PURPOSE: to enable the Community to accede to Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of their occupants in the case of frontal and lateral collisions.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2005/614/EC.

CONTENT: T he Council agreed the adoption of a Decision on the accession of the EU to Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants.

The Regulations of the UNECE on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of occupants in the event of a frontal collision (Regulation 94) and in the event of a lateral collision (Regulation 95) are intended to remove technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles and ensure a high level of safety and protection for vehicle occupants.

The EU became a contracting party to the EEC/UN agreement in 1998 and has acceded to 78 regulations annexed to this agreement.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Enrique BARON CRESPO (PES, Spain) and gave its assent to the proposal.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Enrique BARON CRESPO (PES, Spain) and gave its assent to the proposal.

The Council agreed on a common approach with a view to the adoption of a Decision on the accession of the EU to Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants. That Decision will be forwarded to the European Parliament for its assent.

The Regulations of the UNECE on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of occupants in the event of a frontal collision (Regulation 94) and in the event of a lateral collision (Regulation 95) are intended to remove technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles and ensure a high level of safety and protection for vehicle occupants.

PURPOSE : to enable the Community to adhere to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 94 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision and Regulation No. 95 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : following Council Decision 97/836/EC, the EC became a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UN/ECE's) Revised 1958 Agreement on 24 March 1998 and acceded to 78 regulations appended to that Agreement. That Decision took effect on 24 March 1998. UN/ECE Regulation No. 94 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision and UN/ECE Regulation No. 95 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision are aimed, in particular, at removing technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties while ensuring a high level of safety for vehicle occupants.

Those Regulations were not included in the list of regulations recognised by the EC that is contained in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC, as they differed to a substantial degree from the requirements of the EC at the time of the EC’s becoming a contracting party to the UN/ECE Agreement. There seems to be consensus among the Member States which states that it would now be desirable for the EC to accede thereto. It is also provided that the Regulations concerned shall be incorporated into the approval system for motor vehicles.

PURPOSE : to enable the Community to adhere to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 94 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision and Regulation No. 95 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : following Council Decision 97/836/EC, the EC became a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UN/ECE's) Revised 1958 Agreement on 24 March 1998 and acceded to 78 regulations appended to that Agreement. That Decision took effect on 24 March 1998. UN/ECE Regulation No. 94 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision and UN/ECE Regulation No. 95 on provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision are aimed, in particular, at removing technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties while ensuring a high level of safety for vehicle occupants.

Those Regulations were not included in the list of regulations recognised by the EC that is contained in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC, as they differed to a substantial degree from the requirements of the EC at the time of the EC’s becoming a contracting party to the UN/ECE Agreement. There seems to be consensus among the Member States which states that it would now be desirable for the EC to accede thereto. It is also provided that the Regulations concerned shall be incorporated into the approval system for motor vehicles.

The committee adopted the report by its chairman, Enrique BARÓN CRESPO (PES, ES), recommending that Parliament give its assent to the proposed Council Decision.