26. 4. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 105/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the abolition of postal charges for the 
presentation to customs of consignments of goods from another Member State which are 
relieved of internal taxes payable at importation 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 240 of 10 October 1978, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 3 October 1978 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 162nd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 18 and 19 October 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 198 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 3 October 1978 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in 
particular Articles 18 and 46 thereof, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur-general, Mr Marvier, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 162nd plenary 
session held on 18 and 19 October 1978 (meeting of 
19 October), unanimously: 
1. The Committee endorses the Commission's aim, 
i.e. the total abolition of postal charges for the 
presentation to customs of intra-Community 
consignments. 
2. It notes that in its opinion of 1972 (*), the 
Committee approved a Commission proposal concerning 
the import of small consignments and recommended that 
no charge or fee be collected for effecting the fiscal and, 
where applicable, customs formalities connected with the 
import of small consignments. 
3. These charges, regarded by users as equivalent to 
customs duties, give Community legislation a bad name. 
(!) OJNoC 142,31. 12. 1972, p. 3. 
No C 105/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 4. 79 
Furthermore, as they are collected even on consignments 
of low value, their economic impact is not negligible. 
4. The Committee regrets that the Commission has 
not seen fit to propose the total abolition of these 
charges. In fact, postal rates should normally cover all 
Done at Brussels, 19 October 1978. 
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 198 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 25 July 1978 for an opinion, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in 
particular Articles 18 and 46 thereof, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur-general, Mr Marvier, the services provided by the postal administration, 
including the presentation of parcels to customs when 
this is necessary. 
5. Subject to these reservations, the Committee feels, 
however, that the proposed text represents progress and 
approves it. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO 
Having regard to the discussions at its 162nd plenary 
session held on 18 and 19 October 1978 (meeting on 
19 October), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the proposed change in 
the duty exemptions enjoyed by travellers coming 
directly from non-member countries. The change takes 
into account both the technical adjustments necessitated 
by the introduction on 1 January 1979 of the European 
unit of account and the measures recommended in an 
Annex (on duty-free concessions for travellers) to the 
International Convention on the simplification and 
harmonization of customs procedures. Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1544/69 
on the tariff treatment applicable to goods contained in travellers' personal luggage 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 184 of 2 August 1978, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 25 July 1978 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 162nd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 18 and 19 October 1978.