Activites

• 1997/08/18 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1997/24
  • OJ L 226 18.08.1997, p. 0001
• 1997/06/17 Final act signed
• 1997/06/17 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2004
• 1997/05/14 Council Meeting
• 1997/04/24 Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading
  • T4-0194/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr Roger BARTON (PSE, UK), the European Parliament ratified the 'satisfactory compromise' on the features and characteristics of two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles reached in the European Parliament/ Council Conciliation Committee, co-chaired by Mr Renzo IMBENI (PSE, I) for Parliament and Mr Michiel PATIJN for the Council. With this agreement, a major step has been taken in establishing a genuine single market for this type of vehicle. One of the main requirements of the rapporteur, Mr Roger BARTON, was to ensure that we did not add to the number of useless rules, limiting ourselves instead to those measures which were genuinely necessary to achieve the real objectives, particularly that of increasing safety. The European Parliament delegation pronounced itself satisfied with the compromise reached, particularly with regard to tyres, the measures against tampering with the most powerful machines and the method of measuring noise levels during tests. The common position required users of powerful machines to fit them only with the brands of tyres recommended by the manufacturers. This requirement was unacceptable to the rapporteur. Not only was it contrary to the spirit of the single market, it also restricted consumers' choice. This exclusivity might, in addition, lead to arrangements between tyre and motor cycle manufacturers, to the disadvantage of consumers. The compromise allows any replacement tyre to be fitted, provided it complies with the requirements of the directive.�

• 1997/04/22 Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading
  • A4-0154/1997
• 1997/04/02 Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs
  • 3604/1997
• 1997/02/04 Formal meeting of Conciliation Committee
• #1949
• 1996/09/27 Council Meeting
• 1996/06/19 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T4-0337/1996 summary

    The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Roger BARTON (PSE, UK). In general terms, the European Parliament reiterates the position it had already stated at first reading, namely that the manufacture, importing and sale of spare parts with the help of which the directive could be circumvented should be prohibited. In addition, it should be possible to license and drive motor cycles complying with the directive in all the Member States. As far as emissions and noise levels are concerned, Parliament and the Council agree on the need to carry out a study before setting new levels. In this connection, an amendment was adopted to the effect that the decision of Parliament and the Council, reached on the basis of the Commission proposal to be adopted by 1 January 2001, would take account of the need to incorporate more than just reinforced limit values. A study and an assessment of the costs and benefits of implementing the measures provided for in this decision will be undertaken jointly with the industry and users, and the measures will be reasonable and proportionate to their aims. Where tyres are concerned, Parliament rejects the idea of insisting on particular brands for high-capacity motor cycles and comes out in favour of users being able to use any brand of tyre suitable for the vehicle's performance index and the manufacturer's safety specifications. For the noise level limit values which will come into force on 1 January 1997 Parliament proposes less stringent levels than those laid down in the common position: - two-wheel mopeds: . up to and including 25 km/h: 70 decibels instead of 66; . over 25 km/h 73 instead of 71; - three-wheel mopeds: 78 instead of 76; - motor cycles: . up to and including 80 cm3: 77 instead of 75; . between 80 and 175 cm3: 79 instead of 77; . over 175 cm3: 82 instead of 80; - three-wheelers: 80. �

• 1996/06/18 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    Mr Barton (PSE, UK) said that the problem had been created by a minority and that the solution lay in the banning of illegal equipment, which was something that the Council should agree to include in the Directive. The rapporteur stressed that they could not support the position adopted by the Council, which had failed to accept the main body of Parliament’s proposals at first reading. He was of the view that the directive should not be allowed to threaten a low-polluting and cheap form of transport. Mr Bangemann held that this whole issue had become too wide-ranging and now had to be ring-fenced. The Commission was unable to take over the amendments, which went beyond the limits of that which the Council had already accepted. Consequently, it was in a position to agree to Amendments Nos 6, 7 and 13 to 19, which reverted to the initial text put forward by the Commission, whose position, the Commissioner recalled, was half-way between the tough stance being taken by the Council and the position being adopted by Parliament.

• 1996/06/11 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0199/1996
• 1996/03/14 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #1886
• 1995/11/23 Council Meeting
  • 09335/1/1995 summary

    The Council's common position was the result of extensive and meticulous work, particularly as regards the twelve chapters annexed to the draft directive. Certain chapters underwent significant changes, primarily to take account of the latest regulations of the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This was particularly true for Chapter 1 (tyres) and Chapter 2 (lighting and light-signalling devices). All the amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading were taken over in the common position, with the exception of the amendment concerning permissible noise limit values. In addition, with regard to the substance of the initial proposal, the Council added the following amendments: - within three years of the date of implementation of the directive, the Commission would carry out a detailed study to determine the effectiveness of the anti-tampering measures; - the provisions of Directive 89/336/EEC relating to electromagnetic compatibility would cease to apply to vehicles covered by that Directive since its entry into force; - the type IIIa regulatory committee procedure would be followed as regards adapting to technical progress; - Chapter 1 (tyres): motorcycles capable of speeds in excess of 240 km/h could only be fitted with tyres from certain brands recommended by the manufacturer or with tyres guaranteeing an equivalent level of safety; - Chapter 7 (anti-tampering measures): anti-tampering measures would not apply to vehicles in categories C and D, with the exception of the marking requirements. Moreover, the anti-tampering measures for vehicles in categories A and B were clarified by stipulating that the restriction relating to the interchangeability of the parts indicated applied not only to non-identical components but also to sets of those components; - Chapter 9 (permissible sound limit): amendments were made so as to ensure that the conditions used for measuring and approving vehicles' noise levels were more stringent. Thus, the Council retained a reference to the highest value for the tests and increased the power rating to 105% when the test was carried out in second gear; - Chapter 10 (trailer coupling devices): a dynamic strength test was introduced for these devices whilst the measures put forward by the Commission in relation to motorcycle and sidecar attachments were deleted. �

