Road transport, national and international traffic: maximum dimensions and weights

2000/0060(COD)
The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS (EPP-ED, GR) without any amendments. To recall, under the new Directive, buses of 15 meters in length would be entitled to operate throughout the EU, although Member States would have the right to impose local restrictions for safety or other reasons. The argument for allowing larger buses is that this would result in greater use of bus transport together with environmental benefits since bigger buses would mean fewer on the road in total. The common position not only accepts most of Parliament's technical amendments from first reading but goes further on one point : the transition period for phasing out older buses that do not comply with the Directive will now run 2020 rather than 2015 as requested by Parliament.