No C 197/32 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 23. 8. 76 
The Commission  should  also  study  all versions  of a safeguard  price  system,  including  those 
not necessarily  based  on a minimum  import  price,  such  as the combination  of a system  of 
protection  at the Community's  borders  and  an EEC  deficiency  payment  system.  However, 
such guarantee  systems  must  not  become  an unbearable  burden  for  the  Community's 
cconomy  and  budget.' 
As a result  of this  vote,  the  following  amendment  became  superfluous: 
'Add  the  following  after  the first  sentence  of the deleted  text  quoted  above: 
"The  Committee  thinks  it would  be particularly  useful  for its information  and  delibera-
tions  if the 'transfer  price'  concept  used  in a Commission  document  were  clarified.  Does 
the existence  of this  transfer  price  presuppose  a previous  price?  Do  the  governments 
know  the  machinery  used  for fixing  this  transfer  price?  Are  they  able  to influence  this 
machinery?  Are  they  able  to correct  this  machinery?".' 
The following  amendment  was  rejected  during  the proceedings: 
'Point  1.12 
Add after  the first  sentence: 
"The  nature  of these  measures  should  in no wray  infringe  on the  independence  at 
producing  countries;  they  should  be discussed  widely  before  they  are  introduced.  In 
addition,  the  Commission  must  investigate  a system  for  guaranteeing  stable  prices  to 
energy  users,  and  especially  to the  users  of petroleum-based  energy.  Can  it examine 
machinery  for reducing  government  taxes?  Can  it work  out a system  for preventing  price 
rises applying  to petroleum  held  in stock?  These  and  other  provisions  should  make  it 
possible  to combat  inflation  effectively."  ' 
Result  of the vote: 
For:  12;  against:  36;  abstentions:  12. 
Opinion  on the  amended  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on the  harmonization  of the 
laws  relating  to motor  vehicle  driving  licences 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 8 of 13 January  1976,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 17  December  197.5,  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 
139th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 May  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
23. 8. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 197/33 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community  and,  in particular, 
Article  75, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Community  on  17 
December  1975, 
Having  regard  to its opinion  adopted  on the  original 
proposal  on 23 May  1973  (1), 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
16 December  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Transport  and  Communications  to  draw  up  an 
opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to  the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Marvier, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Transport  and  Communications  at its  104th 
meeting,  held  on 12 May  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 139th  plenary 
session  held  on 25 and  26 May  1976  (meeting  of 25 
May  1976), 
Whereas  a common  transport  policy  must  aim,  inter 
alia, at creating  the  best  possible  conditions  for  the 
movement  of vehicles  within  the  EEC; 
Whereas  the  mutual  recognition  of national  driving 
licences  for  motor  vehicles  can  help  to attain  this 
objective; 
Whereas  the  mutual  recognition  of  licences  is 
strictly  limited,  for  the  time  being,  to tourist  traffic; 
Whereas  the  present  proposal  seeks  to remedy  this 
situation  and,  through  introducing  a Community 
driving  licence,  may  very  well  help  to establish  a 
'Community  identity', 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  gives  its basic  approval  to the 
Commission's  proposal,  for  it thinks  that  the 
introduction  of a Community  driving  licence  will 
help  to open  up national  frontiers. 
(!) OJ No C 60, 26. 7. 1973,  p. 1. 1.2. In  its  'specific  comments',  the  Committee 
refers  back  to a number  of points  on  which  the 
Commission  has  not  yet  taken  up  the  suggestions 
made  by the Committee  in 1973.  In addition,  it states 
its views  on  certain  Articles  which  have  been 
rewritten  in  the  meantime,  though  not  at  the 
Committee's  instigation. 
1.3. Einally,  the  Committee  notes  that  the 
amended  proposal,  unlike  the  original,  does  not 
contain  any  provisions  on  driving  tests  or regular 
medical  examinations.  Common  provisions  on these 
matters  are to be adopted  later. 
The Committee  would  ask  here  and  now  that  its 
views  be sought  on these  common  provisions. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  1 
The Community  driving  licence  to be issued  must  be 
forgery-proof. 
2.2. Article  3(1)  — Category  E 
The vehicles  coming  under  Category  E should  be 
defined  in more  explicit  terms,  since  it is not  very 
clear  what  is meant  as the text  stands  at the moment. 
2.3. Article  3 (I)  — Category  F2  (in  conjunction 
with Article  3 (3), final  indent) 
2.3.1.  It  should  be made  clear  that  tractors  used 
for transporting  felled  trees  fall  within  Category  F by 
virtue  of the  fact  that  they  are  a special  type  of 
forestry  tractor. 
2.3.2.  For  safety  reasons,  a driving  licence  should 
be obligatory  for  self-propelled  agricultural  and 
forestry  machinery. 
2.4. Article  3 (5) (new) 
It should  not  be  compulsory  to  have  a driving 
licence  for  special-purpose  vehicles  with  a low 
maximum  speed  (e.g.  6 to 10 km/h).  Basically,  the 
safety  requirements  for  particularly  slow  self-
propelled  vehicles  such  as sowing  machines,  hoeing 
machines,  building  cranes  and  low-speed  tractors 
with  rear  loaders,  do not  have  to be as stringent  as 
those  for  faster  vehicles.  In addition,  these  vehicles 
are more  often  than  not  used  only  for  specific  kinds 
of work  and  are  therefore  hardly  driven  on public 
highways. 
No C 197/34 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 23. 8.76 
2.5. Article  4 
It should  be stated  more  clearly  that  driving  licences 
for the more  difficult  categories  (B, C, D, E) are also 
valid  for vehicles  that  present  less  difficulties  (F2). The Committee  therefore  calls  for the amendment  of 
Article  5, indent  (c). 
2.7. Article  6 
2.6. Article  5, indent  (c) 
Article  5 prescribes  a minimum  age  of 18  for 
motorcyclists  and  drivers  of certain  motor  vehicles. 
This  age  restriction  fails  to take  account  of the  fact 
that some  Member  States  have  a minimum  age  of 
only  16  for  drivers  of motorcycles  below  125  cc 
without  a pillion  passenger. 
This  is the  case,  for  example,  in France  (for 
'velomoteurs'),  Germany  ('Kleinkraftrader')  and 
Italy  ('motocicli'  up to 125  cc).  Quite  apart  from 
the rate  of development  and  maturity  of today's 
younger  generation,  there  are  also  practical  reasons 
for such  a provision. The Committee's  views  should  be  sought  on  the 
provisions  and  rules  referred  to in Article  6, which 
are to be adopted  at a later  date. 
On the  assumption  that  it will  be consulted  on those 
measures  in due  course,  the Committee  has  not  given 
detailed  consideration  to the  withdrawal  of national 
or Community  driving  licences  and  other  questions. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 May  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  on the  harmonization  of certain 
social  legislation  relating  to road  transport 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 103  of 6 May  1976,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 17 March  1976,  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 
139th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 May  1976. 
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  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on  17 
March  1976, Having  regard  to Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  543/ 
69 of 25  March  1969  on  the  harmonization  of 
certain  social  legislation  relating  to  road 
transport  ('), as amended  by  Council  Regulations 
(EEC)  No  514/72  and  (EEC)  No  515/72  of 
28 February  1972  (2), 
0) OJ  No  L 77, 29. 3. 1969,  p. 49 (English  Special  Edition 
1969  (I),  p. 170). 
(2) OJ  No  L 67,  20.  3. 1972,  pp.  1 and  11  (English 
Special  Edition  1972  (I),  pp.  124  and  134).