No C 211/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down certain measures for the 
standardization and simplification of statistics of trade between Member States 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 21 of 26 January 1983, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 21 January 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Econo­
mic 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
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 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 21 January 1983 
for an opinion on the proposal for a Council Regu­
lation laying down certain measures for the standard­
ization and simplification of statistics of trade 
between Member States, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 25 January 1983 instructing the Section for 
Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up 
an opinion and a report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at 
its meeting of 4 May 1983, 
Having regard to the oral report by the rapporteur, 
Mr Regaldo, 
Having regard to the discussions on 1 June 1983 
during the plenary session held on 1 and 2 June 
1983, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: The Committee notes that the draft Regulation con­
stitutes part of a series of measures taken by the 
Commission to simplify the formalities pertaining to 
intra-Community trade. Indeed Article 8 (2) specifi­
cally associates it with the draft Regulation intro­
ducing a single form for consignment, internal 
Community transit and entry into free circulation of 
goods. 
The Committee is aware that the statistics can only 
be simplified if Member States agree to certain 
national data being either dropped or aligned. 
The Committee is unable to comment in detail on 
the possibility of dropping purely national data. It 
would however refer to its opinion on the proposal 
for a Council Regulation simplifying customs for­
malities in trade within the Community (COM(82) 
401 final), which stresses the need to cut statistics 
down to a minimum if the single form is to be prac­
ticable. 
The draft Regulation will improve statistics on trade 
flows between Member States, thereby furthering 
the smooth running of the common market and 
indirectly contributing to the introduction of the 
common trade policy. 
8.8.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/7 
The Committee would therefore express its support 
for the draft Regulation on trade statistics, whilst 
pointing out that it has issued an opinion on the draft Regulation introducing a specimen declaration 
form (CES 538/83). 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francos CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the commercial independence of the 
railways in the management of their international passenger and luggage traffic 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 23 of 28 January 1983, page 12. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 January 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Econo­
mic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 75 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
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 
Article 75 thereof. 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
on 12 January 1983 for an opinion on the proposal 
for a Council Decision ('), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 28 January 1983 instructing the section for Trans­
port and Communications, under Article 22 of the 
Rules of Procedure, to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by that Sec­
tion at its 150th meeting held on 11 May 1983, Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Querleux, (Article 29 of the Rules of Procedure), 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
1 June 1983 (208th plenary session of 1 and 2 June 
1983), 
(i) OJNoC23, 28. 1. 1983, p. 12. HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee generally endorses this propo­
sal, which will extend to international passenger and 
luggage traffic the commercial independence 
enjoyed by the railways in their international goods 
traffic since the Council Decision of 19 July 1982.