ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (82)578
Vol.1982/0182

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
/•
A
ï>\
Λ
■:·.Λ*
;I.\COM(82)578 final
Brussels,22September1982
Proposalfora
COUNCIL .REGULATION
ontheformationofratesforthecarriageofgoodsbyroad
betweenMemberStates
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission )
COM(82)578final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1.TheCommission hereby presents totheCouncil its pre osal for
anew rate-formation system for the international carriage ofgoods
byroad within theCommunity asfrom 1January 198^.Insubmitting
this proposal theCommission isaware that theCouncil will again be
required totake adecision onone ofthe fundamental problems in
thecontext ofthe common transport policy ,since therate-formation
system isakey factor indetermining the quality ofthe organizat­
ion ofthemarkets and ofCommunity policy .
Theproposal isbased both ontheCommission 'sconcept oftransport
policy and onexperience gained inapplying Council Regulations
117V68 and2831/77.TheCommission hasalso obtained theopinion
ofthe socio-economic circles involved and has consulted its Road
Haulage Tariff Committee .
2.Thebasic economic policy considerations underlying theproposal donot
need tobeset out indetail here jtheCommission 'sideas onthis
subject arewidely known .Inits opinion none ofthearguments orfacts
which might bemarshalled against the idea ofintroducing arate-formation
system based onmarket economy principles issufficiently convincing .
Administrative rules ,however well thought out ,arenosubstitute for
rates which are freely formed onmarkets subject tothe free play of
the forces ofcompetition andwhich provide anobjective instrument
forproviding information and guidance .
•/•••

Practical experience gained from theexistence since i960 ofa
tariff system confirms theabove considerations .Ontheonehand ,
this experience has shown that inthepresent and theprospective
circumstances mandatory tariffs cannot seriously beregarded as
aninstrument ofcommon pricing policy inrelation totheinter­
national carriage ofgoods byroad .Ontheother ,ithasdemonstrated
why thepresent system ofreference prices has not fully achieved its
aims and has highlighted those areas where ittherefore needs im­
proving .
3.1 .The system ofcompulsory bilateral andmultilateral tariffs has
failed mainly for the following reasons :
-There has not been enough progress towards economic and
monetary union ,and theresulting differences intheway
inwhich carriers' costs have developed insome Member States
are such astoensure from the outset the failure ofany attempt
toconfine r~te formation within astraitjacket ofcompulsory
tariffs applicable tothe transport mode inquestion .
-The many fluctuations incurrency values have rendered the
system ofbrackets difficult tomaintain .
-For years ithasbeen noticeable that market forces have
usually been stronger than imposed price-control systems .
-Thetariffs currently inforce ,which were formed along
traditional lines have been overtaken bytechnical develop­
ments inthetransport sector .Examples ofthis arecombined
transport and logistic services .

-If-
3.2 .Experience has also shown that :
-Compulsory tariffs have little effect ontherates actually
charged .Infact inmost instances compulse ytariffs acted
asprice recommendations ;
-Tomonitor compliance with mandatory tariffs itisnecessary
toset upalarge and costly administrative apparatus which
determines increases inthe costs ofthe services rendered
and isreflected inthelevel ofcharges tocustomers ;
-inthose countries where checks areactually carried out ,
the effectiveness ofthe checks isvery uncertain because
there are somany road haulage companies and operations to
bemonitored .
3»3 .The Commission isnot unaware ofthe concerne which causes
certain economic circles and some governments todefend a
system ofcompulsory tariffs .
However ,ifwetake into consideration thegeneral aims ofthe
Treaty ofRome (which calls fortheestablishment offree compet­
ition ),theinterests ofthegeneral public andtheexperience
gained inthelast fewyears ,itisclear that ,firstly ,compulsory
tariffs intheory are contrary tothe principles ofamarket orientate <
economy and ,,secondly ,they cannot provide alasting andeffective
solution toproblems such asthose ofcut-throat competition and the
distortion ofcompetition .
Asolution tothese problems should besought before therate-
formation stage intheform ofmeasures capable oferadicating
the causes ofmarket deterioration .
•/•••

