No C 35/12 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
Item  4.8.2 
Add the  following  sentence  at the  end  of the  paragraph: 
'These  conditions  must  not,  however,  include  political  stipulations  which  are  unacceptable 
to the  ACP  countries'. 
Voting: 
For: 1; against:  All  other  votes  cast. 
Item  4.8.9 
Delete  the  words  'system  of arbitration'  in the  penultimate  line  and  replace  them  by 'system 
for settling  disputes'. 
Voting: 
For: 4; against:  47;  abstentions:  14. 
Item  5.5 
Seventh  line,  add  after  'of the  economy': 
'provided  that  due  regard  is had  to the  economic  objectives  of the  countries  concerned, 
and the  firms  take  shape  around  large  industrial  units'. 
Voting: 
For: 1; against:  large  majority;  abstentions:  7. 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on  the  approximation  of the 
laws  of the  Member  States  relating  to taximeters 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 168  of 25 July  1975,  page  8. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 16  July  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to  the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  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 
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 35/13 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 16 July  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
15 July  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for  Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
opinion  and  a report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Marvier, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 5 November  1975, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject  to the 
following  comments: indication  of a fare  to be paid,  or this  indication  is 
to be equivalent  to zero.  The  Committee  would  have 
liked  the  wording  of the  OIML  recommendation  to 
have  been  adopted  and  proposes  that  indent  (a) be 
expanded  to read:  '. . . or to the  value  of the  initial 
charge'. 
2. The  proposal's  scope 
2.1. According  to point  3.1.2  of the  Annex,  the 
proposal  covers  taximeters  which  are  driven  by a 
mechanical  or  electrical  clockwork  movement. 
Electronic  taximeters  thus  do  not  seem  to be 
included,  even  though  they  provide  the  same 
information  as conventional  taximeters  and  probably 
do so more  accurately. 
2.2. The  Commission  states  in defence  of its 
Decision  that  it is difficult  to lay down  very  precise 
standards  for  electronic  taximeters  at a time  when 
general  standards  are being  drawn  up for all types  of 
electronic  instruments.  The  Committee  hopes  that 
the Commission  will  shortly  propose  a general 
Directive  for  aligning  Member  States'  laws  on 
electronic  instruments.  Nevertheless,  it also  requests 
that electronic  taximeters  be included  here  and  now 
in the  proposal's  scope.  This  will  enable  taximeter 
manufacturers  in the  Community  to keep  abreast  of 
technical  progress,  and  thus  make  it possible  for 
them  to cope  with  competition  from  their  non-
Community  rivals. 
1. The  proposal  and  the  recommendation  of the 
International  Organization  of Legal  Metrology 
1.1. To  a large  extent  the  Commission  has  based 
its proposal  on work  carried  out  by the International 
Organization  of Legal  Metrology  (OIML).  Thus,  the 
proposed  stipulations  reflect  a consensus  in a setting 
much  wider  than  that  of the  Community.  The 
Committee  welcomes  this  fact,  which  will  have 
positive  repercussions  on  both  the  Community 
market  and  the European  market  in general.  It notes, 
however,  that  some  of the  provisions  contained  in 
the Annex  to the proposal  are not  completely  in line 
with  OIML's  requirements.  An  example  is point 
3.2.2  (a), which  is of some  importance. 
1.2. Point  3.2.2  states  that  when  the  taximeter  is 
in the  'FOR  HIRE'  position,  there  is to be no 3. Inspections 
3.1. The  EEC  initial  verification  of taximeters  is 
to be carried  out in two  stages. 
3.2. Firstly,  the  initial  verification  mark  is to be 
affixed  to the  taximeter  if it complies  with  the 
standards  and  provisions  laid  down  in the Directive. 
3.3. And  secondly,  an inspection  is to be carried 
out after  the taximeter  has been  fitted  to the vehicle. 
3.4. This  procedure  ensures  that  newly-fitted 
taximeters  are  in good  order.  There  is, however,  no 
guarantee  that  taximeters  will  always  function 
properly  throughout  their  service  life,  and  the 
Committee  feels  that  fitted  taximeters  should  be 
checked  periodically  by the responsible  authorities. 
No C 35/14 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
3.5. Drivers  should  not  be allowed  to demand  moment.  No  doubt  this  would  help  to improve 
more  than  the  amounts  shown  on taximeters.  After  relations  between  passengers  and  taxi-drivers,  by 
all, the  main  purpose  of taximeters  is to calculate  reducing  the possibility  of arguments  about  fares, 
and display  the sum  owed  by passengers  at any  one 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on Community  transit 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 244  of 24 October  1975,  page  2. 
On 17  October  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  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: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its 
meeting  on 5 November  1975, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 17 October  1975, Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 October  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up  an 
opinion  and  a report  on the matter, bv a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the proposal. 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr de Grave, 2. The  Committee  has  already  requested  on 
several  occasions  that  where  Community  instruments