Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars (COM(98)0348 C4-0425/98 98/0202 (SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)
Date: 1998-12-17
Institutions: Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, European Parliament
Subjects: environmental monitoring, greenhouse gas, motor car, pollution control measures













EUR-Lex - 51998AP0492 - EN






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51998AP0492

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars (COM(98)0348 C4-0425/98 98/0202 (SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)  


Official Journal C 098 , 09/04/1999 P. 0240 





A4-0492/98Proposal for a Council Decision establishing a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars (COM(98)0348 - C4-0425/98 - 98/0202(SYN))The proposal was approved with the following amendments:(Amendment 1)Recital 1>Original text>(1) Whereas the Community recognizes that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere should be stabilised at such a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system;>Text following EP vote>(1)Whereas the Community recognizes that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere should be stabilised at or reduced to such a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system;(Amendment 2)Recital 3a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(3a)Whereas the Kyoto Protocol requires Annex I parties to have made demonstrable progress in achieving their commitments by 2005;(Amendment 3)Recital 5a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(5a) Whereas the European Parliament, in its opinion on the communication(*), expressed its long-held reservations about the effectiveness of voluntary environmental agreements;__________(*) OJ C 132, 28.4.1997, p. 210.(Amendment 4)Recital 5b (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(5b)Whereas the Commission Communication on a commitment to be entered into by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) with regard to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars (COM(98)0495) and the ACEA commitment itself leave open a number of questions which will have to be addressed if successful implementation is to be achieved ;(Amendment 5)Recital 5c (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(5c) Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution of 17 September 1998(*) on climate change in the run-up to Buenos Aires made reference to the ACEA commitment and stated that only once the above open questions have been satisfactorily resolved in further negotiations with ACEA and the other relevant associations, will it be able to accept the procedure announced by the Commission in its Communication;_____________(*) OJ C 313, 12.10.1998, p. 169.(Amendment 6)Recital 5d (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(5d) Whereas, notwithstanding the above, any agreement entered into with the automobile industry will need to be closely monitored on a neutral basis; whereas this Decision will provide such a scheme; whereas the Commission should put forward as soon as possible a legal framework for the agreement, including measures to be taken in the event of the failure of the agreement to work;(Amendment 7)Recital 5e (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(5e) Whereas the European Parliament, in its abovementioned resolution of 17 September 1998, recalled that it had formulated, jointly with the Council, an objective of 120g/km (5 litres/100 km for petrol engines and 4-5 litres/100 km for diesel engines) as a mean value for carbon dioxide emissions in 2005 and that this objective could only be attained if action is also taken on instruments to provide tax incentives and on provisions concerning uniform description of the mean consumption of new vehicles;(Amendment 46)Recital 6a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(6a)Whereas there is a Community basis for the measurement of the specific emissions of CO2 from vehicles only for vehicles of category M1 pursuant to Annex II of Directive 70/156/EEC; whereas the Commission shall also propose, as soon as possible, harmonised procedures for measuring the specific emissions of CO2 from other categories of vehicles;(Amendment 8)Recital 7>Original text>(7) Whereas it is necessary to establish procedures to monitor the specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars sold throughout the Community in order to monitor the effectiveness of the Community strategy, as referred to in the Commission Communication of 20 December 1995;>Text following EP vote>(7)Whereas it is necessary to establish procedures to monitor the specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars sold throughout the Community in order to monitor the effectiveness of the Community strategy, as referred to in the Commission Communication of 20 December 1995; whereas the data collected will also serve to monitor the voluntary commitment to reduce emissions of CO2 from passenger cars in 2003 agreed between the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Commission;(Amendment 9)Recital 7a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>(7a) Whereas light commercial vehicles in Category N1 as defined in Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC should be covered by the monitoring system since they also contribute to emissions of CO2, especially in urban areas;(Amendment 10)Recital 10>Original text>(10) Whereas it is not the intention of this Decision to harmonise national vehicle registration systems but to build upon them in order to ensure the compilation of a minimum data set required to allow the proper functioning of a Community scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars;>Text following EP vote>(10)Whereas it is not the intention of this Decision to harmonise national vehicle registration systems but to build upon them in order to ensure the compilation of a minimum data set required to allow the proper functioning of a Community scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles;(Amendment 11)Recital 11>Original text>(11) Whereas such a monitoring scheme should only apply to those passenger cars which are to be registered for the first time in the Community and have not been registered previously elsewhere;>Text following EP vote>(11)Whereas such a monitoring scheme should apply only to those passenger cars and light commercial vehicles which are to be registered for the first time in the Community or have not been registered previously elsewhere for a period exceeding six months;(Amendment 12)Article 1>Original text>This Decision establishes a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars registered in the Community. It only applies to those passenger cars which are being registered in the Community for the first time, have not been registered previously elsewhere and have been subject to EC type-approval under Directive 70/156/EEC.