WRITTEN QUESTION E-2468/03 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Introduction of digital tachographs.
Date: 2003-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, application of the law, commercial vehicle, driving period, electronic device, road transport, speed control, vehicle parts

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/159

(2004/C 65 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2468/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(24 July 2003)

Subject: Introduction of digital tachographs

Regulation (EEC) 3820/85 (1) lays out the rules relating to the acceptable driving, resting and working
times of drivers of commercial vehicles and buses. The hours of such drivers are recorded and controlled
by use of tachographs in accordance with Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 (2). More recently, Regulation (EC)
2135/98 (3) was published, paving the way for the introduction of digital tachographs (which record on
smart cards) in place of the current tachographs (which record on paper charts).

Article 2, paragraph 1(a) of Regulation 2135/98 states:

24 months from the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities of the
act to be adopted pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85, as amended by this
Regulation, vehicles put into service for the first time must be fitted with recording equipment in
accordance with the requirements of Annex IB to Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85.

Would the Commission please confirm that the act referred to in this paragraph is that which was
published as Regulation (EC) 1360/2002, published on 5 August 2002 (4)?

(1) OJ L 370, 31.12.1985, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 370, 31.12.1985, p. 8.
(3) OJ L 274, 9.10.1998, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 207, 5.8.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2003)

Herewith the Commission confirms that Commission Regulation (EC) No 1360/2002 (1) is the act referred
to in Article 2, paragraph 1 (a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2135/98 (2).

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1360/2002 of 13 June 2002 adapting for the seventh time to technical progress

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport, OJ L 207, 5.8.2002.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2135/98 of 24 September 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording
equipment in road transport and Directive 88/599/EEC concerning the application of Regulations (EEC) No 3820/
84 and (EEC) No 3821/85, OJ L 274, 9.10.1998.

(2004/C 65 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2473/03

by Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE), Charles Tannock (PPE-DE),
Alima Boumediene-Thiery (Verts/ALE), Patsy Sörensen (Verts/ALE)
and Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Regions adjacent to the enlarged Union’s external borders

(24 July 2003)

The current process of enlargement towards the east will,
in the near future, alter the EU’s political,
economic and social makeup, as harmonisation, protection and transitional aid measures are applied in the
applicant central European and Baltic countries.

Given their particular sensitivity to this process of economic alignment, during the successive enlargements
of the EU the eastern border regions of the Member States and, subsequently, the applicant countries, have
benefited from special programmes and aid intended to guard against and mitigate imbalances and socio-
economic repercussions within their borders. The western border regions of the European countries