19. 5. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 129/33. (Acts whose publication:is not obligatory) COUNCIL THIRD COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 14 May 1990 on- the approximation of the laws of the Member States: relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (90/232/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN' COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular -Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, by Directive 72/166/EEC (%), as last amended by Directive 84/5/EEC (%), the Council adopted provisions on the approximation of.the laws- of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the . use of motor vehicles and to the enforcement of the obli- gation to insure against such liability ; Whereas Article 3 of Directive 72/166/EEC requires each Member State to take all appropriate measures to ensure that civil liability -in respect of the use of vehicles: normally. based in its territory is-covered by insurance ;. whereas the extent of the liability covered and the terms and conditions of the insurance cover should be-deter- mined on the-basis of those measures; Whereas .Directive 84/5/EEC, as- amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and-Portugal, reduced considerably the- disparities between the level and content -of .compulsory . . () OJ No C 16, 20. 1. 1989, p. 12.” () OJ No C 304, 4. 12. 1989, p. 41 and OJ No C 113, 7. 5. 1990. () OJ No C 159, 26. 6. 1989, p. 7. () OJ No L 103, 2. 5. 1972, p. 1. () O No L 8, 11. 1. 1984, p. 17. civil liability insurance in the Member States; whereas significant disparities still exist, however, in such insurance  cover ; Whereas. motor vehicle accident  victims should be guaranteed comparable treatment itrespective of where in the Community accidents occur; Whereas there are, in particular, gaps in the compulsory insurance cover of motor vehicle passengers in certain Member States; whereas, to protect this  particularly vulnerable category of potential victims; such gaps should be filled; Whereas any uncertainty concerning the application of the first indent* of Article 3 (2) of Directive 72/166/EEC should be removed; whereas all compulsory motor insurance policies must cover-the entire territory -of the Community ; Whereas in  the interests .of the party insured, every insurance policy should, moreover, guarantee for a single premium, in each Member State, the cover required by -its law or the coverrequired by the law of the Member State where the vehicle is normally based, when that cover is higher; Whereas Article 1 (4) of Directive 84/5/EEC requires each Member State to set up or authorize a body to compensate the victims of accidents caused by uninsured or unidenti- fied- vehicles ; whereas, however; the said provision is without prejudice to the right of the Member States to regard compensation by this body as subsidiary or non- subsidiary ;