Brussels, 22/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Dutch Presidency hopes to reach agreement on the "machines" directive, at the end of a public debate at Friday morning's Competitiveness Council. "We think there is a large qualified majority" to adopt the text, indicated a Dutch diplomat on Tuesday.
The directive aims to simplify and bring up to date two existing directives setting security and standardisation rules for machines and lifts. It also aims to speed up standardisation procedures.
In July 2002, the Parliament approved 80 mainly technical amendments at first reading, to a text which the rapporteur felt was particularly ill prepared. It excluded material belonging to travelling fairs and theme parks. MEPs also called for greater control on comitology procedures, allowing the Commission to adopt measure to implement or update standards.
The Council, however, is pleading for more flexible comitology procedures. Negotiations between Member State experts focused on the issue of lifts on the sides of buildings and machine cartridges.