>Text following EP vote>This Decision establishes a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO2 from new passenger carsand light commercial vehicles registered in the Community. It applies only to those passenger cars and light commercial vehicles which have been subject to EC type-approval under Directive 70/156/EEC, are being registered in a Member State of the Community for the first time or have been registered previously in another Member State or elsewhere for a period not exceeding six months.(Amendment 13)Article 2(1a) (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>1a. Light commercial vehicle means a motor vehicle of Category N1, as defined in Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC, i.e. a motor vehicle used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum weight not exceeding 3.5 metric tons.(Amendment 14)Article 2(2)>Original text>2. Newly registered car means a passenger car registered for the first time in the Community. It specifically excludes those vehicles which are re-registered in a second Member State or have been registered previously outside the Community.>Text following EP vote>2. Newly registered car means a passenger car or a light commercial vehicle registered for the first time in a Member State of the Community or previously registered in another Member State or elsewhere for a period not exceeding six months.(Amendment 15)Article 2(3)>Original text>3. Certificate of conformity means the certificate, referred to in Article 6 of Directive 70/156/EEC, which must accompany each new passenger car before it can be registered or allowed entry into service.>Text following EP vote>3. Certificate of conformity means the certificate, referred to in Article 6 of Directive 70/156/EEC, which must accompany each new passenger car and each new light commercial vehicle before it can be registered or allowed entry into service.(Amendment 16)Article 2(4)>Original text>4. Specific emission for CO2 for a given passenger car means that measured in accordance with Directive 80/1268/EEC.>Text following EP vote>4. Specific emission for CO2 for a given passenger car or a given light commercial vehicle means that measured in accordance with Directive 80/1268/EEC.(Amendment 17)Article 2(6)>Original text>6. Maximum net power of new passenger cars means the maximum engine power stated on the Certificate of Conformity and measured in accordance with Directive 80/1269/EEC.>Text following EP vote>6. Maximum net power of new passenger cars or new light commercial vehicles means the maximum engine power stated on the Certificate of Conformity and measured in accordance with Directive 80/1269/EEC.(Amendment 18)Article 2(9)>Original text>9. Fuel type means the fuel for which the car was originally type-approved and is that which appears on the Certificate of Conformity.>Text following EP vote>9. Fuel type means the fuel for which the car or the light commercial vehicle was originally type-approved and is that which appears on the Certificate of Conformity.(Amendment 19)Article 2(10)>Original text>10. Registration file means an electronic file containing information relating to the registration of an individual passenger car.>Text following EP vote>10. Registration file means an electronic file containing information relating to the registration of an individual passenger car or an individual light commercial vehicle.(Amendment 20)Article 3(1)>Original text>1. For the purposes of establishing the scheme referred to in Article 1, Member States shall collect the information described in Annex I for each car referred to in that Article which is registered in their territory.>Text following EP vote>1.For the purposes of establishing the scheme referred to in Article 1, Member States shall collect the information described in Annex I for each car and for each light commercial vehicle referred to in that Article which is registered in their territory.(Amendment 47)Article 3(4)>Original text>4. In the light of the assessment referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission may ask Member States to give details of the procedures which they have implemented in order to ensure data quality and, if it is not satisfied as to the effectiveness of such procedures, it may, in consultation with the Member States, ask for further measures to be implemented.>Text following EP vote>4.In the light of the assessment referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission will assess the quality of the data provided by each Member State. In the event that the Commission is not satisfied with the quality of data, it shall ask the Member State concerned to give details of its procedures for ensuring data quality and, on the basis of this information, assess these procedures.(Amendment 48)Article 3(4a ) (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>4a. In the light of the assessment referred to in paragraph 4, the Commission shall request the Member State concerned to implement measures to improve the quality of data within an appropriate deadline, and to inform the Commission of these measures and their effectiveness. The Member State concerned shall implement further measures and report to the Commission on these measures until the Commission is satisfied that the measures implemented ensure the necessary quality of data.