21. 3. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C77/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 76/756/EEC on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and 
light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 279 of 22 October 1982, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 28 October 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
204th plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 January 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Comunities on 28 October 1982 for an opinion 
on the proposal for a Council Directive amending 
Directive 76/756/EEC on the approximation of the laws 
of the Member States relating to the installation of 
lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and 
their trailers (]), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
27 October 1982 instructing the Section for Industry, 
Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up an opinion on 
the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted at the Industry 
Section meeting on 5 January 1983, 
(') OJ No C 279, 22. 10. 1982, p. 5. Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Masprone, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 26 
January 1983 during the 204th plenary session of 26 and 
27 January 1983, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
proposal. 
1.1. The obligation to install dipped-beam 
adjustment devices, whether manually-operated or 
automatic, has effectively prevented the application of 
Directive 76/756/EEC by manufacturers, who preferred 
to comply with the national provisions in each Member 
State, under the 'optional harmonization' system. 
Even in the Member State where the Directive has been 
incorporated into national legislation, the deadline for 
No C 77/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 3. 83 
the compulsory installation of such devices has had to be 
extended to 1 January 1986. The said devices are not yet 
entirely reliable, and they significantly increase the cost of 
vehicles, particularly small cars. 
1.2. For the same reasons, the Committee also agrees 
that with respect to types of vehicle having obtained an 
EEC or national certificate of approval prior to 1 October 
Done at Brussels, 26 January 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 198 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 22 November 1982 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 2779/78 on the 
procedure for applying the ECU to legal acts in the 
customs sphere (!), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
23 November 1982 instructing the Section for Industry, 
Commerce, Crafts and Services to prepare an opinion and 
a report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Industry 
Section at its meeting on 5 January 1983, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Regaldo, 
(') OJ No C 302, 19. 11. 1982, p. 5. 1984, Member States shall be able to prohibit entry into 
service only after 1 October 1987. 
1.3. The Committee urges the Commission to take the 
necessary steps to ensure that all the other provisions 
contained in Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended, are 
effectively introduced in all Member States at the earliest 
possible date. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 26 
January 1983 during the 204th plenary session of 26 and 
27 January 1983, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1.1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's 
proposal which seeks to provide for rapid realignment of 
the equivalent values of the ECU so as to prevent parity 
changes from causing deflections of trade in the 
Community now and in the future. 
1.2. However, it feels that this requires not just 
amendments to several provisions of Regulation (EEC) 
No 2779/78 - amendments, which moreover need to be 
adopted rapidly - but also a complete redrafting of the 
document. Regulation (EEC) No 2779/78 is already out 
of date owing to Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 and, in 
part, to the passage of time. Simply changing a few 
paragraphs in one Article would make the whole Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2779/78 
on the procedure for applying the ECU to legal acts adopted in the customs sphere 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 302 of 19 November 1982, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 22 November 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
204th plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 January 1983.