• 1995/11/03 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1995)0493 summary

    The Commission's amended proposal incorporated the substance of the amendments concerning: - a subsequent reduction in the limit values relating to noise levels and harmful emissions; - a ban on manufacturing, importing and selling spare parts that do not comply with the requirements of the directive together with a report to the national parliaments, the EP and the Council detailing the effectiveness of this ban; - greater compliance with the specification of tyre section width on certain vehicles, thus limiting the application of the standard tolerances; - the proposal to limit tampering restrictions to those cases where it modifies the vehicle's performance and pollutant and noise emissions so as to ensure that the restrictions do not prove an obstacle to owner servicing and maintenance; - the proposals providing for a subsequent stage during which further noise and atmospheric pollution standards would be adopted following research and an analysis of the cost-benefit ratio; - clarification as regards the position of vehicles in categories A and B in relation to anti-tampering measures; - details of the anti-tampering measures without limiting these to vehicles in categories A and B. However, the Commission did not accept the amendments aimed at: - modifying the procedure for adapting to technical progress; - doing away with most of the requirements relating to anti-tampering measures for vehicles in categories C and D; - significantly increasing the noise limit values for mopeds and motorcycles. �

• 1995/05/18 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0204/1995 summary

    A very large majority of Members of the European Parliament agreed to amend the proposal for a directive. The amendments had already been adopted by the European Parliament during its sitting of 6 April 1995. �

• 1995/04/06 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0154/1995 summary

    After having amended the proposal by a very large majority, Parliament postponed the vote at the request of the rapporteur, Mr Barton. The amendments adopted by Parliament mainly recommended: - a prohibition on the manufacture, import and sale of spare parts which modified a motorcycle to the extent that it no longer complied with the standards laid down by the Directive; - higher limit values for noise levels: . 70 dB for mopeds with a design speed of less than 25 km/h (compared with the 66 dB proposed by the Commission); . 73 dB for mopeds with a design speed of more than 25 km/h (compared with 71 dB); . 78 dB for three-wheeled vehicles (compared with 76 dB); . 77 dB for motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of less than 80 cm3 (compared with 71 dB); . 79 dB for motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of between 80 and 175 cm3 (compared with 77 dB); . 82 dB for motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of more than 175 cm3 (compared with 80 dB); . 80 dB for tricycles (compared with 80 dB). �

• 1995/04/05 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    The rapporteur considered that improvements should be made in the area of tampering, noise levels and emissions. Commissioner BANGEMANN wondered whether the EP wanted to protect the environment and improve road safety or renounce all of its principles to satisfy certain interests. The amendments on tampering would only ban tampering with mopeds; that would allow motorcycles to be completely transformed, thus preventing any type-approval. As far as noise levels were concerned, a difference of 3 decibels represented a 50% increase in sound pressure. The amendments on emission limits would result in a 160% increase compared with the Commission proposal. He therefore rejected all of the amendments with the exception of two. On 6 April, after the adoption of the proposal and before the vote on the legislative resolution, the rapporteur, taking into account the Commission’s opinion (formalised following a written declaration), which was opposed to most of the amendments (with the exception of Amendments Nos 4 and 25), proposed that the resolution be referred back to the competent committee. Parliament supported this proposal, on the basis of Rule 60(2), with a view to reaching an acceptable final compromise (see vote in plenary).

• 1995/01/25 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0010/1995
• 1994/04/18 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • COM(1993)0449 summary

    The proposed directive fell within the context of the type-approval procedure for two or three-wheel motor vehicles which was the subject of framework Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992. It set out the rules applicable to the following devices and characteristics: - tyres - lighting and light-signalling devices - external projections - rear-view mirrors - measures to counter air pollution - fuel tanks - measures to counter tampering - electromagnetic compatibility - the permissible sound level and exhaust systems - coupling devices for trailers and sidecar attachments; - safety belt anchorages and safety belts; - glazing, windscreen wipers and washers and de-icing and demisting devices. The proposal largely took account of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE/UN) Regulations. Some provisions deserved particular scrutiny in view of their environmental impact: - pollutant emissions from vehicles: measures to establish limit values for carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). It was proposed to proceed in stages, with a first stage - fixing limit values - coming into force as soon as possible, and a second (around four years after the first came into force) when a decision would be taken on tightening up the values for motorcycles and tricycles; - noise emissions: the proposed measures aimed to establish limit values in A-weighted decibels according to the category of vehicle. A 1978 directive, amended in 1989, fixed limit values from October 1993 for motorcycles with a cylinder capacity below 80 cm3 and above 175 cm3, and from 1995 for motorcycles with a capacity between 80 and 175 cm3. In view of the problems in implementing this directive, it was proposed as a first stage that the date for these limit values to come into force should be 1 July 1997; - possibilities for tampering with mopeds and motorcycles: the proposed measures were a response to the need to stop young users from tampering with these vehicles in such a way that their performance becomes disproportionate to the braking system, tyres and lighting. �

• 1994/03/29 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A3-0206/1994
• 1993/12/13 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading

Documents

• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A3-0206/1994
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: COM(1993)0449
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0010/1995
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0154/1995
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0204/1995
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1995)0493
• Council position published: 09335/1/1995
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0199/1996
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0337/1996
• Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs: 3604/1997
• Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading: A4-0154/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading: T4-0194/1997
• : Directive 1997/24
• : OJ L 226 18.08.1997, p. 0001

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)