(Amendment 21)Article 4(1)(a)>Original text>(a) For each separate fuel type,(i) the total number of newly registered passenger cars;(ii) the average specific emissions of CO2 for newly registered passenger cars;>Text following EP vote>(a)For each separate fuel type,(i) the total number of newly registered passenger cars;(ia) the total number of newly registered light commercial vehicles;(ii) the average specific emissions of CO2 for newly registered passenger cars;(iia) the average specific emissions of CO2 for newly registered light commercialvehicles;(Amendment 22)Article 4(1)(b)>Original text>(b) for each separate manufacturer and fuel type, the number of newly registered passenger cars and average specific emissions of CO2;>Text following EP vote>(b)for each separate manufacturer and fuel type, the number of newly registered passenger cars, the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles and, in each case, the average specific emissions of CO2;(Amendment 23)Article 4(1)(c)>Original text>(c) for each fuel type and distinct CO2 emission category specified in Annex III(4), the number of newly registered passenger cars;>Text following EP vote>(c)for each fuel type and distinct CO2 emission category specified in Annex III(4), the number of newly registered passenger cars and the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles;(Amendment 24)Article 4(1)(d)>Original text>(d) for each fuel type and distinct mass category specified in Annex III(5),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ii) the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) the average mass;>Text following EP vote>(d)for each fuel type and distinct mass category specified in Annex III(5),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ia) the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles;(ii) in each case, the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) in each case, the average mass;(Amendment 25)Article 4(1)(e)>Original text>(e) for each fuel type and distinct engine net power category specified in Annex III(6),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ii) the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) the average net engine power;>Text following EP vote>(e)for each fuel type and distinct engine net power category specified in Annex III(6),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ia) the number of newly registered lightcommercial vehicles;(ii) in each case, the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) in each case, the average net engine power;(Amendment 26)Article 4(1)(f)>Original text>(f) for each fuel type and distinct engine capacity category specified in Annex III(7),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ii) the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) the average engine capacity.>Text following EP vote>(f)for each fuel type and distinct engine capacity category specified in Annex III(7),(i) the number of newly registered passenger cars;(ia) the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles;(ii) in each case, the average specific emissions of CO2;(iii) in each case, the average engine capacity.(Amendment 27)Article 4(1a) (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>1a. The data concerning all newly registered passenger cars are to be grouped by manufacturer.(Amendment 28)Article 4(2)>Original text>2. The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be transmitted annually to the Commission by the Member States. The first transmission shall take place no later than 1 July 2001. Subsequent transmissions shall be completed by 1 April for the monitoring data collected in the preceding calendar year. The data shall be transmitted in accordance with the format specified in Annex IV.>Text following EP vote>2.The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be transmitted annually to the Commission by the Member States. The first transmission shall take place no later than 1 July 2000. Subsequent transmissions shall be completed by 1 April for the monitoring data collected in the preceding calendar year. The European Commission shall publish, no later than 31 July 1999, the exact format in which the data is to be transmitted to it.(Amendment 29)Article 5>Original text>Member States shall designate a body responsible for the collection and communication of the monitoring information and shall inform the Commission thereof by 31 July 2000.>Text following EP vote>Member States shall designatethe competent authorities as the body responsible for the collection and communication of the monitoring information and shall inform the Commission thereof by 31 July 1999.(Amendment 30)Article 6>Original text>Member States shall report to the Commission by 31 July 2000 at the latest on how they intend to implement the provisions of this Decision. On the basis of those reports the Commission may seek further information or request, in consultation with Member States, that changes be made in the proposed method of implementation.>Text following EP vote>Member States shall report to the Commission by 31 July1999 at the latest on how they intend to implement the provisions of this Decision. On the basis of those reports the Commission may seek further information or request, in consultation with Member States, that changes be made in the proposed method of implementation.(Amendment 31)Article 7>Original text>The Commission shall report to the Council by 31 December 2003 at the latest on the operation of the monitoring scheme established by this Decision.>Text following EP vote>The Commission shall report to the Counciland to the European Parliament by 30 June 2002 at the latest on the operation of the monitoring scheme established by this Decision.(Amendment 32)Article 7a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>Article 7aThe data collected under the monitoring system for the calendar year 2002 shall serve as the basis for monitoring voluntary obligations to reduce emissions of CO2 from motor vehicles agreed between the Commission and the automobile industry, and where necessary, for their revision.