-?-
TheCommission feels that asystem ofrecommended rates ,intheform
ofreference tariffs ?isthemost suitable means ofhelping toestablish
aclimate ofhealthy competition .Such asystem :
-canaffect rate formation positively byproviding carriers ,particular­
lythesmaller onep 3with the data they need for the correct calculat­
ion ofcarriage chaA*ges :
-does not require Évast and expensxve monitoring apparatus ;and
-encourages carriers and transport users toestablish adialogue
intheprocess ofcatting upasystem ofcontractually agreed charges
which would seem tobethemost effective way ofavoiding aslump
intransport rates -
Nevertheless ,experience points totheconclusion that thesystem
introduced in1977 has not entirely lived uptoexpectations .Two
possible reasons car .beadvanced toexplain this :
-Thebilateral andmultilateral solution -inpractice auniform
system ofrecommerded rates for all transport operations between
the original and thenewMember States aswell asamong thelatter -
ran into the same difficulties asthesystem ofcompulsory tariffs
which had also been established onabilateral and multilateral
basis .
-Themethods used when establishing the tariffs were partly
responsible for rates losing touch with the market .
TheCommission considers that ,with afewchanges ,these mistakes
could beavoided and that ,bycontrast with thesystem ofcompulsory
tariffs ,theexperiment with recommended prices should becontinued .

-6-
If.Whilst preparatory work wasbeing done onthis proposal ,some government
experts expressed thefear that iftariffs were liberalized this would make
prices collapse andtrigger off awave of"dumping "rates .Toallay these
fears theRegulation provides for thepossibility oflaying down compulsory
minimum tariffs inaddition tothe reference tariffs .
Theproposal permits the introduction ofsuch compulsory tariffs onaper­
manent basis ,but theCommission feels that they should beintroduced only
after careful consideration andwhere strictly necessary .They could be
limited ,for example ,to :
-agiven period ,
-certain routes ,orto
-certain categories ofgoods .
Ifsuch tariffs were tobeintroduced ,butnot asanexceptional measure inthe
light ofparticular difficulties ,theproposal does provide forthepossibility
ofconcluding tariff agreements involving rates below the compulsory minimum
rates .Insuch circumstances ,there isareal need fora"safety valve ".
5.Inconnection with this new approach torate formation theCommission has
consulted the economic circles concerned and itsRoad Haulage Tariff
Committee andhas made use oflearned studies onthis question
Users' and freight forwarders' representatives have stated that ,subject to
certain conditions ,they could accept anapproach ofthis type .Theroad
hauliers' representatives particularly criticized the fact that theproposed
rate-formation system has too fewmandatory elements .The representatives
offive Member States inthe Road Haulage Tariff Committee were infavour
ofcontinuing the current system ofcompulsory tariffs whilst the delegates
ofthe five other Member States were against maintaining compulsory tariffs .
Inview oftheopinions summarized above ,theCommission iswell aware ofthe
difficulties itsproposal will encounter .Nevertheless ,itparticularly wishes
toreaffirm that ,initsopinion and inthelight ofitsexperience ,afree
rate formation system for the international carriage ofgoods byroad would
bethebest solution .Theproposed combination ofrecommended rate - the
form ofreference tariffs asthegeneral rule and thepossibility ofapplying
compulsory minimum tariffs may beregarded asastep inthis direction .
1)Reference Tariffs forGoods Transport byProf.R. WILLEKE,Prof .H.BAUM and
Dr.¥.HOENER (Studies Collection ,Transport Series -No.6,apublication of
theCommission oftheEuropean Communities ).

