Opinion on the role of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green Paper

(95/C 301/15)

On 24 April 1995 the Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the Role of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green Paper.

The Section for Regional Development and Town and Country Planning, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 25 July 1995, by 33 votes to 8 with 4 abstentions. The Rapporteur was Mr Regaldo, and the Co-Rapporteur Mr Lustenhouwer.

At its 328th Plenary Session (meeting of 14 September), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion by 80 votes to 34 with 17 abstentions.

1. Historical survey of Community tourism policy

1.1. The first Community measures to encourage tourism date back as far as 1982, with the Contogeorgis memorandum.

1.2. The Commission subsequently envisaged a series of measures in its Communication to the Council on Community action in the Tourism Sector, dated 3 April 1986.

1.3. The turning point came in 1990, with the Council decision to declare 1990 'European Tourism Year'; this brought the tourism sector to the attention of the Community with all its economic and social ramifications.

1.4. In 1992, the three-year plan for tourism (1993-1995) was launched representing an initial response, albeit partial and insufficient, to the problems which European tourism must face in the medium and long term.

1.5. In this period, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee regularly gave their views on the various proposals, through a series of Opinions and recommendations, all intended to increase the Commission's and Council's awareness of the need for increasingly incisive measures to achieve an effective European policy for tourism ().

1.6. At the intergovernmental conference which gave rise to the Maastricht Treaty, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee pleaded the case for inserting a specific title and legal basis for tourism policy in the Treaty. The results have been disappointing: the Treaty on European Union (Article 3t) acknowledges for the first time the possibility of measures to encourage tourism, but postpones until the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference the debate on the possibility of incorporating a title on tourism and the corresponding legal basis, into the Treaty, following a report which the Commission will submit to the Council.

1.7. The inadequacy of the present Treaty on this subject arises not only from the lack of a legal basis, but also from the fact that the Treaty does not clarify either the specific objectives or the implementing procedures for Community measures in the tourism sector; this contrasts with the revised Treaty's provisions on culture (Article 128), consumer protection (Article 129a) and industrial policy (Article 130). Once again, the European Parliament, in its report of 15 July 1991 and the Economic and Social Committee in its most recent Own-initiative Opinion on tourism, of 15 September 1994, have deplored this state of affairs, stressing the need for tourism be given the full status of a Community policy at the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference, and calling for the promised Commission Green Paper on the role of the European Union in the field of tourism to provide expressly for this possibility.

1.8. In the view of the European Parliament and the ESC, a Community tourism policy helps to make more effective and more visible the actual complementary nature of the resources available to tourists and enterprises at the various levels: Community, national, regional and local, and encourages a linkage between the various types of economic aid to the sector.

1.9. To this end the Commission Green Paper, in the wake of the Tourism Council in Athens on 15 April 1994, seeks to stimulate general consideration of the role of the Union in promoting tourism, among all those concerned, whether in the public or private sector, operating at all levels (Community, national or regional) with a view to the 1996 Conference.

2. The Green Paper: Objectives

2.1. The Green Paper concentrates on three main areas:

- it describes the actions currently being carried out by the Community in the field of tourism and the instruments it already possesses for this purpose;

- it makes a more in-depth examination of the added value brought by the implementation of a policy at Community level, highlighting in particular the reasons which inspire and justify Community action to encourage tourism and basic objectives which can be pursued by Community action in this field:

strengthening economic and social cohesion;

important contribution to achieving sustainable growth;

contributing to the promotion of the European identity;

contributing to the management of structural and technological changes and to the development of tourism SMEs;

creation of added value through a consistent approach in policies and instruments;

tourism and respect for the principle of subsidiarity;

- it outlines the likely trends defining the future role of the Union, according to the four possible options:

a) Tourism could continue to benefit from measures under the various Community programmes without the need to draw up a specific action programme.

b) Maintenance of the present framework and level of intervention.

c) Strengthening of Community action on the basis of the existing Treaty.

d) Towards a Community tourism policy.

3. General comments

3.1. The Commission Green Paper constitutes both the point of arrival and the point of departure of European policy in favour of tourism. The point of arrival, since it clearly presents the present Community situation as it has developed through the various measures so far taken to promote the sector: the point of departure, since on the basis of the options it raises the question of the need to move on to achieve a full-blown European tourism policy, obviously based on subsidiarity and the recognition that primary action in the sector is a matter for Member States and regions in the first place.