(Amendment 33)Article 8>Original text>For each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report based upon the monitoring data it receives from the Member States.>Text following EP vote>For each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to the Counciland to the European Parliament a report based upon the monitoring data it receives from the Member States.(Amendment 34)Article 8a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>Article 8aThe report referred to in Article 8 shall set out how CO2 emissions have changed. It shall also indicate whether reductions are due to technical measures taken by manufacturers or to other reasons, such as changes in consumer behaviour.(Amendment 35)Annex I (1), indent 4a (new)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>- length times breadth (i.e. body size of vehicle)(Amendment 36)Annex II (1)>Original text>Manufacturers may differentiate their passenger car types into variants and further still into versions. For any given car the most accurate CO2 emissions data is that cited for the particular version to which the car belongs. For the purposes of the monitoring scheme Member States should collect, therefore, only 'version specific¨ data.>Text following EP vote>Manufacturers may differentiate their passenger car andlight commercial vehicletypes into variants and further still into versions. For any given vehicle the most accurate CO2 emissions data is that cited for the particular version to which the car belongs. For the purposes of the monitoring scheme Member States should collect, therefore, only 'version specific¨ data.(Amendment 37)Annex II (2)(a) and (b)>Original text>(a) Information that is to be used for CO2/cars monitoring purposes (or to be included in electronic databases for subsequent use in a CO2/cars monitoring scheme) must be extracted from the official 'information package¨ accompanying the notification of the granting of type-approval as circulated by the national type-approval authorities in the Member States and as laid down in Directive 70/156/EEC.>Text following EP vote>(a)Information that is to be used for CO2/cars monitoring purposes (or to be included in electronic databases for subsequent use in a CO2/cars/light commercial vehicles monitoring scheme) must be extracted from the official 'information package¨ accompanying the notification of the granting of type-approval as circulated by the national type-approval authorities in the Member States and as laid down in Directive 70/156/EEC.>Original text>(b) The information package circulated by national type-approval authorities may contain data specific to several different versions. It is important, therefore, that the appropriate data for a new passenger car covered by the provisions of this Decision is correctly identified in the information package. The data for a specific version shall, therefore, be selected on the basis of the vehicle's "type", "variant" and "version" numbers as they appear on the Certificate of Conformity. The Certificate of Conformity necessarily contains data relating to a specific version of a given car type.>Text following EP vote>(b)The information package circulated by national type-approval authorities may contain data specific to several different versions. It is important, therefore, that the appropriate data for a new passenger car or a new light commercial vehicle covered by the provisions of this Decision is correctly identified in the information package. The data for a specific version shall, therefore, be selected on the basis of the vehicle's "type", "variant" and "version" numbers as they appear on the Certificate of Conformity. The Certificate of Conformity necessarily contains data relating to a specific version of a given car or light commercial vehicle type.(Amendment 38)Annex III , title and 1st and 2nd paragraphs>Original text>Methodology to calculate the CO2 monitoring information for new passenger cars.This Annex describes the monitoring information that is to be communicated to the European Commission. The monitoring information is to be generated from the raw data collected during the first registration of new passenger cars (described in Annex I) according to the methods described below. The precise format in which this information should be communicated to the Commission is described in Annex IV.>Text following EP vote>Methodology to calculate the CO2 monitoring information for newvehicles.This Annex describes the monitoring information that is to be communicated to the European Commission. The monitoring information is to be generated from the raw data collected during the first registration of new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles (described in Annex I) according to the methods described below. The precise format in which this information should be communicated to the Commission will be published by the Commission no later than 31 July 1999.>Original text>Only petrol and diesel are to be considered as these are the only fuels included in the European type-approval legislation at the current time. Only information regarding new passenger cars which have not been registered previously within the Community are to be included in this monitoring scheme. Passenger cars which have been registered previously within the Community or elsewhere are specifically excluded from the provisions of this Decision.>Text following EP vote>Only petrol and diesel are to be considered as these are the only fuels included in the European type-approval legislation at the current time. Only information regarding new passenger carsand new light commercialvehicles which have not been registered previously within the Community for a period exceeding six months are to be included in this monitoring scheme. Passenger cars which have been registered previously within the Community or elsewhere for a period exceeding six months are specifically excluded from the provisions of this Decision.(Amendment 39)Annex III (1a)>Original text>>Text following EP vote>1a. Numbers of newly registered light commercial vehicles per fuel type (Nf)For each separate fuel type (petrol or diesel), Member States shall sum the number of new light commercial vehicles which have been registered for the first time within their territory. For each fuel type, f, the number of new light commercial vehicles registered for the first time is represented as (Nf).