Activites

• 2002/03/09 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 2002/7
  • OJ L 067 09.03.2002, p. 0047-0049
• 2002/02/18 Final act signed
• 2002/02/18 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2002/01/17 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0008/2002 summary

    The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS (EPP-ED, GR) without any amendments. To recall, under the new Directive, buses of 15 meters in length would be entitled to operate throughout the EU, although Member States would have the right to impose local restrictions for safety or other reasons. The argument for allowing larger buses is that this would result in greater use of bus transport together with environmental benefits since bigger buses would mean fewer on the road in total. The common position not only accepts most of Parliament's technical amendments from first reading but goes further on one point : the transition period for phasing out older buses that do not comply with the Directive will now run 2020 rather than 2015 as requested by Parliament.�

• 2001/11/21 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0437/2001
• 2001/10/03 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2371
• 2001/09/27 Council Meeting
  • 09068/1/2001 summary

    The common position accepted, to the letter or in spirit, the three amendments put forward by the European Parliament: - a new article has been added which explicitly excludes buses with more than one articulated section from the scope of the Directive. - the period of Grandfather Rights has been extended from an expiry date of 31/12/2009 to 31/12/2020; - point 1.5a of annex I has been revised and now prescribes a different manoeuvrability test that must be met by 15m buses. This refects the new manoeuvrability criteria accepted by the Member States in the course of UN-ECE technical specifications; - a new article has been added giving a time limited derogation of 3 years to named Portugal and the United Kingdom regarding the obligation to accept 15m buses on their territory with the revised manoeuvrability criteria; - a new article requires the Commission to undertake a study reviewing the feasibility of introducing a stricter manoeuvrability test.�

• #2340
• 2001/04/05 Council Meeting
• 2000/10/03 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0414/2000 summary

    The report drafted by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS (EPP-ED, Greece) concerning the maximum authorised dimensions and weights in national and international trade, was adopted by the European Parliament subject to amendments relating to the following: - the length of purpose-built "articulated buses" to be brought into line with that permitted for a road train ("lorry + trailer"); - the maximum height of a "rigid bus + trailer". In conclusion, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to be consulted again should the latter intend to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text.�

• 2000/10/02 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2000/09/12 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0231/2000
• 2000/04/10 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2000/03/23 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2000)0137 summary

    PURPOSE : to present a proposal for a Directive amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic. CONTENT : the purpose of this proposal is to harmonise the maximum authorised length and width of buses throughout the European Union. The proposal is in keeping with the object of creating a single market as it will provide for uniform rules to apply to buses throughout the Community. Such rules already apply for the maximum dimensions of lorries and the proposal thus seeks to extend the scope of the Directive 96/53/EC. This proposal aims to set a harmonised maximum length of 15m for rigid buses and a maximum width of 2.55m. It is also proposed to limit buses over 12m in length to those with 3 or more axles to ensure that the vehicle designs will stay within weight limits and thus do not have negative effects on existing roads. Furthermore, in order to ensure the safety of the vulnerable road users and minimise problems with existing road infrastructure, the proposal lays down requirements limiting their maximum outswing that all buses will have to meet when performing a turning manoeuvre. Finally, the issue of bus+trailer combinations needs to be clarified. The proposal, therefore, explicitly sets a limit of 18.75m for bus and trailer combinations. This corresponds with the maximum permitted length of lorry+trailer combinations. The positive effects of the proposal will be threefold. First, it will simplify the possibilities for cabotage to take place without distortions of competition, with a consequent reduction in passenger transport costs. Secondly, increasing the maximum length of buses in some of the Member States will result in fewer buses being required to transport the same number of passengers. Such an effect, resulting in fewer road journeys, will make public transport more cost-effective and thus more attractive. The proposal is, therefore, both environmentally and economically positive. Thirdly, by setting the standards for manoeuvrability, this will ensure a harmonised level of safety from buses for vulnerable road users throughout the Community.�

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2000)0137
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0231/2000
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0414/2000
• Council position published: 09068/1/2001
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0437/2001
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0008/2002
• : Directive 2002/7
• : OJ L 067 09.03.2002, p. 0047-0049

History

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