-
Reference tariffs
7.Reference tariffs are indicative and donot limit hauliers' freedom or
responsibilities with regard tosetting their rates .The role of
reference tariffs istheneutral one ofproviding information and guidance
onthebasis ofwhich acarrier and auser can agree ontherates for
transport operations .
Thetariffs are fixed for each Member State andapply toalltransport
operations starting intheMember State concerned ,regardless ofthe
nationality ofthe carrier .
This approach differs from thepresent principle of"bilateralism "and
has the following advantages :
-Itreduces thenumber oftariffs inforce intheCommunity toten ,
whilst under thebilateral system there could beasmany asforty-five .
The new tariffs are therefore easier toconsult and disseminate .
-Astherecommended rates arefixed andmodified ineach Member State ,
this guarantees great flexibility for and speedy completion ofboth
procedures .
-Thenew approach avoids the traditional difficulties arising out of
fluctuations incurrency partities aseach tariff will beexpressed
inonly one currency ,that ofthe country oforigin .Should another
currency bechosen bytheparties tothe contract ,theexchange rate
quoted ontheday onwhich thecontract isconcluded will apply ,for
conversion purposes .
-Itrules out thepossibility ofdisputes arising between Member States
and therefore all theattendant procedures andarbitration bythe
Commission .
Compulsory minimum tariffs
8.Theminimum rates inthese tariffs arebinding onallparties toa
transport contract for aservice ontheroute orroutes concerned ,
irrespective ofnationality .
•/•••

-g-
Minimum rates ofthis type may belimited toasetperiod ortoa
fewtypes ofgoods .Therestrictions will depend onthedifficulties
encountered onthe market orsub-market concerned .Where nosuch
restrictions exist itwill bepossible ,under certain circumstances ,
tonegotiate special contracts involving rates below the compulsory
minimum .
Theminimum rate and anyadjustment initslevel arebased onthe
variable costs for atypical transport service ontheroutes concerned .
9.Professional organizations representing road hauliers ,transport users
andproviders ofservices incidental totransport (inparticular the
freight forwarders )will have animportant part toplay inworking out
andmodifying theprice formation system forboth reference tariffs and
compulsory minimum tariffs .
10.Toassist theCommission inconnection with itsresponsibilities with
regard totransport rates andconditions for theinternational carriage
ofgoods ,aTariff Committee issetupbythis Regulation .
•/•••

-3 :-
II.PARTICULAR CONSIDERATIONS
Article 1
This Article specifies thetransport operations covered bytheRegulation ,
i.e. alltransport operations byroad between Member States ,including
transit operations through athird country and sea ,rail and inland
waterway operations without intermediate reloading (e.g. roll-on /roll off
road-sea services ).
Certain types oftransport operation should beexempted from all tariff
arrangements ,either because they are ofminor economic importance
(e.g. involving lowweights orshort distances ,etc)orbecause they
have special characteristics (e.g. some ofthegoods listed inAnnexes I
and IItothe First Council Directive onthe establishment ofcertain
common rules forinternational transport )orbecause ofthetechnical
problems involved insetting charges (e.g. forthecarriage oflive
animals orabnormal loads ).
Article 2
This Article states thegeneral principle oftheRegulation (price recommend­
ations )and indicates theoption open (compulsory minimum rates tosupple­
ment therecommended prices ).
Article 3
This Article states that the reference tariffs are simply intended asa
guide for theformation oftransport rates and that carriers andusers
are free toagree onarate inline with the market situation and their
own interests .
/

Article 4
Thereference tariffs arecompiled inaccordance with theprinciple that
there isasingle tariff for all transport operations from agiven Member
State ,whatever thenationality ofthecarrier orthecountry ofregistrat­
ion ofthe transport vehicle .
Article 5and 6
Toensure effective application ,thereference tariffs must reflect the
market situation asclosely aspossible whilst enabling hauliers tocharge
rates which will both cover their costs andguarantee them afair profit ,
which isthe aim ofall commercial undertakings .
The diversity and increasing specialization oftransport operations requires
finer tariff differentiation .Such differentiation isall the more necessary
ifthereference tariffs are really toact asindicators for the formation
ofrates onthe various markets .
Article 7
This Article contains theprovisions governing theprocedure fordrawing up
reference tariff proposals .
Responsibility for fixing recommended tariffs isleft tothe transport
undertakings which ,acting inconsultation with theother branches of
activity involved ,are tofixthem through their professional organizations .
Theproposed tariffs are tobesent tothegovernments oftheMember States
and totheCommission toensure that they comply with theprovisions of
this Regulation and any other provisions involved .
IftheCommission and theMember States donot oppose thereference tariffs ,
they will bepublished bytheprofession .

