COMMISSION OPINION of 21 October 1977 addressed to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on a draft amendment to the Regulation on road traffic ("Wegenverkeersreglement") (77/675/EEC)

In accordance with Article 1 of the Council Decision of 21 March 1962 instituting a procedure for prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States (1), as amended by the Decision of 22 November 1973 (2), the Netherlands Government sent to the Commission, under cover of a letter of 22 July 1977 from the Office of its Permanent Representative to the European Communities, the text of a draft amendment to Article 15 (D) of the Regulation on road traffic ("Wegenverkeersreglement").

The letter from the Office of the Netherlands Permanent Representative reached the Commission on 8 August 1977 and, in accordance with Article 1 of the Council Decision referred to above, was also sent to the other Member States.

Under Article 2 (1) of the abovementioned Council Decision the Commission hereby delivers the following opinion: 1. The Commission finds that the increase from 16 000 to 18 000 kilograms in the case of two axles is likely to cause slightly greater damage to roads, in relation to the tonnage carried but that this increase is nevertheless in line with the maximum axle weight of 10 000 kilograms for each axle provided for in the legislation of the Netherlands.

2. The Commission reminds the Netherlands Government that the question of harmonization of the weights and dimensions of commercial road vehicles is still under discussion in the Council, which, at its meeting in December 1976, requested a further initiative based on a working paper to be prepared by the Commission.

3. Finally the Commission stresses that adoption of the above amendment may in no way prejudice any subsequent agreement at Community level.

4. The Commission has not thought it necessary to call a meeting with representatives of the Netherlands Government to gain further information, nor to arrange consultation with the other Member States pursuant to Article 2 (3) of the Council Decision.

5. The Commission is informing the other Member States of this opinion.

Done at Brussels, 21 October 1977.

For the Commission

Richard BURKE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No 23, 3.4.1962, p. 720/62. (2) OJ No L 347, 17.12.1973, p. 48.