Air pollution: CO₂ emissions, fuel consumption of N1 light commercial vehicles (amend. Directives 70/156/EEC and 80/1268/EEC)

The Council common position takes either direct or indirect account of all three amendments tabled by the European Parliament. In addition, in Article 3, Council has deferred a decision regarding multi-stage vehicles until the Commission evaluates the practical operation of this Directive with respect to the family concept and also assesses the possibility of applying the Directive in a representative manner to multi-stage vehicles and those vehicles that are equipped with an engine that has been type approval for pollutant emissions according to Directive 88/77/EEC. The Commission is concerned that Council found it necessary to increase the complexity of the Directive by introducing the family concept in addition to the 6% criteria for extension of type-approval. Aside from the fact that the Commission, according to its right of initiative in conformity with the Treaty, can appreciate the timing and content of any proposal to be submitted, the evaluation of the practical operation of this Directive according to Article 3 will depend heavily on the information that the Commission receives from the Member States. The Commission is concerned that the obligation of the Member States to provide the information to the Commission is not mentioned in Article 3. The Commission has expressed its views regarding the delays in the implementation of this Directive. However, in order to lay down the legislation in order for any further steps to be considered, the Commission, in general, accepts the common position. It therefore invites the two institutions to reach an agreement on the amendments to Directives 80/1268/EEC and 70/156/EEC as soon as possible.