31. 7. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 181/29 
The countries  belonging  to these  groups  should  be 
specified,  for there  are  considerable  variations  between 
the situations  in, for instance: — GDR  and  USSR, 
— Algeria  and  Morocco, 
— Iran  and  Iraq. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 March  1978. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI  . 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  amending  Directive  76/13  5/EEC 
on reciprocal  recognition  of navigability  licences  for inland  waterway  vessels 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 13 of 17 January  1978,  page  4. 
On 12 January  1978,  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 157th 
plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 March  1978. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its chairman  on 
19 January  1978  instructing  the  Section  for  Transport 
and Communications  to draw  up an opinion  on the 
matter, Having  regard  to the  Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  75 
thereof, Having  regard  to the opinion  submitted  by the rappor-
teur,  Mr  van  Rens,  and  approved  by the  Section,  in 
accordance  with  the  written  procedure  on 10 March 
1978, Having  regard  to the  request  made  by the  Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 12 January  1978  for  an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  Council  Directive  of 20 January 
1976  on  the  reciprocal  recognition  of navigability 
licences  for  inland  waterway  vessels  (*) and  the  Com-
mittee's  earlier  opinion  thereon  (2), Having  regard  to the deliberations  at the 157th  plenary 
session  on 29 and  30  March  1978  (meeting  on 29 
March  1978), 
(*) OJ No L 21, 29. 1. 1976,  p. 10. 
(2) OJ No C 35, 16. 2. 1976,  p. 42. Whereas  the  Council  has  not  yet been  able  to fulfil  its 
obligation  in accordance  with  Article  5 of the aforemen-
tioned  Directive,  to adopt  common  provisions  laying 
down  technical  requirements  for  inland  waterway  ves-
No C 181/30 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 31. 7. 78 
sels by 1 January  1978,  since  the common  list of techni-
cal requirements  is still in preparation, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: The Economic  and  Social  Committee  endorses  the 
Commission's  proposal  whereby  the Council  is to adopt 
common  provisions  laying  down  technical  requirements 
for inland  waterway  vessels  by no later  than  1 January 
1980  and  the aforementioned  Directive  is to apply  until 
these  common  provisions  actually  enter  into  force. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 March  1978. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  concerning  the Community's  acceptance  of 
resolution  No 212  (revised)  of the Economic  Commission  for Europe  and  relating  to the 
facilitation  of health  and  quality  inspection  in the international  carriage  of goods  by rail as 
regards  traffic  between  the Community  and  third  countries  signatories  to the resolution 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 51 of 1 March  1978,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 20 February  1978,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43, 75 and 100  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 157th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 March  1978. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Articles  43, 75 
and 100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 20 February  1978  for an 
opinion, Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 February  1978,  instructing  the Section  for Transport 
and Communications  to draw  up an opinion  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to Articles  46 and  47 of the Rules  of 
Procedure  (urgency  procedure)  by virtue  of which  Mr 
Costantini  was  appointed  rapporteur,