3.2. Some key elements emerge from the presentation of the Green Paper: the desire to encourage the widest possible debate on a sector which, as we shall see later, plays a fundamental role in the socio-economic growth of the Union; the attempt to promote partnership at all levels, whether horizontal, vertical or transnational, and between public authorities and the world of business; the ambition to prove that the economic growth obtainable through tourism is not only compatible with, but can contribute to safeguarding, the environment, protection of the cultural and artistic heritage, and strengthening European identity, whilst respecting the individual cultures and traditions, combining diversity with the search for a competitiveness which can best be activated at the level of a European tourist system.

3.3. This acceptable approach would tend to benefit the entire Union, both in socio-economic and in identity image terms.

3.4. However, the action to be taken will depend on integrating the Union's activities with national measures on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity.

3.5. The problem to which the ESC and the European Parliament have been calling for a solution for some time is that of the Commission's right to operate fully in the tourism sector.

3.6. Tourism must be given the same prominence as other policies in order to achieve a true and proper balance among them - necessary for the forthcoming revision of the Treaty.

3.7. The incorporation of tourism in other Community programmes and policies is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition; it does not necessarily comply with the logic of overall development of tourism to develop all its potentialities fully, as the ESC and the European Parliament have frequently stressed.

3.8. The Green Paper then draws attention to the advantages which would flow from a consistent approach of policies and instruments through the establishment of a balance among three priority poles: entrepreneurial activity, protection of the tourist/consumer and protection of the natural and cultural heritage. Such an approach is acceptable, because it is one of the basic conditions for fully activating all the sector's potential.

3.9. As regards added value, subject to the specific comments below, the Green Paper's approach, although very cautious, tends to bring out the elements justifying Community action, particularly promotion of coordination, already begun with the three-year Action Plan, which in our view must be consolidated and legitimized by an agreed approach to the main objectives shared by the Union, the Member States and the Regions, exchange of experiences and promotion of specific measures. In short, tourism should be seen as a system - as the sectoral approach alone is insufficient - which functions well if all the components of the system are coordinated. Moreover, cooperation between public and private sectors and between groups of activity can develop better if the various actors can interact at Community level.

3.10. On the options, it seems necessary to reassess at this point the ESC's view in its report on tourism. Only an adequate legal basis in the forthcoming Treaty will make possible efficient growth of the tourism sector on a Community basis - an essential factor for the revival of socio-economic growth in the Union.

4. The importance of tourism

4.1. The need to devote greater attention and more Community measures to tourism emerges in the first place from an analysis of its socio-economic importance and its main characteristics. Tourism contributes to wealth creation in the Community, accounting for 5,5% of the GDP, with more than double that figure for countries such as Greece, Ireland, Portugal and France; it directly employs 9 m. people, accounting for 6% of total Community employment, and this proportion increases considerably if induced employment is included. The trend is for tourism, both at European and at world level, to become one of the main reserves of employment, and it may have a considerable impact on reducing unemployment and on job creation, particularly in the more vulnerable sectors of the labour market (young people and women). The basic feature of the sector is the very high proportion occupied by SMEs, mainly very small firms (0-9 employees), which are labour-intensive.

4.2. The annual growth trend forecast for the Union between now and the year 2000 is 3,7%, mainly dependent on the growth of internal and intra-Community demand. On a world scale, according to ILO estimates, the scale of the tourist market should double in less than 20 years.

4.3. The positive trend at Community level, however, does not cause us to ignore the problems confronting the sector. First and foremost, there is the strong international competition, particularly from countries of the East Asian basin and the Pacific, and non-Community Mediterranean countries: in the last 20 years this has cut Community tourism's share of the world market by more than 10%. Nonetheless, with 60% of international arrivals and 50% of currency revenue, Europe remains the principal tourist area in the world, although a further fall of 10% is forecast by the year 2000. This must cause Community and national authorities carefully to consider the need to promote an effective Community tourism policy in order to stimulate its internal development in terms of quality and economic efficiency - a precondition for the action necessary to make Europe more competitive in relation to other regions of the world.

4.4. There is also an internal challenge to the sector, namely the need for firms to make structural adjustments in order to deal with the new reality of the European market, the complex system of rules, the challenge of the information society, and the growth of demand for increasingly sophisticated and diversified tourist services, and new requirements in terms of quality standards, respect for the environment and a more effective tourist/consumer protection and quality control policy. A large unified market changes the logic of economic activity, and hence of supply and demand in tourism. The Community will be able to make a fundamental contribution, as a unified area, to solving this problem.

