Brussels, 23/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council and European Parliament have reached agreement in the framework of the conciliation procedure on the draft directive that will limit sound emissions from the contact of moving tyres on the road surface (amendment to directive 92/30 on tyre authorization). On second reading, in September 2000, Parliament had made two amendments to the Council's common position, to reduce the acoustic threshold by 2 decibels and to introduce prescriptions regarding tests on resistance to wear and tear. The Council, which rejected these changes, finally agreed to a compromise that reduces the threshold initially proposed by the Commission by 1 decibel (from between 72 and 76 decibels for private cars and between 75 and 79 decibels for vans). The agreement also provides for the Commission presenting: 1) in two years following entry into force of the directive: a report on the possibility of altering the new thresholds without jeopardizing safety, thanks to technical progress; 2) in the year following adoption of the text: an amendment to the directive introducing new provisions regarding safety, environmental aspects and resistance to wear and tear. Parliament should approve the outcome of its compromise in plenary in May, on the basis of recommendations by its rapporteur Alexander de Roo (NL, Green).