15. 3. 75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 62/29 
apply  during  a transitional  period  to the aids  referred 
to above  (Articles  5 and  14 of the  aforementioned 
Council  Decision). 
It regrets  that  the undertakings  in question  have  not 
yet achieved  financial  equilibrium. 
2. It  holds  the view  that  the Decision  approved  in 
principle  by the Council  on 11 December  1974  has a 
special  significance  in that  it makes  provision  for 
programmes  on whose  basis  railway  undertakings 
can move  step  by step  towards  financial  equilibrium 
by the earliest  possible  date.  The  Committee  expects 
that this  will  lead  to a reduction  in transport  costs  for 
the Community  at large. 
3. The  Commission  would  also  stress  that  all 
transport  undertakings  on  which  obligations  are 
imposed  in the  public  interest  must  be entitled  to 
compensation  for these  obligations. 
4. The  Committee  notes  that  under  point  1 of the 
sole Article  of the draft  Regulation  under  discussion, 
the new  rule  covers  only  state  railways  and  not those 
which  are not state-run. This  ensures  that  railways  which  are  not  state-run 
will retain  all the possibilities  afforded  them  by the 
currently  applicable  version  of  Article  4 of 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  1107/70.  This  means  in 
particular  that  states  can  continue  to pay  private 
railways  compensation  until  they  have  become 
financially  autonomous.  However,  Article  4 does  not 
specify  the nature  and  extent  of these  aids. 
5. Finally,  the  Committee  considers  it highly 
regrettable  that  it had  to draft  this  Opinion  without 
having  the  final  version  of the  Decision  reached  in 
principle  by the Council  on 11 December  1974. 
It is proceeding  on the assumption  that  the Council, 
in keeping  with  its  statement  of intent  of 11 
December  1974,  will  shortly  adopt  the  present 
proposal;  it is aware  that  non-adoption  will 
invalidate  the basis  on which  this  Opinion  was  drawn 
up. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 January  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the approximation  of the laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to the  braking  devices  of wheeled  agricultural  or forestry 
tractors 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 104  of 13 September  1974,  pages  17 to 30. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 8 July  1974,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  100  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 127th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 29 and  30 January  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
No C 62/30 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 15. 3. 75 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 9 July  1974  by the 
Council  of the  European  Communities,  of the 
proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  the 
approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
relating  to  the  braking  devices  of  wheeled 
agricultural  or forestry  tractors; 
Having  regard  to  Article  100  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
8 October  1974,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  and  report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 8 January  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Masprone; Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 127th  plenary 
session  of 29 and  30 January  1975  (meeting  of 30 
January  1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal  but draws  the 
Commission's  attention  to the  need  to amend  the 
definition  of the term  'brake'. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 January  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the approximation  of the  laws  of 
the Member  States  concerning  road  and  rail  transport  tanks  used  as measuring 
containers 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 104  of 13 September  1974,  pages  5 to 16. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 1 July  1974,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  under  Article  100  of the Treaty  establishing  the European  Economic 
Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 127th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 29 and  30 January  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 3 July  1974  by the 
Council  of  the  European  Communities  of the 
proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  the 
approximation  of the  laws  of the  Member  States 
concerning  road  and  rail  transport  tanks  used  as 
measuring  containers; Having  regard  to  Article  100  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
16 July  1974,  instructing  the  Section  for  Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  and  a report  on the matter;