4.5. The Community's responses must involve in the first place the effective establishment of the Single Market and of Economic and Monetary Union; in particular, it is necessary to reaffirm the need for the tourism dimension to be effectively incorporated into the other Community policies which have an impact on tourism (e.g. transport, fiscal, environment, social, consumer protection and other policies), into the Community financial loan instruments (EIB/EIF) and into the Structural Funds. For example, on VAT, there are the problems of rates in the catering sector and the difficulties encountered by tour operators and travel agencies in applying the VIth Directive to transport (). Coordination of all Community aid in the sector can and must be carried out by Commission DG XXIII by strengthening its horizontal scope. It is also necessary to enable the Commission to promote framework conditions and specific measures designed to give an effective stimulus to Community policy in favour of tourism, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity. An increase in the staff and financial resources of DG XXIII is the precondition for the success of this policy.

5. Community added value

5.1. The Green Paper highlights the need for consistency between Community action and existing national measures.

5.2. The first Community Action Programme to assist tourism, on which the ESC would reiterate the comments made in its Opinion of 14/15 September 1994, and on which the Commission will issue a final report, constitutes the first clear example of the added value which the Commission can give to a tourism policy; to this should be added the indirect actions examined in some detail above (internal market, environmental policy, etc.).

5.3. With regard to economic and social cohesion, tourism helps to redress the socio-economic imbalances between Community regions, to redevelop areas in industrial decline and to breathe new life into rural areas. This is done by locating activities and creating jobs throughout the Union. Tourism also traditionally has a spin-off effect on primary and secondary-sector activities, commerce and craft sectors.

5.4. Via the Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, EAGGF), the EIB and the other financial instruments available to it, the Community has come to recognize the contribution which tourism can make to achieving the above-mentioned objectives; this is done via the co-financing of community support frameworks drawn up in conjunction with national and regional authorities and aimed specifically at tourism. The funds made available for tourism should be sufficient to achieve feasible objectives and so should be increased proportionately.

5.5. The tourist sector should be integrated more closely into regional development. This is contingent on planning at all levels coordinated by the Commission. The aim would be to define priority regional development and tourism objectives in order to improve the quality and variety of tourism, protect the environment, ensure an effective seasonal and geographical spread of tourism by promoting a more balanced distribution of school holidays and annual holidays, and develop alternative and complementary forms of tourism, particularly cultural tourism, rural tourism, spa cure tourism, congress-linked tourism, weekend tourism, and tourism catering for specific social categories (elderly people, young people, etc.).

This approach to planning, the exchange of experiences, monitoring and defining framework conditions at Community level makes it easier to combine and guarantee the compatibility of the three requirements laid down in the Green Paper (tourism-related economic activities, consumer protection and respect for the natural and cultural heritage) and help avoid the subsequent spoiling of specific areas with natural tourist attractions.

5.6. The ESC has already recognized the need for sustainable development, i.e. the need to ensure that economic interests are compatible with geographical/environmental interests. It has done so particularly in its Opinion Europa 2000+ which states categorically that economic activities must be linked to the quality of the environment since the former depend on the latter if they are to be successful.

5.7. Because of its horizontal nature, tourism is well suited to playing its part in the search for a fair balance between the environment (including the urban environment) and economic activity. Just as improvements are required in the quality of tourism, so tourists themselves must be made more aware of environmental issues. This need for awareness of the environmental dimension and the observance of the standards pertaining thereto, as propounded in the Fifth Community Action Programme on the Environment, must be compatible with the needs of tourist industry enterprises, if the latter are not to be put in a position where they have to comply with impossible conditions.

5.8. The Community should insist that environmental and tourist protection standards are complied with not only by Community tourist industry enterprises, but also by enterprises located in tourist countries outside the European Union. This can be achieved within the framework of the economic cooperation negotiations being conducted between the European Union and these third countries, the aim being to remove distortions of competition that put European tourist enterprises at a disadvantage. More generally, we share the view that tourism policy should be an integral part of any cooperation agreement concluded with third countries.

5.9. The Commission's role in coordinating and stimulating tourist activities, and in producing its own specific initiatives, can undoubtedly give added value to the policies of the Member States. Areas where a Community contribution can come in useful include: the building of infrastructures of Community interest; vocational training; the trying out and dissemination of new tourist products; making the most of the employment potential offered by tourist activities.

5.10. The compilation of statistics allowing a greater and more qualitative understanding of the tourism sector, which began with the 1991-1992 programme, needs to be continued and reinforced in agreements between the Community, the Member States, the OECD and the WTO. Only an adequate knowledge of all aspects of the tourist industry can put the public authorities and private operators in a position where they are able to work properly to develop tourism within the Community and in third-country markets.

