Brussels, 27/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 February, the European Parliament transport committee gave its backing to non-binding guidelines on road infrastructure safety (see EUROPE 9461). These guidelines should annexed to the future directive on road infrastructure management.
In adopting the second report by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL, Germany) on this proposal for a directive, the committee decided the annexes to the directive should not be binding and that member states should be free to decide for themselves which of the guidelines to implement. Other amendments seek to ensure that the directive will only apply to the trans-European network and not to all motorways.
The EP transport committee, then, took account of the Council's position (of October 2007) endorsing non-binding guidelines and took on board several first reading amendments. The report was adopted by 25 votes to 4, with 13 abstentions, and will be voted on in the EP in April. (A.By.)