-I-
Article 8
Arelatively tight timetable forreviewing the tariffs isessential ifthe
reference tariffs are toclosely reflect the state ofthemarket and trends
incosts .
Article 9
Intheevent ofastalemate inthenegotiations between theprofessional
organizations when fixing ormodifying atariff ,itwas thought best to
leave theresponsibility for establishing ormodifying the tariff tothe
Member State oforigin oftheoperations towhich thetariff inquestion
applies .
Article 10
This Article specifies theconditions subject towhich compulsory minimum
tariffs may beintroduced :
-Agreement between theMember States concerned isessential .
-Theminimum tariffs are tosupplement thereference tariffs .
Article 11
Theobligation tocomply with thetariffs applies not only tocarriers but
also tousers and freight forwarders ,sothey are jointly responsible in
the event ofinfringement .
Asinthe case ofrecommended tariffs ,thepossibility ofdifferentiating
thecompulsory minimum tariffs stems from theneed tomake allowance inthe
tariff system for theincreasing diversity oftransport activities .The
price schedules which these tariffs involve aredenominated inthecurrencies
ofthe countries which have negotiated theagreements with theobject of
introducing compulsory tariffs .
Article 12
Toguarantee that these tariffs really areminimum tariffs ,theintroduction
andmodification ofthelevel ofthetariffs depends onthevariable costs
ofproviding services .
#/•••

Article 13
Where compulsory tariffs arenot limited toacertain period orto
certain types oftraffic ,special contracts between hauliers andusers
foroperations atrates below thecompulsory minimum rate arepermitted .
However ,inorder toensure that theprovisions oftheRegulation are
notallowed tobesystematically abused asaresult ,such contracts
may benegotiated only incertain specific circumstances andmay not
result inadeterioration ofthehaulier 'sfinancial position .Provision
ismade for aprocedure whereby theMember States check the terms of
contracts retrospectively .
Article 14
This Article lays down theprocedure for establishing andmodifying the
compulsory minimum tariffs .
TheCommission will take part onaconsultative basis inthe relevant
negotiations inorder toensure compliance with theCommunity provisions .
For thesame reasons asfor thereference tariffs ,provision ismade
for areview timetable .
Article 15
Itwas thought best tomake provision forarbitration inthe event of
disagreement between Member States during discussions toestablish or
modify atariff .Therole ofarbitrator isassigned totheCommission ,
which will beassisted inthis task bytheTariff Committee .Regulation
(EEC)No.2831/77,which isduetoexpire ,already contained provisions
for arbitration .

Article 16
Inorder tobeable todischarge their duty tomonitor changes inthe trans­
port market intheinterests ofthegeneral public ,theCommission and the
competent authorities intheMember States must beable toobtain information
ontherates actually charged onthebasis ofthetariff system .
Article 17
TheTariff Committee referred tointhis Article was setupbythecurrent
Regulation (EEC )No.2831/77•Ithasfunctioned satisfactorily andthe
Commission has greatly benefited from itsassistance .
Article 18
TheMember States will have tointroduce legislative oradministrative measures
f
inorder toimplement this Regulation .Provisions must bemade forensuring that
these measures are taken ingood time .
Theimplementing measures envisaged byaMember State will besent tothe
Commission which ,acting either onitsowninitiative orattherequest ofa
Member State ,may consult theother Member States onthesubject .
Itgoes without saying that theMember States will help each other and the
Commission toensure thecorrect application ofthesystem ofreference tariffs
and compulsory minimum tariffs .Inthe case ofthelatter ,thecontrol measures
andpenalties must bejointly agreed inorder tomake them more effective .
Article 19
Nocomments .
Article 20
Topermit asmooth changeover from thesystem under Regulation (EEC)No.2831/77
tothenewsystem ,provision hasbeen made forleaving theexisting reference
tariffs unchanged until theprovisions ofthis Regulation areimplemented .
Thecompulsory tariffs will betemporarily converted into reference tariffs ,
and once this Regulation enters into force theMember States may introduce
compulsory minimum tariffs subject tothe conditions provided for .
Article 21
Nocomments .

