Periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers. 'Roadworthiness package'

The Council held a debate on a proposal for a Regulation updating the common rules on mandatory periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles intended to improve road safety, as well as environmental protection. The proposed Regulation, presented by the Commission in July 2012, is part of a "roadworthiness package" that also includes proposals for Regulations on roadside inspections of commercial vehicles and on the registration documents for vehicles.

The debate, which was based on a Presidency paper, focused on the following questions:

1) The degree of harmonisation of vehicle testing to be achieved through the new rules:

• The Council generally showed a positive attitude towards the Commission's initiative to further harmonise the common rules on vehicle checks. A large number of ministers considered that such a legislative initiative can usefully contribute to achieving the goals of increased road safety and improved environmental protection.
• Many Member States, however, had misgivings about the legal form of the proposed legislation and would prefer a Directive rather than a Regulation; they considered that a Directive, which leaves more scope for taking into account the specificities of the Member States, would be more appropriate to achieve an improved degree of harmonisation and adequate implementation.
• One delegation did not see the need for an initiative such as proposed by the Commission at the current stage, pointing to the high costs involved and questioning the benefits in terms of road safety.

2) The list of vehicles to be checked regularly and the frequency of the checks:

• A majority of member states voiced concerns about the lists of vehicles to be tested, with a large number of delegations questioning the extension of the checks to two- or three-wheeled vehicles, tractors or light trailers.
• Moreover, many delegations were not convinced by the proposal to increase the frequency of tests.