11/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 December, the Transport Council noted the progress report on the draft directive making it easier to apply sanctions across borders in certain cases of traffic infringement (speeding, drink driving, not wearing a seat belt, going through a red light). Despite agreement on the aims of the proposal, most delegations have maintained their opposition to the legal basis of the text as proposed by the European Commission (Article 71 of the EC Treaty) and would prefer to use the third pillar (see EUROP E9759). “I stick by the legal basis (as proposed),” said Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani in the debate. He added that the proposal “is not an attempt to bring harmonisation” of road safety legislation. The Council noted this position. (A.By./transl.rt)