Carriage of passengers: vehicles comprising more than 8 seats or maximum length 15m (amend. direct. 70/156/EEC)

The Committee agreed to substantially amend a 160 page Commission Proposal on the technical requirements for buses. This proposal was referred back to Committee last April following differences of opinion amongst political groups over the role of Parliament in legislation of a technical nature. Today, the Committee decided to delete some 140 pages of detailed technical specifications from the Commission Proposal. In doing so, the Committee underlined that it was for the legislative branch to lay down the general objectives of the legislation, and for a technical working party to work out the details. Hence, the Committee called for the setting up of a permanent working party consisting of equal numbers of representatives of operators, manufacturers, consumer groups and national councils of disabled people which will be charged with drawing up technical implementing standards that ensure the safety of users from the time they board until they alight, as well as, the accessibility for people with reduced mobility. The rapporteur for the proposal is Mr Simon MURPHY (PES, UK).