-lit-
PROPOSAL FOR ACOUNCIL REGULATION
onthe formation ofrates for the carriage ofgoods byroad
between Member States
THECOUNCIL OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
and inparticular Article 75thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having regard totheopinion oftheEuropean Parliament ,
(2)Having regard totheopinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas apolicy inrespect oftransport rates andconditions constitutes
animportant aspect ofthecommon transport policy ,theestablishment of
which bytheMember States isprovided for intheTreaty 5whereas Article
21ofCouncil Regulation (EEC)No.2831/77of12December 1977 onthe
fixing ofrates forthecarriage ofgoods byroad between Member States
provides that theCouncil shall decide onaCommission proposal before
31December 1982 onthesubsequent system fortransport rates andconditions
for thecarriage ofgoods byroad between Member States ;
Whereas theroad haulage markets should beorganized inaccordance with
free market principles inorder toensure theoptimum allocation of
resources ;whereas this concept also applies totransport rates forinter­
national road haulage ;
(1)
(2)
(3)0J
0J
OJNoL33*f ,2^.12.1977 ,p.22

.'.irea~ thesetting oftransport rates should therefore betheresponsibility
v"the transport .undertakings alone andnot that ofthepublic authorities
imposing compulsory tariffs ;whereas ,nevertheless ,itisopportune ,taking the
structure ofthese markets into account ,tofacilitate rate formation through a
tariff system whilst maintaining this principle ;
ihereas reference tariffs correspond tothis requirement because the final
decision onthe conclusion ofindividual rates isleft tothe market forces
whilst atthe same time providing operators with useful information fortheir
negotiations and equally improving market transparency andcompetitivity ,
particularly forsmall andmedium-sized haulage undertakings ;
•'hereas reference tariffs should therefore take into consideration the cost
ofthe corresponding services and themarket situation ;
Whereas ,since thereference tariffs simply constitute recommendations ,the
arawing upofdraft tariffs should bethetask oftheeconomic circles concerned
Whereas ,however ,inorder tomaintain abalance between theconcern toprotect
theinterests ofthegeneral public and theneed tomake theeconomic circles
concerned responsible fordrawing upthetariffs ,thedraft reference tariffs
ahould tesubmitted tothe Commission and totheMember States for examination ;
Whereas ,inorder toensure that reference tariffs closely reflect theeconomic
situation 3itisessential toset atimetable forreviewing them and
modifying them if-necessary ;
Whereas ,however ,theposition oncertain routes might justify theintroduction
ofcompulsory minimum tariffs inparticular toavoid anabnormal collapse in
rates ,such tariffs canonly beintroduced pursuant tobilateral ormultilateral
agreements between governments ;
Whereas ,tofacilitate compliance with thecompulsory minimum tariffs ,the
latter must apply toalloperators onthetransport market concerned ,i.e.
transporters aswell asusers and freight forwarders ;

-1b-
Whereas ,inorder tofulfil their role asadjuncts tothereference tariffs
and help prevent duaping situations and the deterioration ofcertain trans­
port markets ,thecompulsory minimum tariffs must take into account the
variable costs oftheservices inquestion ;whereas ,forthis reason ,
provision must bemade forlimiting the tariffs toagiven period orto
certain types oftraffic ;
Whereas these tariffs should beestablished ,modified andpublished in
accordance with theprovisions ofnational law inorder tofacilitate
these three operations ;
Whereas ,ifcompulsory tariffs are introduced without atima limit ora
limit totheir scope ,allowance must bemade forspecific situations by
permitting the conclusion ,subject tocertain conditions ,ofspecial
contracts involving thecharging oftransport rates lower than the
compulsory minimum tariffs ;
Whereas itshould be made possible tomonitor thedevelopment oftransport rates ;
Whereas it isdesirable that aTariff Committee attached totheCommission
should assist thelatter inthe implementation ofthis Regulation ;
Whereas itisessential toensure intheimplementing measures tobeteken
bytheMember States ,effective supervision ofthecompulsory minimum tariffs
and appropriate penalties .
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :

General provisions
Article 1
This Regulation shall apply tothecarriage ofgoods byroad forhire or
reward between theMember States including those goods covered bytheTreaty
establishing theEuropean Coal andSteel Community , •withtheexception
ofthecarriage ofgoods listed intheAnnex hereto .Itshall apply even
if,forpart ofthejourney carriage involves transit across athird country ,
orthevehicle containing thegoods iscarried bysea,rail orinland waterway
without intermediate reloading .
Article 2
1.The rates for carriage asreferred toinArticle 1shall begoverned
byasystem ofreference tariffs .
2.Two ormore Member States may , bymutual agreement ,supplement
thereference tariffs bythecompulsory tariffs referred toinArticle 10.
Reference tariffs
Article 3
The reference tariffs shall constitute recomr.iended rates . They shall
provide guidance fordetermining transport rates which theusers and
transport undertakings shall befree toagree upon according tothe
market situation and their own interests .
Article k
For each Member State ,thesystem ofreference tariffs shall consist of
asingle tariff foralltransport operations beginning intheMember State
inquestion ,regardless ofthenationality ofthecarrier orthecountry
ofregistration ofthe transport vehicle .

-/f-
Artide 5
1.Reference tariffs shall beestablished intheform ofeither general
tariffs orspecial tariffs .
2.Reference tari ffssha 11incorporate priceschedules andallother rules required
forcalculating transport rates .The price schedules shall bedenominated
inthecurrency ofthecountry inwhich thetransport operation begins .
Reference tariffs shall bedifferentiated asnecessary totake account ofthe special
features ofthevarious transport services and topromote thesetting
ofindividual transport rates which donot differ toowidely from the
reference tariffs .
Article 6
Thereference tariffs shall beestablished insuch away astotake
account of :
-theaverage cost ofproviding thecorresponding services ,including
general overheads ,and toallow afair profit ;
-thecurrent situation andlikely developments onthemarkets inquestion .
Article 7
Road hauliers professional organizations intheMember States shall
draw upproposals for the introduction oramendment ofreference tariffs .
2.The professional organizations referred toinparagraph 1shall consult theorganiz­
ations representing transport users and freight forwarders .
3.Onexpiry ofaperiod of30days from thedate ofreceipt ofthe
proposal by ,organizations representing transport users andfreight
forwarders ,theroad hauliers' professional organizations shall send the
proposals ,together with details ofanypositions adopted bythe organi­
zations consulted saidtheir reactions ,totheir governments which shall
inform theCommission immediately upon receipt .

-V--
k.AnyMember State concerned andtheCommission mayobject totheintroduction
ofmeasures within 60days ofthedate onwhich itreceives therelevant
proposal .
Ifneither theCommission noranyMember State concerned objects totheintroduction
ofthemeasures ,theroad hauliers' professional organizations shall publish
them intheir tariff bulletins and inthespecialized press .
Article 8
Theroad hauliers' professional organizations shall establish thereference
tariffs within 90days ofthe date ofentry into force ofthis Regulation ;
the tariffs shall beexamined with aview topossible modification
within one year following the establishment ofthe
tariffs orthe latest modification thereof .
Article 9
Ifthe road hauliers professional organizations donot establish ordonot
modify thereference tariffs bythedeadlines referred toinArticle 8,
theMember State concerned shall ,assoon aspossible ,establish the
reference tariffs oramend them andhave them officially published .
Compulsory minimum tariffs
Article 10
Two ormore Member States may introduce compulsory minimum tariffs ,in
addition tothereference tariffs ,fortransport operations starting and
finishing ontheir territory .The introduction ofsuch bilateral or
multilateral tariffs must bejointly agreed bytheMember States concerned .
•/•••

-SM-
Article 11
Compulsory minimum tariffs shall bebinding oncarriers ,transport
users and freight forwarders for setting rates for transport
operations onthe routes concerned .Individual rates may befreely
set above theminimum aslong asaccount istaken ofthe existing
reference tariff .
Compulsory minimum tariffs shall beestablished inthe form of
either general tariffs orspecial tariffs .
They shall incorporate price schedules and all the other rules required
forcalculating transport rates .Theprice schedules shall bedenominated
inthe currencies ofthe countries oforigin and destination ofthe
goods .
These tariffs may be differentiated totake account ofthe
economic and technical characteristics ofthe transport services .
These tariffs may belimited toacertain period ortoafewtypes of
traffic depending onthesituation onthe transport market orsub-
market concerned .
Article 12
Thevariable costs ofproviding thecorresponding service shall be
taken into account inestablishing thecompulsory minimum tariffs .

-}!-
Article 13
1.Ifcompulsory minimum tariffs are introduced without atime limit or
alimit totheir scope ,special contracts may beconcluded inwriting
between acarrier and another party involving transport rates below
theminimum for the compulsory tariffs .
2.The conclusion of thecontracts referred toinparagraph 1sha LLbeaLLowed inthecase
oftransport operations having special technical features which enable
them tobecarried out onspecial terms asregards costs .Special
contracts must inall cases besuch astomaintain orincrease the
carrier 'strading returns .
3.Onconcluding anyspecial contracts ,thecarrier shall forthwith
communicate the terms thereof tothe competent authorities ofthe
Member State onwhose territory the transport operation commences .
When communicating the terms ofthe contract the carrier shall
attach allparticulars justifying theconclusion ofthecontract
and the rates agreed .
Article l*f
1.Compulsory minimum tariffs shall befixed oramended bytheMember States
directly concerned inaccordance with the requirements laid down inArticle 10.
The Commission shall take part inthe relevant negotiations inanadvisory capacity .
2.Each Member State shall bring such tariffs into force within twomonths
following the conclusion of negotiations for fixing oramend­
ing thetariffs or,asthe case may be,following thecompletion
oftheprocedure referred toinArticle 15(1 )and (2).
3.The compulsory tariffs shall beofficially published intheMember
States concerned .
•/•••

k.Without prejudice toparagraphs 1and 2,aMember State may ,inorder
tooffset the effects ofmonetary fluctuations ,unilaterally carry
out anupward revision ofprice schedules expressed initscurrency .
The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States
conerned and the Commission atleast one month before this measure
isbrought into effect .Theminimum compulsory tai /ffs shall be
examined with aview toapossible adaptation within one
year following thesetting ofthe tariffs ortheir last
modification .
Article 15
If negotiations for establishment ormodification ofa
compulsory tariff areunsuccessful ,thedispute shall bereferred
totheCommission attherequest ofaMember State .
TheCommission ,after consulting theCommittee referred toin
Article 17,shall settle thematter bymeans ofaDecision which shall be
notified totheparties concerned andpublished inthe Official Journal
ofthe European Communities .
Common provisions
Article 16
1.Transport undertakings shall berequired tocommunicate tothe
competent authorities oftheMember States and totheCommission ,
upon request ,information concerning therates charged for the
international carriage ofgoods byroad .
/

-D.-
2.Toimprove knowledge ofthemarket situation ,surveys may bemade
concerning rates charged for the carriage ofcertain types ofgoods
onmajor routes .
■;¥'
3.TheCommission shall ,after obtaining theopinion oftheCommittee
provided for inArticle 17,laydown theprogrammes inrespect of
thecommunications provided for inparagraph 1and thesurveys
provided for inparagraph 2and theprocedures forcarrying them
out .
k.Information obtained inimplementation ofthis Regulation shall be
covered bytheobligation ofprofessional secrecy .
- < · ·
* Article 17
■■■4-/
,1r.•
1.ftCommittee attached totheCommission ishereby setupfor the
purpose ofassisting theCommission intheimplementation ofthis
Regulation andoftheprovisions adopted foritsapplication .
■/ ' *«..
The Committee shall :
Vdeliver opinions inthose cases expressly provided forinthis
, Regulation ,
i .';v"
~draw ,upby1October each year ,areport onthedevelopment
S;during thepreceding year ofrates and conditions for thecarriage
ofgoods byroad between Member States ,
-advise theCommission atitsrequest onallquestions concerning
the development ofthe future rates system inthis sector .
•/1ê•

