United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 'Revised 1958 Agreement': uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts, and conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals; Revision 3

PURPOSE: to conclude the Revision 3 of the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for the reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (‘Revised 1958 Agreement’).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Revised 1958 Agreement of the UNECE concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for the reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions entered into force in 1995.

WP.29 agreed, at its 150th session in March 2010, to establish an informal group with a view to assisting WP.29 in considering actions on the future direction for the harmonisation of vehicle regulations under the Agreement. This future direction should aim at: (i) fostering the participation of more countries and regional economic integration organisations in the activities of the World Forum; (ii) increase the number of Contracting Parties to the Revised 1958 Agreement.

On 15 July 2013, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations within WP.29 to amend the Agreement. It is now proposed to approve the amendments to the Revised 1958 Agreement and to amend the Agreement accordingly.

CONTENT: the proposed Decision seeks the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Revision 3of the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for the reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions.

The proposals for Revision 3 of the Agreement and for increasing the voting majority threshold from two-thirds to four-fifths meet the negotiation objectives specified in the Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations within WP.29 for Revision 3 of the Agreement.

For further details, please report to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal of 27.10.2015.