Council Decision (EU) 2019/1029 of 18 June 2019 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the relevant Committees of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe as regards the proposals for modifications to UN Regulations Nos 14, 17, 24, 30, 44, 51, 64, 75, 78, 79, 83, 85, 90, 115, 117, 129, 138, 139, 140 and 145, as regards the proposals for modifications to Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) Nos 15 and 19, as regards the proposal for an amendment to Mutual Resolution M.R.2, as regards the proposal for one new UN Regulation, and as regards the proposals for amendments to the authorisations to develop GTRs

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

By Council Decision 97/836/EC^f1, the Union acceded to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of those prescriptions (the ‘Revised 1958 Agreement’). The Revised 1958 Agreement entered into force on 24 March 1998.

By Council Decision 2000/125/EC^f2, the Union acceded to the Agreement concerning the establishing of global technical regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles (the ‘Parallel Agreement’). The Parallel Agreement entered into force on 15 February 2000.

Pursuant to Article 1 of the Revised 1958 Agreement and Article 6 of the Parallel Agreement, the Administrative Committee of the Revised 1958 Agreement and the Executive Committee of the Parallel Agreement (‘the relevant Committees of UNECE’) may adopt, as applicable, the proposals for modifications to UN Regulations Nos 14, 17, 24, 30, 44, 51, 64, 75, 78, 79, 83, 85, 90, 115, 117, 129, 138, 139, 140 and 145, the proposals for modifications to Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) Nos 15 and 19, the proposal for an amendment to Mutual Resolution M.R.2, the proposal for one new UN Regulation, and the proposals for amendments to the authorisations to develop GTRs (the ‘mega decision’).

The relevant Committees of UNECE, during the 178th session of the World Forum to be held between 24 and 28 June 2019, are to adopt a mega decision in relation to the administrative provisions and uniform technical prescriptions for the approval of and global technical regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the relevant Committees of UNECE as regards the adoption of proposals for UN Regulations, as the UN Regulations will be binding on the Union and capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law in the field of vehicle type-approval.

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f3 replaced the approval systems of the Member States with a Union approval procedure and established a harmonised framework containing administrative provisions and general technical requirements for all new vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units. That Directive incorporated regulations adopted under the Revised 1958 Agreement (‘UN Regulations’) in the EU type-approval system, either as requirements for type-approval or as alternatives to Union legislation. Since the adoption of Directive 2007/46/EC, UN regulations have been increasingly incorporated into Union legislation.

In the light of experience and technical developments, the requirements relating to certain elements or features covered by UN Regulations Nos 17, 24, 30, 44, 64, 75, 78, 79, 83, 85, 90, 115, 117, 129, 138, 139, and 140 need to be supplemented and UN Global Technical Regulations Nos 15 and 19 need to be amended. In addition, certain provisions in UN Regulations Nos 14, 51, 83, 129 and 145, and in the UN Global Technical Regulation 15 need to be corrected. Finally, new requirements regarding the Advanced Emergency Braking System need to be adopted,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: