OBJECTIVE: the proposal for a Council Decision concerns accession by the European Community to the 1958 Revised Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recognition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts.

SUBSTANCE: the 1958 Revised Agreement, which was concluded under the aegis of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), seeks to facilitate the trade in vehicles between the contracting parties so as to ensure that such trade cannot be hampered by technical problems associated with vehicle design. Accession by the Community to the Agreement, as is now proving possible, satisfies two complementary concerns: first, the wish to bolster the Agreement to make it into a world focus for the technical harmonization of motor vehicles, and secondly, the coherence needed between the law-making activities in Geneva and those existing at Community level. The mandatory application of Community type approval from 01/01/1996 for private vehicles and the quest for the best possible system by that date makes it desirable for the Community to accede to the Revised Agreement as soon as it enters into force.

The Committee on External Economic Relations unanimously adopted the report by Mr Peter KITTELMANN (PPE, D) recommending that Parliament approve the accession by the European Community to the revised agreement concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval of motor vehicle equipment and parts. Progress has been made on this matter in that Commissioner BANGEMANN has undertaken in writing for Parliament to be duly consulted before any new measures are adopted under the terms of the agreement. Members had already raised the problem of a reduction in the powers of the European Parliament. This new regulation on vehicle safety and environmental standards makes provision for assent, thereby depriving Parliament of its power of amendment under the codecision procedure. The revised agreement is based on the initial agreement concluded by the states represented at the UN Economic Commission for Europe in 1958. All the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of Ireland, are already party to the agreement. The committee considered that the accession of the European Community would emphasize the international importance of the regulations adopted by the European Community and would improve the long-term prospects of European vehicle manufacturers on the world market.

Mr Peter KITTELMANN (PPE, D) recommended that the European Parliament approve the accession by the European Community to the Revised Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recognition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts. This agreement is based on the initial agreement concluded by the states represented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in 1958. All the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of Ireland, are already party to the agreement. The rapporteur considered that the accession of the European Community would emphasize the international importance of the regulations adopted by the European Community and would improve the long-term prospects of European vehicle manufacturers on the world market.

In adopting the recommendation by Mr Peter KITTELMANN (PPE, D), the European Parliament approved accession by the European Community to the revised agreement concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval for motor-vehicle equipment and parts.

OBJECTIVE: accession by the Community to the Revised 1958 Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning technical prescriptions for motor vehicle equipment and components.

COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 97/836/EC.

SUBSTANCE: the Council decided that the European Community would accede to the Revised 1958 Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The Agreement concerns the adoption of uniform conditions for the approval and mutual recognition of the approval of motor vehicle equipment and components. The Community's accession to the Agreement is deemed essential in order to enhance the Agreement's status and make it the worldwide focus for technical harmonization in the field of motor vehicles, as well as to ensure consistency between the law-making work of the UN ECE and that at Community level. The participation of the Community will enhance the importance of the harmonization work carried out under the Agreement, and could therefore facilitate access to third-country markets.