5.11. The Community and the Member States should also commit themselves to producing reliable and exhaustive analytical studies, broken down by market segment, on both the supply and demand sides and taking into consideration consumer needs for tourist products on a Community and international scale. To this end it is essential to allocate more funds to DG XXIII and Eurostat.

5.12. With regard to promotion of the European identity, the ESC shares the Commission's view that tourism helps to further the concept of European citizenship even if it is necessary to step up activities so that the EU can turn this concept into reality, as provided for under Article 5 of the Treaty.

5.13. Given the exceedingly large number of very small firms in the tourist industry and the challenges facing them - the need to improve quality of service, ensure international competitiveness, adapt to new legislation occasioned by the internal market, comply with environmental policy and take into account the advent of the information society - the Commission needs to take action to improve and simplify the legislative and administrative environment, to increase the flow of information, to stimulate cooperation and association between firms, to encourage the introduction of new technologies and new management methods, to guarantee respect for competition rules to protect SMEs and the consumer in the face of commercial concentrations and in access to and use of European telematic networks, and to support the restructuring needed if SMEs are to adapt to ever-changing demand. Restructuring processes can be assisted by funds originating from the Structural Funds, the EIB and other Community financial instruments and disbursed within the framework of a coherent action programme.

5.14. Vocational training continues to be the key to the development of the tourist industry and must be available for all categories - employees, managers and entrepreneurs. This is particularly true with the introduction of new technologies and new management methods requiring specific and on-going training. The development of language skills and continuous training are themselves central to improving the quality of the service to tourists. We are aware of the need to identify new and original solutions to training requirements, partly by aggregating supply and demand for training services, so that all aspects of tourism and all types of work can be taken into account, including part-time work, work for an undefined period, seasonal work and fixed-term employment so as to match the supply of tourism training to the needs of the firm, encourage a balance between demand and supply of jobs, improve the employment situation and increase the sector's attractiveness. Closer cooperation between the social partners will facilitate the quest for new solutions.

5.15. The Commission should press on with its pilot projects in the field of tourism, take concrete steps to bring tourism within the orbit of the European Social Fund and the Leonardo and Socrates training programmes, and develop the exchange of 'best training practices' between the authorities, training establishments and economic operators.

5.16. Action should subsequently be taken to secure the practical recognition of the qualifications of tourism professionals in order to effectively guarantee on a Community scale the mobility of people employed in this sector.

5.17. The horizontal approach hitherto pursued by the Commission with the aim of bringing tourism under the umbrella of other Community policies that have an impact on the tourism industry, together with the specific actions of the Commission provided for under the Action Plan to assist tourism, nevertheless call for a higher level of action is the three priority aspects of a European tourism policy - improvements in the quality of tourist services, diversification of tourist activities and products, integration into tourism of the concept of sustainable and balanced development - are to be acceptable to all the Member States of the Union.

5.18. But if these three priority aspects are to be combined with tourism's three poles of interest - development of firms, protection of the tourist/consumer and satisfaction of his/her needs, protection of the natural and cultural heritage - then it is necessary to lay down a Community framework to form the basis for guidelines which go further than economic short-termism. This is a task that must be carried out by the Commission in conjunction with the Member States and representative tourism professionals.

5.19. With this in mind the linkage needs to be strengthened between the different organizations representing tourism professionals in Europe. This should be done within a representative horizontal structure. The Commission could further this necessary linkage by acting vigorously to promote the introduction of an effective Community policy to assist tourism. It will be just as important to ensure a more incisive dialogue between the social partners in the field of tourism, particularly in relation to the social protocol in the Treaty on European Union.

6. Possible developments in the role of the Union as regards tourism

The Green Paper identifies four possible ways in which the EU can develop its future role as regards tourism.

6.1. The first option comprises the reduction or elimination of specific Community action in the field of tourism. Tourist satisfaction would be guaranteed by measures taken under other Community policies.

This option excludes de facto any form of coordination since there would be no specific reference framework for tourism.

6.2. The second option entails maintenance of the current framework and level of intervention. As things stand at present, the Community does not have a specific legal basis for tourism policy. It can therefore only base its action on Article 235, as was the case with the Community Action Plan to assist tourism of July 1992. This Action Plan however is of limited duration and scope. This second option thus leaves unresolved the question of the Commission's political authority in the field of tourism, confirms the status quo and limits the aims and scope of cooperation. It also recognizes the experimental nature of the Community's Action Plan.

