Brussels, 13/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The German member of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, is to propose to the European Parliament sitting in plenary next week that, under reservation of four amendments, it approve the draft directive on the road transport of hazardous goods. This technical directive that the European Commission presented in May 1999 will amend the text in force since 1995 to take account of: i) delays accumulated by the European Standardisation Committee in defining standards applicable to tankers and containers for the transport of gas, as well as the centre of gravity of tanker vehicles; ii) the changes made by the European agreement relating to the international transport of hazardous goods by road. The draft directive, moreover, sets out certain exemptions.
In his amendments, adopted unanimously by the EP's Transport Committee, the rapporteur essentially calls: i) for Member States where the ambient temperature may be below -20 C to be able to apply stricter standards. This is especially a question of enabling Finland to retain its current security level; ii) for the use of vehicles built between 1 January and the date of the directive's entry into force to be allowed. The aim is to allow for the use of containers carrying waste under vacuum built before entry into force of the first international regulation, in July 1999; iii) the Council to be held to take a decision within three months, should the opinion of the Committee on the Transport of Hazardous Goods be contrary to the Commission's proposals.
The European Parliament will debate the report on Monday and vote on Tuesday.