OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, on the amendments of the European Parliament to the common position of the Council with a view to adoption of 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 by emissions from motor vehicles
Date: 1996-06-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: air quality, approximation of laws, combustion gases, environmental protection, motor vehicle

C O M M I S S I ON  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  12.06.1996 
COM(96) 265  final 

94/0286  (COD) 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION 
pursuant  to  Article  189 b  (2)  (d)  of  the  EC  Treaty, 

on  the  amendments  of  the  European  Parliament 

to  the  common  position  of  the  Council 
with  a view  to  adoption  of 
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  by  emissions  from  motor  vehicles 

AMENDING  THE PROPOSAL  OF THE  COMMISSION 
pursuant  to Article  189 a (2) of the EC Treaty 

Parliament  on  9  May  1996  adopted  three  amendments  to  the  common  position 
adopted  by  the  Council  on  22  December  1995  on  a  Directive  amending  Directive 
70/220/EEC  on  measures  to  be taken  against  air  pollution  from  emissions  from  motor 
vehicles. 

In  accordance  with  Article  189b(2)(d)  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the  Commission  hereby 
delivers  a favourable  opinion  on  these  amendments,  on  the  following  grounds: 

Amendments  1  and  3  are  purely  procedural,  so  there  can  be  no  objection  to 
them; 
Amendment  2  reduces  the  duration  of  validity  of  the  certificates  issued  for  the 
low-powered  category  of  vehicles,  according  to  a specific  procedure  abolished 
by  Directive  93/59/EEC.  Since  the  expiry  dates  featuring  in  Parliament's 
amendment  differ  by  only  three  months  from  those  initially  proposed  by  the 
Commission,  and  given 
the 
Commission  finds  this  amendment  acceptable. 

reduced  number  of  vehicles 

involved, 

the 

For  these  reasons,  the  Commission  has  decided,  in  line  with  Article  189a  of  the  EC 
Treaty,  to  alter 
its  proposal  so  as  to  incorporate  the  amendments  adopted  by 
Parliament. 

Given  the  closeness  of  the  dates  of  entry  into  force  foreseen  in the  common  position, 
it  considers  it  a  matter  of  urgency  that  the  Council  modifies  its  common  position 
accordingly  and  adopts  the  text  in  question. 

Altered  proposal  for  a  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  by  emissions  from  motor  vehicles 

(submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189a(2)  of  the  EC  Treaty) 

Current  proposalAlîered  proposal 

Twelfth  recital 

Whereas  the  Council  should  adopt,  by 
31  December  1997,  the  requirements 
valid  for  the  stage  beginning  in  2000. 
on  the  basis  of  a  proposal  which  the 
Commission  must  submit  by  30  June 
1996  and  which  is  to  be  aimed  at 
substantially  reducing  emissions  from 
light  commercial  vehicles; 

Whereas  the  Furooean  Parliament  and 
the  Council  should  adopt,  by  31 
December  1 997, the requirements  valid 
for  the  stage  beginning  in 2000,  on  the 
basis  of 
the 
Commission  must  submit  by  30  June 
1996  and  which  is  to  be  aimed  at 
substantially  reducing  emissions  from 
light  commercial  vehicles; 

a  proposal  which 

Article  2(3),  second  subparagraph 

For  vehicles  with  a  power-to-weiaht 
ratio  of  no  more  than  30  kW/t  and  a 
maximum  speed  not  exceeding  130 
km/h.  the  dates  referred  to  in  The  first 
subparagraph  shall  be  replaced  by  1 
January  1998  and  1  January  1999 
respectively. 

DeJalsd 

Article  4 

under 

acting 

to  be  submitted  by 

The  Council, 
the 
conditions  laid down  in the Treaty,  shall 
decide  by  31  December  1997  on 
proposals 
the 
Commission  by  30  June  1996,  for  a 
further  stage  in  the  reduction,  by  the 
adoption  of  Community  measures,  of 
air  pollution  caused  by  emissions  from 
motor 
this 
Directive.  The  measures  shall  apply 
from  the  year  2000. 

vehicles 

covered 

by 

The  European  Parliament  and 
the 
Council,  acting  under  the  conditions 
laid down  in the Treaty,  shall decide  by 
31  December  1997  on proposals  to  be 
submitted  by  the  Commission  by  30 
June  1996,  for  a  further  stage  in  the 
of 
the 
reducTion, 
Community  measures,  of  air  pollution 
caused  by  emissions 
from  motor 
vehicles  covered  by  this  Directive.  The 
measures  shall  apply  from  the  year 
2000. 

adoption 

by 

In these proposals, the Commission  will 
follow  the  approach  outlined  in  Article 
4  of  Directive  94/1 2/EC. 

In these proposals, the Commission  will 
follow  the  approach  outlined  in  Article 
4  of  Directive  94/12/EC. 

ISSN 0254-1475 

C0M(96) 265 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

14  07 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-96-276-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-05314-7 

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