Inland transport of dangerous goods

The Commission is of the view that the Council’s common position reflects all of the main objectives of its initial proposal. The common position, which was adopted unanimously on 7 April 2008, reflects the compromise text agreed by all three institutions.

Both Parliament and Council made several amendments to the proposed Directive. To recall, a package of compromise amendments were adopted by Parliament during Plenary in September 2007. The amendments were agreed on by all three institutions with a view to finding final agreement at first reading. However, two minor omissions were discovered in the operative part of the text adopted by the EP (corresponding recitals were adopted). The texts concerning the application of rules for reasons other than safety and the financing of translations were omitted. These omissions were simply errors, there was no disagreement on the substance of the texts. The text of the two omissions are as follows:

• Article 1(5): Member States may regulate or prohibit, strictly for reasons other than safety during transport, the transport of dangerous goods within their territory
• Article 8(2): The Commission shall provide financial support, as appropriate, to the Member states for the translation of the ADR, RID and ADN and their modifications into their official language.

To conclude the Commission can accept the common position as it stands.