Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU began its first interinstitutional negotiations (trilogue) on Thursday 2 July, with examination of the Roadworthiness package.
This legislative proposal revises existing directives on periodic roadworthiness tests (see EUROPE 13862/19) and vehicle registration (see EUROPE 13844/4).
At this first meeting, the two sides confined themselves to presenting their negotiating mandate, without addressing the substantive provisions. The EU Council and Parliament will in particular have to agree on the digitalisation of vehicle registration certificates and also on reducing the interval between two roadworthiness tests for vehicles over 10 years old, a measure to which the European Parliament is opposed. At this stage, the positions of the co-legislators differ on these points, according to a preparatory document summarising their positions (https://aeur.eu/f/mpz ).
For the Irish Presidency, reaching a political agreement on this package of measures “constitutes a major ambition” of its mandate, it said. Ireland will be responsible for several key files in the road transport sector, notably the automotive simplification reform, or ‘Omnibus’ (see EUROPE 13900/6). The two co-legislators agreed to aim for adoption of the entire legislative package before the end of the Irish Presidency, with the next trilogue scheduled for October. Until then, discussions will continue at technical level. (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)