The aim of this proposal for a Council directive was to ensure the free movement of components of cableway installations and of complete cableway installations intended for public transport by harmonising the national provisions on the safety of users and the protection of their health. The installations in question were divisible into five main categories, namely funicular railways, cable cars, gondolas, chair lifts and drag lifts. As far as components were concerned, the proposed directive was based on the new approach to technical harmonisation and standardisation. As far as complete installations were concerned, in view of the need to open up markets and protect users, the proposal provided for a Community commissioning procedure (verification). In both of these contexts, regulation was limited to essential requirements, and the details of implementation were left to the Member States and to the European standardisation system.