PURPOSE : to enable the Community to accede to UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2006/444/EC on the accession of the Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

CONTENT : t he standardised requirements of Regulation No 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the Contracting Parties and to ensure a high level of safety and protection in the operation of vehicles.

By Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, the EC had become a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UN/ECE's) Revised 1958 Agreement and acceded to 78 regulations appended to that Agreement. Regulation No 55 was not included in Annex II of Decision 97/836/EC as it did not comport with Community technical requirements and specifications at the time of Community accession to the Revised 1958 Agreement.

However, i n light of subsequent amendments, Regulation No 55 should be incorporated into the Community system for the type approval of motor vehicles, and this Decision provides that the Community shall apply Regulation No 55 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles. Regulation No 55 is thereby incorporated into the Community type approval system for motor vehicles.

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

The committee adopted the report by its chair, Enrique BARÓN CRESPO (PES, ES), recommending that Parliament give its assent to the proposal.

The Council adopted common guidelines with a view to adoption of decisions on:

- the accession of the EU to the UNECE agreement on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles. These are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles and to ensure a high level of safety and protection in the operation of vehicles (see previous summary).

- the authorisation for the placing on the market of retreaded tyres if these have been manufactured in line with the standards laid down by the UNECE (see AVC/2004/0271).

These two texts will be transmitted to the European Parliament for consultation.

The Council adopted common guidelines with a view to adoption of decisions on:

- the accession of the EU to the UNECE agreement on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles. These are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles and to ensure a high level of safety and protection in the operation of vehicles (see previous summary).

- the authorisation for the placing on the market of retreaded tyres if these have been manufactured in line with the standards laid down by the UNECE (see AVC/2004/0271).

These two texts will be transmitted to the European Parliament for consultation.

PURPOSE : to enable the Community to accede to UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : by Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, 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. Article 3(3) of that Decision states, in particular, that the Community may decide to implement a regulation to which it had not acceded when it acceded to the revised Agreement if the Council approves that regulation by a qualified majority after receiving the assent of the European Parliament.

UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles is aimed, in particular, at removing technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties while ensuring a high level of safety in the operation of vehicles. Although this Regulation was not included in the list of regulations recognised by the EC contained in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC, the Commission considers that, as both European and UN requirements have changed since that time, it would now be desirable for the EC to accede thereto.

It is also provided that the Regulation concerned shall be incorporated into the approval system for motor vehicles.

It should be stressed that the EC will take its decision regarding accession to this Regulation on the basis of the documents that are available in the official languages of the UN/ECE (English, French and Russian). As the EC has become party to the 1958 UN/ECE agreement, it is required to observe the procedures provided for in that agreement. Therefore, only the French and English versions of Regulation No. 55 have been appended. Translations of this Regulation will be published at a later date.

PURPOSE : to enable the Community to accede to UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : by Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, 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. Article 3(3) of that Decision states, in particular, that the Community may decide to implement a regulation to which it had not acceded when it acceded to the revised Agreement if the Council approves that regulation by a qualified majority after receiving the assent of the European Parliament.

UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles is aimed, in particular, at removing technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties while ensuring a high level of safety in the operation of vehicles. Although this Regulation was not included in the list of regulations recognised by the EC contained in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC, the Commission considers that, as both European and UN requirements have changed since that time, it would now be desirable for the EC to accede thereto.

It is also provided that the Regulation concerned shall be incorporated into the approval system for motor vehicles.

It should be stressed that the EC will take its decision regarding accession to this Regulation on the basis of the documents that are available in the official languages of the UN/ECE (English, French and Russian). As the EC has become party to the 1958 UN/ECE agreement, it is required to observe the procedures provided for in that agreement. Therefore, only the French and English versions of Regulation No. 55 have been appended. Translations of this Regulation will be published at a later date.