WRITTEN QUESTION E-3133/98

by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Global harmonisation of the legal provisions governing motor vehicles

The legal provisions governing motor vehicles were originally designed to enhance the technical characteristics of motor vehicles and improve road safety. The legal provisions and standards governing motor vehicles have been developed to the furthest extent in those countries which have an automobile industry. Traditionally, manufacturers have jealously guarded their market shares and national interests have often been invoked in cases where competitors were to be denied market access with the aid of legal provisions and standards.

The wide range of provisions introduced by the automobile industry in various parts of the world not only constitute barriers to trade, but also generate substantial costs, since the specific models authorised for that area must be built for each market, making automobile production highly cost-intensive, even before the expense involved in securing type-approval is taken into account.

What steps does the European Commission intend to take in order to bring about the global harmonisation of the legal provisions governing motor vehicles?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1998)

Concluded under the aegis of the United Nations economic commission for Europe (UN/ECE), a 1958 agreement is intended to lay down international uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts together with the reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on that basis by the contracting parties. The aim is to facilitate and liberalise the trade in motor vehicles among the contracting parties, benefitting manufacturers and consumers alike.

After revision of the 1958 agreement, opening the possibility for the Community to become involved as a legal entity in its own right, the Community acceded to the agreement in March 1998 on the basis of Council Decision 97/836/EC(1). The 1958 agreement so far has 30 contracting parties, among them 14 Member States and the Community, Japan (from 24 November 1998) and the Russian Federation. More than 100 technical regulations governing the automotive sector have been adopted under the agreement so far.

In order to allow participation in international harmonisation of countries, such as the United States, that for one reason or other will not adhere to the 1958 agreement, a parallel agreement was concluded under the auspices of the UN/ECE on 25 June 1998. This agreement also concerns the establishment of global technical regulations in the automotive sector which should be consistent with those of the 1958 agreement, but it does not concern the mutual recognition of approvals. Until now, the agreement has only been signed by the United States. The Community will sign the parallel agreement once its internal procedures have been completed, including the assent of the Parliament, which should be given before June 1999 in order to allow the Community to participate in its work from the beginning. The parallel agreement will enter into force in October 1999 at the earliest.

Both agreements will operate in parallel in the framework of the UN/ECE, and make use of UN/ECE working parties. This organisation based in Geneva has over the years become the world forum for international harmonisation in the motor vehicle sector. With a view to enabling the Community to participate efficiently in the work and rulemaking undertaken by this important body, all the Community institutions should ensure that the Community procedures laid down in Council Decision 97/836/EC and in the future decision on the approval of the parallel agreement are carried out without delay.

(1) OJ L 346, 17.12.1997.