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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision 97/836/EC, the Union acceded to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (‘Revised 1958 Agreement’).

(2) In accordance with Council Decision 2000/125/EC, the Union acceded to the Agreement concerning the establishing of global technical regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles (‘Parallel Agreement’).

(3) Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council replaced the approval systems of the Member States with a Union approval procedure and established a harmonised framework containing adminis­trative provisions and general technical requirements for all new vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units. That Directive incorporated UN regulations in the EU type-approval system, either as requirements for type-approval or as alternatives to Union legislation. Since the adoption of that Directive, UN regulations have increasingly been incorporated into Union legislation in the framework of the EU type-approval.

(4) In the light of experience and technical developments, the requirements relating to certain elements or features covered by UN Regulations Nos 10, 34, 41, 46, 48, 50, 51, 53, 55, 60, 73, 83, 94, 107, 110, 113, 118, 125, 128, 130 and 131 need to be adapted to technical progress.

(5) In order to lay down uniform provisions concerning the approval of quiet road transport vehicles (QRTVs) with regard to their reduced audibility, a new UN Regulation on QRTVs should be adopted.

(6) It is therefore necessary to establish the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union in the Administrative Committee of the Revised 1958 Agreement and in the Executive Committee of the Parallel Agreement, as regards the adoption of those UN acts,