Registration documents for motor vehicles and their trailers

The Committee particularly welcomes the fact that the registration certificate is to be designed with reference to the Vienna Convention . However, the Committee points out that it is essential to at least incorporate the scope of the ECE convention into European Union rules, since the ECE rules are currently accepted outside the EU, notably in the eastern European countries. The Committee advocates the setting up of an electronic system throughout the European Union through which vehicle registration data could be accessed via the chassis number. Plastic cards with a computer chip have been recommended as an interim solution until electronic checks can be carried out on vehicles directly. These cards could be introduced immediately without first providing the data in paper form. If the data are provided on paper, they should at least be electronically readable (e.g. by using a bar code). The Committee agrees that a two-part registration certificate is absolutely necessary. The issuing of a two-part registration document can also provide proof of ownership, as already provided by the ownership papers issued in some Member States. As regards measures to increase anti-tampering protection, it is recommended that use of holograms be added in Annex I, part I, point II and Annex I, part II, point II of the directive. �