Motor Insurance: civil liability, fourth directive (amend. direct. 73/239/EEC, 88/357/EEC, 92/49/EEC)

The Conciliation Committee reached agreement on a joint text for the directive on civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles. The most difficult question (the territorial application of the directive) was resolved by enlarging the scope of the directive to accidents occurring in third countries which are members of the "green card" system, which will in practice cover over 90% of third country accidents involving Community parties. The Council also accepted Parliament's amendments concerning the rights of the insurance undertakings and the injured parties. For the entry into force and application of Article 6 concerning compensation bodies, a satisfactory compromise was found. In the framework of a global compromise, and since the main objectives were reached as far as citizens' rights were concerned, the EP delegation did not insist on the amendments of a legal or administrative nature, where the Council's common position had modified the Commission proposal. The EP delegation felt that the directive was an important addition to EC law and therefore recommended that Parliament approve the directive at third reading.