6.3. The third option calls for a strengthening of Community action via the existing Treaty. The Action Plan has not been sufficient to mobilize the full potential for tourism so the Community can only stimulate tourist activities by a strengthening of existing measures in sectors which may have an impact on tourism (regional development, consumers, business, environment and culture). Political legitimacy in the field of tourism will still be out of the question although instruments currently in operation will be bolstered in terms of resources, if not objectives. What is lacking with this option is something which can only be given by political legitimacy, viz. more closely coordinated measures in order to give Community action a higher profile and create a multiplier effect for the added value of each of the separate policies.

6.4. Finally, the fourth action is to lay the foundations for a Community tourism policy. Such a policy would not aim to subvert national and regional policies but would make it possible to lay down Community guidelines in order to secure a convergence of objectives and actions. A Community tourism policy would also give the Commission a greater right and political legitimacy a) to act more decisively when decisions are taken on other policies affecting tourism, and b) to take action to promote coordination at Community level or to satisfy the specific needs of tourism. Political legitimacy derives from the insertion in the Treaty of a specific Title containing an adequate legal basis that defines the nature, scope and objectives of a Community tourism policy.

7. Conclusions

7.1. In the European Union tourism plays a fundamental role not only at the socio-economic level but also at the political and cultural level, as a factor for integration among peoples and among the differing geographical conditions in the Community, it is the vehicle par excellence for strengthening the European identity; and it contributes to the defence and promotion of European values on the international scene.

7.2. Tourism remains one of the main sources of new jobs, and is a decisive factor for restoring the socio-economic balance among the Community regions. As regards sectoral interdependence, the growth of tourism has a multiplier effect in the other economic sectors linked with it: agriculture, industry, craft industries, trade, transport, etc.

7.3. Europe is still the world's main tourist market, but this position is seriously threatened by ever-increasing international competition from the newly emerging areas of world tourism, whose growth rates are considerably higher than those of the Community.

7.4. However, European and international tourism offer significant opportunities for growth. The growth potential on a Community scale will be achieved provided that the European tourist system as a whole becomes more competitive as regards qualitative standards, local structure, diversification of supply to cope with trends in the needs and motivation of a tourism demand which is ever more sophisticated and less stereotyped.

7.5. The Green Paper sets out with sufficient clarity what is at stake at Community level, in all its aspects, and calls for a precise response to formulate a European tourism policy capable of meeting the challenge.

7.6. Measures taken so far at European level have been an inadequate response to the needs of the sector, as they were partial, of limited duration, not fully thought out for the medium and long term, and not fully integrated with the new Community reality.

7.7. The lack of a specific legal basis in the EC Treaty has acted hitherto as a brake on Community initiative on tourism.

7.8. The above comments on the added value which the Community can give to the development of tourism would leave no doubt as to the need for a fully-fledged, effective Community policy on tourism, as spelt out in Option IV of the Green Paper. The ESC, in line with the views expressed in the past and most recently in its Opinion of 15 September 1994, reaffirms the need for a Community tourism policy to be given an adequate legal basis as well as a separate Title in the Treaty; this must be done at the latest at the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference.

7.9. On the basis of Option IV of the Green Paper the Commission should, in agreement with the Member States and in conjunction with organizations representing enterprises, trade unionists and consumers, define the overall framework, guidelines and coordinating measures which, alongside autonomous initiatives, are needed to ensure that the most important activities engaged in as part of a Community tourism policy are effective in achieving the objectives of the Union, whilst at the same time complying with the principle of subsidiarity.

7.10. In order to make a practical contribution to the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference, the Committee proposes that the following new title be added to the Treaty:

TOURISM

1. The Community and the Member States shall be responsible for creating the necessary preconditions for maintaining and improving the competitive capacity of the Community tourism sector. To that end, their action shall aim to:

- achieve close coordination between Community and Member State policy in the tourism sector;

- develop joint measures by the Community and the Member States to ensure that the Community tourism sector is able to stand up to worldwide competition;

- strike a balance between the interests of the industry and those of the consumer, with due regard for the principle of sustainable development predicated on conservation of the cultural and natural heritage.

2. In order to achieve the aims set out in paragraph 1 above, the Commission shall ensure that tourism policy is integrated and coordinated with all aspects of Community policy.

