25.10.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 295/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 1 October 1991 amending Directive 88/77/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles (91/542/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 (1), In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas it is important to adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas the internal market. shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured; Whereas the first programme of action of the European Communities on the protection of the environment, approved by the Council on 22 November 1973, called for account to be taken of the latest scientific advances in + combating atmospheric pollution caused by gases emitted from motor vehicles and for Directives adopted previously to be amended accordingly; whereas the third programme of action provides for additional efforts to be made to reduce considerably the present level of emissions of pollutants from motor vehicles; ' (*) OJ No C 187, 27. 7. 1990, p. 6. (2) OJNoC48,25.2.1991,p.162;and O No C 240,16.9.1991, . 106. ‘ ¢) p0J No C 41, 18. 2. 1991, p. 51. Whereas Directive 88/77/EEC (*) lays down the limit values for the emissions of carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides from diesel engines for use in motor vehicles on the basis of a test procedure representative for European driving conditions for the vehicles concerned; whereas in accordance with Article 6 of that Directive these limit values should be further reduced in. the light of technical progress and a limit value for particulate emissions fixed; Whereas, in laying down the new standards and test procedures, it is necessary to take account of future traffic growth in the European Community; whereas an increase in vehicle registrations, particularly lorries, is to be expected in anticipation of the internal market; Whereas the work undertaken by the Commission in that sphere has shown that the Community motor industry has had available for some time or is currently perfecting technologies which allow a considerable reduction of the limit values in question and the particulate standards; whereas, because of this and the likely increase in the number of motor vehicles in Europe as a result of the internal market, itis imperative to reduce emission limit values radically in the interests of environmental protection and public health; Whereas it is appropriate to introduce these more stringent standards in two stages, the first coinciding with the implementation dates of the new stringent European emission standards for passenger cars; whereas the second stage aims at the establishment of a longer-term orientation for the European motor industry in fixing limit values which are based on the expected performance of technologies which (*) OJ No L 36, 9. 2. 1988, p. 33.