-zq-
Within theframework ofthis Regulation ,theCommission may consult
theCommittee onanyother matter where itconsiders this appropriate .,
Theopinions oftheCommittee must state thereasons onwhich they
arebased and begiven within atime limit fixed bythechairman .
2.TheCommittee shall consist ofnot more than twogovernment experts
appointed byeach Member State and shall have aschairman ,arepresent­
ative oftheCommission which shall also provide secretarial services .
TheCommittee shall beconvened byitschairman onhis own initiative
oratthe request ofaMember State .TheCommittee mayhear theviews
ofrepresentatives oftheroad haulage industry ,transport users and
freight forwarders .
Article 18
1.Indue course ,andafter consulting theCommission ,theMember States
shall adopt thelaws ,regulations and administrative provisions
necessary for the implementation ofthis Regulation .
Asfar ascompulsory minimum tariffs are concerned ,Member States shall
inparticular provide forboth permanent and effective control and
appropriate penalties for infringements .
Member States shall designate the organizations referred toinArticle ?•
2.Attherequest ofaMember State oronitsowninitiative ,theCommission
shall consult theMember States with regard tothedrafts ofthe
laws ,regulations andadministrative provisions referred toin
paragraph 1.
i•The Member States shall afford assistance toone another and tothe
Commission for thepurposes ofapplying this Regulation .
/...

Article 19
This Regulation shall not affect anyobligation arising from theTreaty
establishing theEuropean Coal and Steel Community .
Article 20
1,Thereference tariffs shall bepublished notlater than 1July 1984 .
2.Thereference tariffs and thecompulsory tariffs established onthe
basis ofRegulation (EEC)No.2831/77inforce when this Regulation
enters into force shall remain inforce asreference tariffs until
they are replaced bytariffs established inaccordance with
this Regulation .
Any laws ,regulations oradministrative provisions concerning thesupervision
ofcompulsory tariffs andpenalties for infringements introduced bytheMember
States pursuant toRegulation (EEC )No2831 /77shall continue toapply tothe com­
pulsory minimum tariffs established pursuant tothis Regulation until they are
replaced byprovisions referred toinArticle 18(1 ).
Article 21
This Regulation shall enter into force on1January 1984 .
This Regulation shall bebinding inits entirety and directly
applicable inallMember States .
Done atBrussels . For the Council
The President

ANNEX
anam&sssxas
Types ofcarriage towhich this Regulation does not apply :
-occasional carriage ofgoods toorfrom airports ,intheevent ofair
services being diverted ,
-carriage ofluggage intrailers coupled topassenger-carrying vehicles and
thecarriage ofluggage inall types ofvehicles toand from airports ,
-carriage ofmail ,
-carriage ofdamaged vehicles ,
-carriage ofrefuse and sewage ,
-carriage ofanimal carcases fordisposal ,
-carriage ofbees and fish fry ,
-carriage ofobjects and works ofart for exhibition orfor commercial
purposes ,
-occasional carriage ofobjects andmaterial exclusively foradvertising or
information purposes ,
-removals byundertakings having special staff and equipment for this purpose ,
-carriage ofequipment ,properties and animals toorfrom theatrical ,musical
orfilm performances orsporting events ,circuses ,exhibitions orfairs ,or
toorfrom themaking ofradio ortelevision broadcasts orfilms ,
-carriage ofgold ,silver ,platinum ,money ,coins andsecurities ,stamps ,
documents ,precious stones orreal pearls ,
-carriage ofarticles required formedical care inemergency relief ,in
particular fornatural disasters ,
-carriage ofspare parts forsea-going vessels ,
-carriage oflive animals ,
•/•mm

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carriage involving the use ofspecial vehicles orspecial traffic
arrangements ,
carriage ofgoods not exceeding five tonnes intotal weight consigned
byasingle consignor toasingle consignee ,
carriage ofgoods over adistance which intotal does not exceed 50
kilometres ;where the road vehicle istransported bysea over part of
thedistance ,thesea journey shall not betaken into consideration in
the calculation ofthat distance .