Done at Brussels, 14 September 1995.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER

() Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990 (Rapporteur: Mr Vassilaras); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 49, 24. 2. 1992 (Rapporteur: Mr Cunha); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 52, 19. 2. 1994 (Rapporteur: Mr Cunha); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 393, 24. 12. 1994 (Rapporteur: Mr Lustenhouwer).

() ESC Opinion in OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990 (Rapporteur: Mr Vassilaras), p. 160, paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4.

APPENDIX to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee

Rejected amendments

The following amendments, tabled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, were rejected in the course of the debate:

Amendments by Mr Giesecke

Page 1

Text unchanged up to point 1.2 inclusive.

Point 1.3

Replace by the following:

'1.3. 1990 was declared 'European Tourism Year' by the Council. This drew attention to an economic sector which is very important for Europe, and to its manifold economic and social ramifications.'

Point 1.4

Delete 'and insufficient'.

Point 1.5

Unchanged.

Point 1.6

Replace the first three lines (up to 'have been disappointing:') by the following:

'1.6. After discussions with national authorities and relevant associations and organizations,...'

Points 1.7 to 2.1

Unchanged.

Point 3.1

Amend as follows:

'3.1. In assessing the four options identified in the Green Paper the Committee was guided by the principle that, in connection with preparations for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference, calls to transfer new responsibilities to the EU could be supported only under strict constraints. Since disenchantment with the increasing centralization of tasks in Brussels has grown considerably among all sections of the population, only new powers which can indisputably be better exercised at EU level should be allocated to it.'

Point 3.2

Replace the existing text by the following:

'3.2. In the Green Paper the Commission recognizes that the Member States and the Regions are primarily responsible for tourism. Accordingly, it refers throughout to the subsidiarity principle which it must observe.'

Renumber existing point 3.2 as point 3.4

Delete the following phrase:

'3.4. ... the desire to encourage the widest possible debate on a sector which, as we shall see later, plays a fundamental role in the socio-economic growth of the Union,'

Add text of 3.3 to point 3.4 as last sentence ('... a European tourist system. This acceptable approach ...').

Point 3.3

New text:

'3.3. Without coming out clearly in favour of one of the four options, it develops a range of interesting benchmarks for the added value of political measures at Community level.'

Renumber points 3.4 to 3.8 accordingly (3.4 becomes 3.5, etc.).

Renumber point 3.9 as point 3.10

Add:

'Which still needs to be evaluated and' after 'Action Plan'.

Delete existing point 3.10

Renumber point 4.5 as point 3.11

Fourth line, brackets:

Insert 'small firms, regional, training,' between 'e.g.' and 'transport'.

Point 4 (4.1 to 4.4)

Unchanged.

Point 5 - points 5.1 and 5.2

Unchanged.

Point 5.3

Reword second line to read: 'between certain Community regions, ...'

Points 5.4 to 5.19

Unchanged.

Point 6 (6.1 to 6.4)

Delete.

Renumber point 7 (Conclusions) as point 6

Renumber points 7.1 to 7.5 as points 6.1 to 6.5

New point 6.6

'6.6. In the Committee's view, the Commission's detailed arguments do not permit the conclusion that there is an urgent need to elevate tourism policy to a fully-fledged Community policy (option 4) in order to carry out Community tasks in this sector efficiently.

Rather, Community-level activities can already be carried out on the basis of the present Treaty, as is clear from the relevant references in the Green Paper.'

New point 6.7

'6.7. For some time, the Committee has been conscious of the need to strengthen the Commission's coordination and integration activity in support of tourism. The considerable importance of this dynamic sector, not only for several Member States but also, and in particular, for certain otherwise economically disadvantaged regions, is in itself sufficient to justify this. The various Community policies and measures must take account of this growth and employment potential.'

New point 6.8

'6.8. Notwithstanding the general responsibility for coordination already devolved to the EU, the Council could also be given the special task of coordinating national infrastructure policies in this sector.'

New point 6.9

'6.9. The EU should also be assigned legislative responsibility for the civil law (tour operator liability, consumer protection, etc.) applicable to this sector.'

New point 6.10

'6.10. Organizational improvement should enable the Commission departments responsible for tourism to perform their duties under the present Treaty even more effectively than in the past.'

New point 6.11

'6.11. The Committee would also oppose elevating tourism policy to a fully-fledged Community policy (option 4) on the grounds that it is debatable whether the disadvantages of a possible dispute over responsibilities would be outweighed by any advantages. Tourism, because of its multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral nature, is particularly dependent on other policy areas.'

Delete 7.6 onwards

Voting

For: 37, against: 80, abstentions: 9.