Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty concerning the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/115/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for motor-vehicle safety belts
Date: 2005-01-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: approximation of laws, motor vehicle, road safety, safety device

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 25.1.2005 
COM(2004) 768 final 

2003/0136 (COD) 

. 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty 

concerning 

the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Directive 
of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/115/EEC 
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for 
motor-vehicle safety belts 

. 

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2003/0136 (COD) 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty 

concerning 

the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Directive 
of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/115/EEC 
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for 
motor-vehicle safety belts 

1- 

BACKGROUND 

Proposal transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council 
(Document COM(2003)362 final – 2003/0136(COD)) on: 

20.6.2003 

European Economic and Social Committee opinion delivered on: 

10.12.2003 

Parliament opinion (first reading) delivered on: 

17.12.2003 

Common position adopted on: 

24.1.2005 

2- 

AIM OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL 

The proposal for a Directive is one of three aimed at the mandatory fitting of safety belts in all 
motor  vehicles.  These  measures  follow  on  from  the  adoption  of  Directive  2003/20/EC 
amending Council Directive 91/671/EEC relating to the compulsory use of safety belts. 

This  proposal  in  particular  provides  for  the  fitting  of  sufficiently  strong  standardised 
anchorages for attaching safety belts. 

3- 

COMMENTS ON THE COMMON POSITION 

3.1. 

General remarks on the common position 

The main amendment made by the Council to the Commission proposal concerns anchorages 
for safety belts which are adapted to the particular needs of disabled people. In view of the 
range of existing technical solutions, the Council considered it preferable for these not to be 
subject to all the technical provisions required for anchorages for a transitional period. 

The Council did, however, recognise the need to harmonise the existing national provisions in 
this area, and instructed the Commission to look into this question. 

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The Commission can support this amendment. 

3.2. 

Comments on the amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading 

On account of the position it adopted on the possible ban on the fitting of side-facing seats in 
coaches  (see  dossier  2003/0128(COD)),  Parliament  proposed  fitting  these  seats  with 
anchorages for attaching two-point belts when maintaining them. The Council did not accept 
Parliament’s amendments, and kept the Commission proposal unchanged. 

The Commission, which had stated on conclusion of the first reading that it would not amend 
its proposal, fully supports the position adopted by the Council. 

4- 

CONCLUSIONS 

The Commission proposes to make it obligatory to fit all motor vehicles with safety belts in 
order to prevent the danger of passengers being thrown out. For safety belts to be able to offer 
maximum protection, they should be attached to anchorages designed to withstand the stresses 
exerted on the belt in the event of a collision. 

The  Council  approved  all  the  measures  recommended  by  the  Commission,  but  decided  to 
make the technical provisions concerning anchorages for belts worn by disabled persons more 
flexible. It instructed the Commission to study this question in detail. 

The Council rejected the amendments proposed by the European Parliament. 

In conclusion, the Commission fully supports the Council’s common position. 

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