NoC 169/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 8.7. 85 
this measure were not to appear arbitrary, the Commission 
would have to threaten fines in all other instances where the 
person concerned fails to comply with procedural 
requirements; but this is not the case. 
4.3. However the reduction may be regarded, the 
unequal treatment of comparable circumstances becomes 
obvious particularly in view of Article 9, paragraph 2 (a) of 
Council Directive 79 / 623 / EEC of 25 June 1979 on customs 
obligations, which harmonizes the cancellation of 
obligations arising from customs procedures. A customs 
Done at Brussels, 24 April 1985. 
1. Article 3 (c) of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community provides for the abolition, as between 
Member States, of obstacles to freedom of movement for 
persons, services and capital. 
2. The difficulties encountered since the signing of the 
Treaty have however been such that it has not been possible 
to achieve this objective which, when realized, will heighten 
ordinary people's sense of belonging to the Community. 
Meeting on 25 and 26 June 1984, the Heads of State and 
Government also emphasized their determination to speed 
up the process of creating a 'people's Europe', declaring that 
they would work to this end by abolishing police and customs 
controls as rapidly as possible. 
3. The Committee welcomes this expression of political 
will. It denotes a turning point in the Community's history 
and will lead to a standardization of regulations at the 
OJ No C 47, 19. 2. 1985, p. 5. obligation exists when goods to be exported have not been 
presented, and this obligation is cancelled if the goods are 
proved to have been exported. Thus in this case repayment or 
remission of duties occurs without reduction although 
procedural requirements have not been met, the goods are 
subject to customs control and the administrative cost of 
identifying the goods is the same. 
The Committee regards such unequal treatment in legal 
terms as unjustifiable. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Community's internal borders, including a further 
improvement in the most advanced positions reached under 
bilateral Treaties (Benelux-France/Germany). Reference 
should be made to the need for improvements at a number of 
Community airports, as well as at internal road and rail 
frontier crossing-points, to facilitate the movement of EEC 
nationals. 
In particular, the Committee deplores the habitual delays at 
Brussels Zaventem airport and would call on the 
Commission to request that the Belgian authorities take 
prompt action to eliminate these delays (e.g. by setting up 
separate passport control desks for EEC nationals). 
4. Under these circumstances the draft Council Directive, 
which will considerably facilitate the movement of nationals, 
deserves the most sympathetic consideration. The following 
comments and suggestions relate to back-up measures 
calculated to speed up the harmonization of regulations Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the easing of controls and formalities applicable to 
nationals of the Member States when crossing intra-Community borders (x) 
(85/C 169/06) 
On 4 February 1984 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 10 April 1985 in the light of the report by 
Mr Mourgues. 
At its 226th plenary session (meeting of 24 April 1985) the Economic and Social Committee adopted 
the following opinion unanimously: 
8. 7. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 169/11 
necessary to remove obstacles. Such measures include earlier 
introduction of a European passport. Several Member States 
are lagging deplorably behind the 1 January 1985 
deadline. 
5. In addition to the harmonization of rules and 
regulations, we must also remember that some Member 
States believe they can resolve their currency problems by 
imposing exchange controls on travellers. Such controls, 
whose legal basis has been challenged, are carried out by the 
customs authorities. The controls themselves are prejudicial 
to the free movement of persons. 
6. It is therefore vital, if this major difficulty is to be 
removed, to underline once more the need to strengthen 
European monetary policy solidarity and to move further 
along the road towards a common currency. 
7. As far as the control of non-commercial goods carried 
by travellers is concerned, further tax harmonization and an 
Done at Brussels, 24 April 1985. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The Commission proposals seek to introduce 
(') OJ NoC 341, 21. 12. 1984, p. 4. 
(2) OJ No C 341, 21. 12. 1984, p. 5. increase in the value and quantity of goods entering dutyfree 
is desirable. 
8. The question of controls at the Community's external 
frontiers is of very great importance. Without closer 
cooperation between the appropriate authorities and 
harmonization of laws on foreigners, the introduction of free 
movement in the EEC may be delayed. 
The Committee is surprised to note that the draft Directive 
only touches on this problem in its explanatory 
memorandum, and does not propose concrete measures. 
9. It goes without saying that the controls still retained 
under the Directive are regarded by the Committee as a last 
stage before total freedom of movement of nationals 
travelling between Member States. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
substantial changes in the present arrangements for 
starch products. This is a wide sector covering basic 
products (maize, corn, rice and potatoes) and user 
industries (food, paper, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, 
textiles, etc.). Opinion on the: 
— proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 on the common 
organization of the market in cereals (*) 
— proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 on the common 
organization of the market in rice (2) 
— proposal for a Council Regulation establishing general rules applying to production refunds in the 
cereals and rice sector 
— proposal for a Council Regulation laying down certain detailed rules for applying production 
refunds in the cereals and rice sector in respect of potato starch 
(85/C 169/07) 
On 13 December 1984 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposals. 
The Section for Agriculture, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 11 April 1985 in the light of the report by Mr Delia Croce. 
At its 226th plenary session (meeting of 25 April 1985), the Economic and Social Committee adopted 
the following opinion unanimously: