Car industry: approval of retroreflecting markings, UN/ECE Regulation 104

PURPOSE: to present a proposal for a Council Decision on the accession of the European Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 104 on the approval of retroflecting markings for heavy and long vehicles and their trailers. CONTENT: following Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 Novmeber 1997, the EC became a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UN/ECE's) Revised 1958 Agreement on 24 March 1998 and acceded to the revised Agreement if the Council approves that Regulation by a qualified majority after receiving the assent of the EP. Regulation No 104 on the approval of retroreflecting markings for heavy and long vehicles and their trailers is aimed, in particular, at removing technical barriers in the trade in motor vehicles between the contracting parties while ensuring a high level of safety and environmental protection. Although that Regulation is not included in the list of regulations recognised by the EC that is contained in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC, the representatives of the Member States have stated that it would now be useful if the EC were to examine the possibility of acceding thereto. It is also provided that the Regulation concerned shall be incorporated into the Community approval system for motor vehicles and will thus supplement the laws in force within the Commnunity. Against this background, the proposal for a Decision is intended to enable the Community to accede to UN/ECE Regulation No 104 on the approval of retroreflecting markings for heavy and long vehicles and their trailers.