No C 128/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 5. 79 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision rendering mandatory the procedures for 
ship inspection forming the subject of resolutions of the Inter-Governmental Maritime 
Consultative Organization (IMCO) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official journal of the European 
Communities No C 284 of 28 November 1978, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 November 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 84 (2) 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 165th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 January 1979. 
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 Article 84 (2) 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 27 November 1978 for 
an opinion, 
Having regard to the statements made by the European 
Council at its meetings on 7 and 8 April 1978 and 6 
and 7 July 1978 on the need to prevent and combat 
pollution of the sea, particularly by oil, 
Having regard to its opinions on maritime safety and 
maritime pollution (1), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman in 
December 1978, instructing the Section for Transport 
and Communications to draw up an opinion on the 
abovementioned proposal, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Transport and Communications at its 123 rd meeting on 
10 January 1979, 
Having regard to Articles 29, 46 and 47 of the Rules of 
Procedure, 
I1) OJ No C 269, 13. 11. 1978, p. 31 (Carriage of oil: 
Amoco-Cadiz). Having regard to the oral report made by the Section's 
chairman, Mr Hoffmann, in the absence of the 
rapporteur, Mr Hennig, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 165th plenary 
session on 24 and 25 January 1979 (meeting of 
24 January), 
Whereas it is in the interests of the Community to make 
the following non-mandatory IMCO resolutions 
mandatory in the Community: 
— A321 (IX) of 12 November 1975 on the procedures 
for inspecting ships subject to the 1960 
International Convention for the safety of life at sea 
and the 1966 International Convention on load 
lines, 
— A3 91 (X) on the procedures for inspecting 
discharges of oil in accordance with the 1954 
International Convention for the prevention of 
pollution of the sea by oil, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee supports the proposed measures, 
which it regards as a first step towards achieving the 
Council's aim of reinforcing ship inspection procedures 
and aligning the corresponding laws in the Member 
States. This aim was set out at the meeting on 12 June 
1978. The proposed measures represent a substantial 
contribution towards bringing about the effective 
implementation of the international agreements on 
maritime safety. 
21. 5. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 128/35 
2. In particular, the Committee welcomes the 
decision-making procedure set out in Article 3 of the 
Commission's proposal. This procedure will facilitate 
the incorporation into Community law of: 
— further developments in the inspection procedures 
introduced in accordance with the abovementioned 
IMCO resolutions, 
— new inspection procedures introduced in accordance 
with agreements which have not yet come into force 
in international law, such as IAA Convention No 
147 of 1976 on minimum standards to be observed 
on merchant ships and the international agreement 
of 1978 on the training, qualifications and watch 
duties of seamen. 3. The Committee also supports the arrangements set 
out in Article 3 concerning the frequency of the 
inspections and the procedures involved. It will not be 
possible to guarantee the uniform implementation of all 
the ship inspection procedures throughout the 
Community unless agreement is reached on the 
frequency of the measures and the procedures to be 
followed. 
4. The Committee would strongly urge the 
Commission, especially in view of the accidents that 
have occurred in recent years, to submit the necessary 
proposals for the further alignment of inspection 
regulations immediately after the adoption of the 
Decision. At all events these proposals should be 
submitted before the end of 1979. 
Done at Brussels, 24 January 1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 
introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport 
by rail, road and inland waterway 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 204 of 26 August 1978, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 14 August 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 165th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 January 1979. 
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 Article 75 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 14 August 1978 for an 
opinion, Having regard to Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 of 
4 June 1970 (*), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman on 
1 September 1978, instructing the Section for Transport 
and Communications to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
(*) OJ No L 130, 15. 6. 1970, p. 4.