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 
16.2.  76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 35/15 
are amended  frequently  the  provisions  be 
consolidated  from  time  to time  in a single  document 
to ensure  ease  of reference.  It trusts  that  such  action 
will be taken  more  often  and  that  consolidated  texts 
incorporating  amendments  will  continue  to  be 
brought  out.  The  amendments  already  submitted  by 
the Commission  in its  proposal  for  a Council 
Regulation  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No  542/69 
on community  transit  (1), should  if possible  be 
incorporated  in the present  consolidating  instrument. 
3. The  Committee  also  welcomes  the 
Commission's  intention  to  consolidate  all  the 
instruments  issued  under  Article  58 of Regulation 
(EEC)  No  542/69,  and  to publish  the  new  Council 
Regulation  and  that  of the  Commission  in the  same 
issue  of  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European 
Communities.  The  Committee  assumes  that  the 
instruments  issued  under  Article  58 of Regulation 
(EEC)  No  542/69  will  be  consolidated  into  a 
Commission  Regulation.  The  Committee  believes 
that this  consolidation  will  simplify  matters 
considerably. 
4. Consolidation  of  the  current  rules  on 
Community  transit  is important,  but  it is only  the 
first step  towards  their  simplification.  Simplification 
also requires  a revision  of the  current  rules.  As the 
next step,  therefore,  the Committee  recommends  that 
the current  rules  be recast  in the form  of a skeleton 
Regulation.  The  details  would  then  be filled  in by 
Commission  Regulations  adopted  under  an enabling clause  similar  to Article  58.  Such  a stricter  and 
clearer  division  into  substantive  and  procedural 
provisions  would  do much  to clarify  the Community 
transit  procedure. 
5. Article  7 of  the  proposed  consolidating 
Regulation  does  not  include  any  transitional  clause, 
particularly  as regards  the  use  of the  TIR  system  in 
intra-Community  trade.  This  means  that  as from 
1 January  1976  it will  no longer  be possible  to use  this 
system  for trade  between  the  Nine  or, consequently, 
for certain  areas  of  trade  with  Austria  and 
Switzerland. 
6. The  Committee  recognizes  that  less  and  less  use 
is being  made  of the TIR  system  in the Community. 
It regrets,  however,  that  the  explanatory 
memorandum  preceding  the  proposal  makes  no 
express  mention  of this  important  turning  point  in 
the organization  of transport  under  customs  control. 
All appropriate  steps  should  be taken  to ensure  that 
transport  does  not suffer  as a result. 
7. If  the  TIR  system  is to be abolished  in the 
Community,  the  Committee  trusts  that  the  planned 
easing  of guarantee  requirements  will  be put  into 
effect  forthwith.  This  would  lessen  the disadvantages 
which  road  transport  already  has  to contend  with  as 
compared  with  rail  transport,  which  is not subject  to 
the guarantee  requirement.  For  this  reason,  the 
proposed  consolidating  instrument  should  include 
the proposed  amendments  referred  to in item  2. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
(') OJ No C 204,  6. 9. 1975,  p. 2. 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation  (EEC) 
No 542/69  on Community  transit 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 204  of 6 September  1975,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 2 September  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.