(Amendment 40)Annex III (2)>Original text>2. Average specific CO2 emissions of newly registered cars of a given fuel type (Sf,ave)>Text following EP vote>2.Average specific CO2 emissions of newly registered vehicles of a given fuel type (Sf,ave)>Original text>The specific CO2 emission averaged over all newly registered cars of a given fuel type, (designated by Sf,ave) is calculated from the sum of the specific CO2 emissions of each individual newly registered car of a particular fuel type, Sf, divided by the number of newly registered cars of the same fuel type, Nf.Sf,ave = (1/ Nf) . S Sf>Text following EP vote>The specific CO2 emission averaged overthe newly registered cars and the newly registered light commercial vehicles of a given fuel type, (designated by Sf,ave) is calculated from the sum of the specific CO2 emissions of each individual newly registered vehicle of a particular fuel type, Sf, divided by the number of newly registered vehicles of the same fuel type, Nf.Sf,ave = (1/ Nf) . S Sf(Amendment 41)Annex III (3)>Original text>3. The average specific CO2 emissions for all newly registered cars of a given fuel type and manufacturer (Sf,ave,man)This is calculated from the sum of the specific CO2 emissions from each newly registered car of a particular fuel type and manufacturer, Sf,man, divided by the total number of newly registered cars of the same fuel type and manufacturer, Nf,man.Sf,ave,man = (1/ Nf,man) . S Sf,man>Text following EP vote>3.The average specific CO2 emissions for all newly registered cars and newly registered light commercial vehicles of a given fuel type and manufacturer (Sf,ave,man)This is calculated from the sum of the specific CO2 emissions from each newly registered car and each newly registered light commercial vehicle of a particular fuel type and manufacturer, Sf,man, divided by the total number of newly registered vehicles of the same fuel type and manufacturer, Nf,man.Sf,ave,man = (1/ Nf,man) . S Sf,man(Amendment 42)Annex III (4), title and 1st paragraph>Original text>4. The distribution of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars>Text following EP vote>4.The distribution of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles>Original text>>Text following EP vote>The number of newly registered passenger cars of each fuel type which fall into each of the following CO2 emission categories is to be recorded. The CO2 emission categories are 450 g/km.>Original text>>Text following EP vote>The number of newly registered light commercial vehicles of each fuel type which fall into each of the following CO2 emission categories is to be recorded. The CO2 emission categories are 450 g/km.(Amendment 43)Annex III (5), title and 1st paragraph>Original text>5. The mass distribution of new passenger cars>Text following EP vote>5.The mass distribution of new vehicles>Original text>For each of the following mass categories, 1750 kg the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average mass of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Text following EP vote>For each of the following mass categories, 2800 kg the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average mass of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Original text>>Text following EP vote>For each of the following mass categories, 2800 kg the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles of a given fuel type, the average mass of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.(Amendment 44)Annex III (6), title and 1st paragraph>Original text>6. The distribution of maximum net power of newly registered passenger cars>Text following EP vote>6.The distribution of maximum net power of newly registered vehicles>Original text>For each of the following maximum net power categories, 180 kW the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average maximum net power of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Text following EP vote>For each of the following maximum net power categories, 300 kW the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average maximum net power of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Original text>>Text following EP vote>For each of the following maximum net power categories, 300 kW the number of newly registered light commercial vehicles of a given fuel type, the average maximum net power of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.(Amendment 45)Annex III (7), title and 1st paragraph>Original text>7. The distribution of engine capacity of newly registered passenger cars>Text following EP vote>7.The distribution of engine capacity of newly registered vehicles>Original text>For each of the following engine capacity categories, 3000 cm3 the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average engine capacity of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Text following EP vote>For each of the following engine capacity categories, 4500 cm3 the number of newly registered passenger cars of a given fuel type, the average engine capacity of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.>Original text>>Text following EP vote>For each of the following engine capacity categories, 4500 cm3 the number of newly registered plight commercial vehicles of a given fuel type, the average engine capacity of these vehicles and also their average specific emissions of CO2 are to be recorded.Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars (COM(98)0348 - C4-0425/98 - 98/0202 (SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)The European Parliament,- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council COM(98)0348 - 98/0202 (SYN) ((OJ C 231, 23.7.1998, p. 6.)),- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c and 130s(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0425/98),- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0492/98),1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC;4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.