24. 3. 80 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 72/13 
At present  the harmonization  of Member  States'  laws 
and regulations  is still,  in accordance  with  the Treaty 
of Rome,  closely  linked  with  the abolition  of barriers 
to trade.  The fundamental  objective  is the free  move-
ment  of goods  within  the common  market. 
It may  be wondered  whether,  in view  of the present 
state of the Community  and  the prospect  of its en-largement,  the time  has not come  to adopt  a new  ap-
proach,  one  which  would  facilitate  the gradual  im-
plementation  of truly  Community  regulations  and 
even  laws. 
It would  in fact  seem  increasingly  necessary  to give 
the Community  institutions  the opportunity  to take 
initiatives  in this field  which  met the real future  needs 
of the Community. 
Done  at Brussels,  21 November  1979 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Raffaele  VANNI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  initiating  a consultation  procedure 
concerning  international  action  in the field  of air transport  * 
The text referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No C 193 of 31 July  1979  page  9. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 23 July  1979  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  84 (a) 2 of the Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
173rd  plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 21 November  1979. 
The full text of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the Euro-
pean  Economic  Community  and,  in particular,  Arti-
cle 84 (2) thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 23 July  1979  for an 
opinion, Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by the Commit-
tee Chairman  on 20 August  1979,  instructing  the Sec-
tion for Transport  and Communications  to draw  up 
an opinion  on the matter  (Articles  22, 46 and 47 of 
the Rules  of Procedure), 
Having  regard  to the Section's  opinion  adopted  at its 
128th  meeting  on 14 November  1979, 
No C 72/14 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 24. 3. 80 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  made  by the Rap-
porteur,  Mr Ziinkler,  (Article  29 of the Rules  of Pro-
cedure), 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 173rd  Plenary 
Session,  held  on 21 November  1979, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION, 
unanimously: 
1. The  Committee  thinks  that it would  be useful  for 
the Member  States  and the Commission  to exchange 
views  on current  international  aviation  issues  of in-
terest  to the Community.  To that extent  the Commit-
tee supports  the Commission's  proposal. 
2. However,  a consultation  procedure  (involving  an 
additional  advisory  committee)  covering  all agree-
ments  and conventions  the Member  States  conclude 
on air transport  is considered  to be neither  necessary 
nor feasible.  In order  to prevent  overlapping  and du-
plication  of work,  it is recommended  that  the ex-
change  of views  between  the Member  States  and the Commission  should  take  place  within  the framework 
of the Council  Working  Party  on Transport  Ques-
tions. 
3. The  Committee  thinks  that  the  Commission 
should,  as a matter  of priority,  give  consideration  to 
measures  to promote  air transport  within  the Com-
munity  and  free  it of unnecessary  constraints  and 
burdens.  In this  connection  it may  be pointed  out 
that the lack  of cooperation  among  the Member 
States  towards  setting  up a common  air traffic  con-
trol system  and  improving  air traffic  control  proce-
dures  has repeatedly  led to considerable  disruption 
of air transport  in Europe  and  poses  an increasing 
threat  to safety.  The  differences  in the  Member 
States'  rules  and procedures  for passenger  and freight 
handling  also  form  an unnecessary  impediment  in in-
tra-Community  air transport. 
4. The  Committee  therefore  intends  to take  up im-
mediately  current  issues  of concern  to parties  in air 
transport  in the Community  and to submit  proposals 
for solutions. 
Done  at Brussels,  21 November  1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
RafFaele  VANNI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  introducing  special  aid for small  and 
medium-sized  industrial  enterprises  in Portugal 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No C 257 of 11 October  1979  page  5. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 9 October  1979  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
173rd  plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 21 November  1979. 
The full text of the opinion  is as follows: