Directive 96/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 on the protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact and amending Directive 70/156/EEC

As part of this programme, the Commission part-finances crash testing of frontal and side impacts for the most widely sold cars in Europe. The results for each vehicle category are published in the specialist press and consumer magazines;

Renault, for example, having made extra airbags standard on every model, paid for the Megane to be re-tested to demonstrate its improved side-impact protection.

Annex There have been a number of important developments since the 1994 communication:[3] - The Task Force on the "Car of tomorrow" has started its work. - The block exemption Regulation for the distribution of motor vehicles has been renewed. - Industrial cooperation agreements have been concluded with China and India. - The Korean and Japanese markets have been further opened to European imports. - Contacts between European suppliers and Japanese manufacturers have been enhanced at the JAMA-CLEPA business conference with the support of the European Union. - The regulatory work on type-approval, mandatory for all new types of passenger cars from 1996, has been completed. - The results of the Auto-Oil Programme, which is based on air qualit ...[+++]y targets for major European cities and a detailed cost-benefit assessment, have been published and used as a basis for new Commission proposals to reduce passenger car emissions. - New safety and environmental initiatives have been taken (e.g. front and side impact protection, safety belts in coaches). - A training network has been set up with funding from the FORCE programme, resulting in 53 proposals for specific, innovative training projects.

OTHER DECISIONS (Adopted without discussion. In the case of legislative acts, votes against and abstentions are indicated. Decisions including statements to which the Council has decided to grant the public access are indicated by asterisks; the statements in question may be obtained from the Press Office) Protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact * Following the second reading by the European Parliament, the Council proceeded to the final adoption of the Directive on the protecti ...[+++]on of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact and amending Directive 70/156/EEC.

The four countries were represented at the ceremony by their Ambassadors to the Communities: for Hungary: Mr Endre JUHASZ; for Poland: Mr Jan KULAKOWSKI; for the Czech Republic: Mr Josef KREUTER; for Slovakia: Mr Jan LISUCH. OTHER INTERNAL MARKET DECISIONS (Adopted without discussion. In the case of legislative acts, votes against or abstentions are indicated.) Protection of occupants of vehicles in the event of a frontal impact The Council adopted its common position with a view to adopting a Directive on the ...[+++]protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact and amending Directive 70/156/EEC.