No C 35/44 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
ANNEX 
to the  opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
1. The  following  passage  in the  opinion  of the  Section  for  Transport  and  Communications 
was amended  at the  plenary  session  by 19 votes  in favour,  10 against  and  7 abstentions: 
'2. It  considers  this  proposal  to be  a first  step  towards  improving  the  safety  of 
passengers  and  crews  and  making  vessels  themselves  safer.  This  is an extremely  urgent 
matter  in view  of the  serious  accidents  that  have  occurred  on inland  waterways  in recent 
years.'. 
2. The  following  amendment  was  rejected  during  the  discussion: 
'Add  a new  item  6: 
6. However,  the  Section  would  point  out  right  away  that  the  Annex  also  should  refer 
to manning  provisions  (to be laid  down  in a Regulation),  and  any  exceptions  thereto.'. 
Voting: 
I-or:  9; against:  20;  abstentions:  11. 
3. Reasons  for  amendment 
None. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  on the  Community  quota  for  the 
carriage  of goods  by road  between  Member  States 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  not  yet  been  published  in the  Official  Journal 
of the  European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 16  October  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
The full  text  of the  opinion  is as follows: 
16. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 35/45 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 16 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  75 thereof, 
Having  regard  to Council  Regulation  (EEC)  1018/68 
of 19  July  1968  0), as supplemented  by  Council 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  2829/72  of  28  December 
1972  (2), and  amended  by  Regulation  (EEC)  No 
2063/74  of 1 August  1974  (3) and  Regulation  (EEC) 
No 3256/74  of 19 December  1974  (4), 
Having  regard  to its opinion  of 18 October  1974  (5), 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 October  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Transport  and  Communications  to  draw  up  an 
opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Transport  and  Communications  at its  100th 
meeting,  held  on 12 November  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Gailey, 
Having  regard  to Articles  29,  46  and  47  of the 
Committee's  Rules  of Procedure, 
Having  regard  to the  discussion  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
Whereas  the  Community  quota  system  currently  in 
force  expires  on 31 December  1975; 
Whereas  in order  to preclude  adverse  repercussions, 
it is  necessary  to  introduce  new  measures 
appropriate  to the  requirements  of inter-Member 
State  traffic; Whereas  the  present  system  has  been  in operation 
for seven  years  in the  six original  Member  States  and 
for three  years  in the  three  new  Member  States,  and 
has enabled  the  carriers  concerned  to organize  their 
business  on  a Community  scale;  and  whereas  the 
system  should  therefore  progress  beyond  the 
experimental  stage  and  no  longer  be limited  to a 
specific  period,  subject  to any  future  decisions  on 
implementing  the  final  stage  in the  operation  of the 
road  haulage  markets; 
Whereas  the  Community  quota  system  should  allow 
progress  towards  Community  integration; 
Whereas  it is therefore  desirable  that  the  Community 
quota  should  be  gradually  but  substantially 
expanded, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by 51 votes  to 13, with  2 abstentions: 
1. The  Committee  endorses  the  Commission's 
proposal  that  the  total  number  of  Community 
authorizations  in 1976  should  be double  the  figure 
for 1975. 
2. The  Committee  is also  in favour  of the  rules 
proposed  for the period  after  31 December  1976. 
3. The  Committee,  however,  questions  whether 
the way  in which  the  quota  is to be allocated  among 
the Member  States  makes  sufficient  allowances  for: 
(a) the  fact  that  some  Member  States  only  joined  the 
Communities  in 1973;  (b)  the  geographical  situation 
of these  States. 
The Committee  therefore  asks  the  Commission  to re-
examine  this  matter. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
(!) OJ No  L 175,  23. 7. 1968,  p. 13. 
(2) OJ No L 298,  31. 12. 1972,  p. 16. 
(3) OJ No L 215,  6. 8. 1974,  p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 349,  28. 12. 1974,  p. 5. 
(•') OJ No L 142,  16. 11. 1974,  p. 12. 
No C 35/46 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  passage  in the opinion  of the  Section  for Transport  and  Communications  was 
amended  at the plenary  session: 
'Whereas  it is basically  desirable  that  the Community  quota  should  be gradually  expanded, 
HAS  ISSUED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION: 
1. The  Section  is unable  to approve  the Commission's  proposal  that  there  should  be 
twice  as many  Community  authorizations  in 1976  as in 1975.  The  economic  situation  in 
the EEC  has  already  left  all transport  operators  with  considerable  surplus  capacity  on 
their  hands.  This  over-capacity  has  caused  severe  economic  and  social  problems.  These 
problems  would  only  be aggravated  by the  Commission's  proposal  for  a substantial 
increase  in international  road  haulage  capacity.  Accordingly,  if the number  of Community 
authorizations  has  to be increased  at all,  then  the  increase  should  be a smaller  one  in 
keeping  with  requirements.  The  Section  also  thinks  that  the statistics  forming  the basis  for 
such  an increase  should  be more  precise  than  those  available  to date. 
2. The  Section  is only  partly  in agreement  with  the rules  proposed  for the period  after 
31 December  1976.  It feels  that  it is wrong  to introduce  machinery  which  the  Council 
would  have  difficulty  in halting  (a unanimous  decision  would  be required)  and  which, 
irrespective  of the  overall  economic  and  social  situation  and  the  state  of the  transport 
market,  would  lead  to a constant  increase  per  annum  in the  number  of Community 
authorizations. 
3. Furthermore,  the  Section  has  reservations  about  the  proposed  allocation  of 
authorizations  among  the  Member  States.  (The  Commission  is proposing  a bigger 
proportionate  increase  over  1975  in the German,  French,  Luxembourg  and  Dutch  quotas 
than in the quotas  of the other  Member  States). 
One of the  reasons  for the Section's  reservations  is the Commission's  proposal  that  hauliers 
should  stop  keeping  the  log  books  which  in the  past  have  yielded  the  statistics  for  the 
calculation  of quotas.'. 
Voting  on the amendment: 
For: 51; against:  15; abstentions:  5.