The Council adopted a Common Position on 2 December 1999 [4].

[4] OJ C 29, 01.2.2000, p. 1.

7. On 14 March 2000 [5] the European Parliament gave its 2nd reading.

[5] ...

2. Aim of the Commission's proposal

This proposal supplements Directive 96/96/EC that provides for an annual roadworthiness inspection which commercial vehicles must undergo at a testing centre. The purpose of this proposal is to introduce unannounced roadworthiness checks, partly on the grounds of the mileage travelled by such vehicles every year, and partly because a number of defects can be detected in this way that can be concealed at annual roadworthiness inspections. This proposal will improve the maintenance condition of the heavy commercial vehicles on the Community's roads and thus be a benefit to road safety and environmental protection.

3. Comments on Parliament's amendment at second reading

3.1 General remarks

The Commission takes the view that amendments made by Parliament to the Council's common position are in line with the aims of its proposal.

3.2 The amendments proposed by Parliament

Amendment 1 Recital 2

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Amendment 2 New Article 9A

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3.3 Commission's comments on the amendments

The Commission can accept these amendments, given that amendment 1 is a textual improvement to the recital and amendment 2 reintroduces the spirit of an article deleted by the Council from the original proposal.

4. General conclusions

The Commission considers that the Council's common position, together with Parliament's amendment at second reading, are in the line with the aims of its proposal.

Consequently, the Commission accepts the modification made to the Council's common position by the Parliament's amendment.