Brussels, 10/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Monday 10 June, the Transport Council added one final point to the “road technical control package” and reached a general approach on the remaining two issues: technical controls of utility vehicles and vehicle registration documents.
Ministers significantly watered down the European Commission proposal by excluding light utility vehicles under 3.5 tonnes from having to undergo technical checks. This exclusion was robustly argued for by Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, France and Poland. These delegations thought that extending controls to these vehicles did not have added value and would, on the contrary, be to the detriment of being able to efficiently carry out controls of other heavier vehicles.
Given the increasing use of vans instead of lorries and the potential risk they represent to road safety, several delegations (Spain, Italy, Romania, Latvia, Greece, Czech Republic, Belgium and Hungary) would have preferred to have included a harmonised European obligation to carry out checks. However, some delegations withdrew their reservations, which effectively removed the minority blockage at the Council. Member states wishing to do so will still be able to introduce legislation at national level, if this does not already exist.
This is a disappointment to European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas, who regretted the difference of views prevailing and would have preferred a compromise on the subject because he regarded this category of vehicle “as part of the road safety problem”.
The Commissioner also regretted the decision of member states not to make this legislation a regulation, as sought by the Commission. It will have the status of a directive. The German and Latvian delegations believed that this was the most appropriate form of legal instrument, as opposed to Italy, which thought otherwise. Ministers were also against annual control quotas. (MD/transl.fl)