51998AC0106

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered` (98/C 95/08)

On 5 August 1997 the European Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 75 of the Treaty, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Transport and Communications, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 16 December 1997. The rapporteur was Mr García Alonso.

At its 351st plenary session of (meeting of 28 January 1998) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 111 votes to one, with three abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. Free movement of persons and free movement of goods are fundamental rights of the European Union enshrined in the Treaties.

2. The Commission proposal

2.1. Community law contains a range of provisions enabling motor vehicles to be driven freely throughout Community territory.

2.2. However, other provisions under the Vienna Convention on road traffic (), still apply in some Member States.

2.3. The aim of the proposal is to ensure that Member States, which under the provisions of Article 37 of the Vienna Convention, require vehicles registered in another Member State to display a distinguishing registration sign when being driven in their territory, also recognize a distinguishing sign which meets the provisions laid down in the annex to the regulation.

3. Conclusion

3.1. The Committee wholeheartedly supports the Commission proposal insofar as it assists road traffic and the free movement of persons within the Community and, by the same token, facilitates the completion of the single market.

Brussels, 28 January 1998.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

() Convention on road traffic, Vienna, 8 November 1968, comprising the amendments which entered into force on 3 September 1993 - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.