WRITTEN QUESTION P-3786/00

by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Adapting Directive 70/156/EEC on the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers to the requirements of technical progress

On 27 November 1997 the Council adopted Decision 97/836/EC(1) on accession by the European Community to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, known as the Revised 1958 Agreement.

Given that one of the main reasons which prompted the European Community to accede to this Agreement is to remove technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles and ensure a high level of road safety and environmental protection, it is vital to make effective progress towards adapting Directive 70/156/EEC(2) to the requirements of technical progress, if this fundamental objective is to be achieved.

However, although this directive needs to be adapted regularly, its most recent update (Directive 98/14/EC(3) of 6 February 1998) incorporated in Annex IV, Part II, only 49 of the 78 regulations contained in the Revised 1958 Agreement adopted by the European Community on 27 November 1997.

When will the Commission submit a fresh update of Council Directive 70/156/EEC?

Will it incorporate the remaining regulations from the Agreement included in Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, as it is required to do?

What other regulations from the Agreement does the Commission plan to incorporate in the latest update of this directive, bearing in mind the state of the art?

(1) OJ L 346, 17.12.1997, p. 78.

(2) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 91, 25.3.1998, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, as amended by Directive 98/14/EC of 6 February 1998, includes, in its annex IV, part II, those United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) regulations adopted by the Community at the time of accession to the Revised 1958 Agreement which refer to the type-approval of motor vehicles, and for which a corresponding separate directive exists. With regard to UN-ECE regulations adopted by the Community after its accession to the Agreement, as well as regulations for which a corresponding Community directive has been adopted in the meantime, the Commission will update annex IV, part II accordingly, in a proposal for the recasting of Directive 70/156/EEC in 2001.

In addition, some of the regulations listed in annex II of Council Decision 97/836/EC(1) refer to the type-approval of motorcycles and tractors, which do not fall under the scope of Directive 70/156/EEC. Regulations relating to motorcycles are already listed in the relevant separate directives relating to the type-approval of two and three wheeled vehicles. With regard to regulations concerning tractors, these will be listed in a proposal for the recasting of Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors(2), which is currently being drafted by the Commission.

Finally, since for 12 UN-ECE regulations listed in annex II of Decision 97/836/EC there is no corresponding Community separate directive in place, they will not be included in any of the above mentioned directives for the time being.

(1) Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997 with a view to accession by the European Community to the Agreement of the UN-ECE concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (Revised 1958 Agreement).

(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974.