9. 6. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 150/15 
projects on their own. The Community is more likely to be 
one among several contributors. The need for close 
consultation with other agencies is emphasized. 
3.12. The Committee notes the stated cost of 
administering the proposed programme of 80 million ECU 
over four years. This cost amounts to about 6 %, which is not 
excessive for a programme of this nature. It is understood 
that a great deal of unpaid assistance is given in assessing 
projects by academic establishments and other agencies, 
mostly in the Community. This is much to be commended 
and it is hoped that it may continue. 
3.13. The programme proposal for 1987 to 1990 is for a 
sum of 80 million ECU, twice the amount allocated to the 
Done at Brussels, 14 April 1987. 
1. The Economic and Social Committee, which is 
committed to the idea of a single Community market, 
welcomes every move in support of that idea. Mindful of the 
1992 target, the Committee also endorses every immediate 
step to help cross-frontier traffic. It certainly makes sense to 
transfer work from the office of exit to the office of entry 
when the latter is empowered in any case to repeat such 
work, especially as it is also a step towards the future 
(') OJ No C 282, 8. 11. 1986, p. 13. previous programme. The Committee considers that there 
are clear justifications for an increase but is unable to 
comment on the exact figure proposed. A substantial 
increase is required to continue existing successful projects, 
begin new projects and improve technology transfer through 
training, etc. The Committee welcomes the fact that the 
Commission will evaluate the programme during its third 
year. Programme expenditure in subsequent years will be 
dependent on this evaluation, which will require an objective 
project assessment system. 
3.14. The Committee reiterates the need for the 
Commission to make proposals for a third programme 
before the end of 1989 thus enabling the Council to take a 
decision in due time. 
abolition of all border checks. However, in the eyes of the 
Committee this does not justify the general provisions 
proposed by the Commission. 
2. The proposal would compel customs officials in the 
Member State of entry to apply the laws of the Member State 
of exit to a considerable extent. Even if these laws were 
available in translation, the officials would still not know 
how to interpret and apply them. The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee and Research 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the abolition of exit formalities at internal 
community frontiers — Introduction of common border posts (]) 
(87/C 150/09) 
On 7 November 1986, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Sociaal Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 4 March 1987 in the light of the report by Mr 
Broicher. 
At its 245th plenary session (meeting of 14 April 1987) the Committee adopted the following opinion 
by a unanimous vote: 
NoC 150/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 87 
3. The need to supply legal information, have 
translations done and settle disputes about the interpreting or 
implementation of the Member State of exit's laws is likely to 
increase customs offices' workloads and costs out of all 
proportion to the benefits to be gained. 
4. Even the people passing through customs are bound to 
suffer if they have to discuss the application of their own 
Member State's laws with the customs officials of the office of 
entry and in so doing are obliged more often than not to use a 
foreign language. 
Done at Brussels, 14 April 1987. 
1. Preliminary comment 
1.1. The Committee has had much difficulty in 
interpreting the Commission proposal in the form in which it 
has been presented. The practice of referring time and time 
again to existing regulations without at the same time 
reproducing the Articles in question makes it all but 
impossible to properly evaluate the proposed amendments 
and their impact on the present situation. 
H OJ NoC 24, 31.1.1987, p.12. 5. Accordingly, the Committee thinks that it will be 
possible to transfer only specified export formalities and 
controls, where the office of entry is in a position to reach 
decisions on its own without knowing the laws of the 
Member State of exit. The Committee recommends that the 
proposal be amended along these lines. Another alternative 
solution might be to require Member States, wherever 
possible, to house the offices of exit and entry under one roof 
and to man them jointly. This would be a real help for the 
people passing through customs. Useful examples of both 
solutions are already to be found at a number of border 
crossings between Member States. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
1.2. The Committee proposes that the competent 
authorities should revise their method to satisfy the need for 
greater clarity and simplicity. As Community legislation 
expands, so clarity and simplicity become more and more 
vital. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee has based its examination of the 
Commission proposal on the ESC opinion (adopted on 17 
September 1986) on the proposal for a Council Directive on Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending for the third time Directive 75/726/EEC 
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning fruit juices and certain similar 
products (*) 
[(87/C 150/10)] 
On 15 January 1987, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 18 March 1987 in the light of the oral report by Mr Quevedo 
Rojo. 
At its 245th plenary session held on 14 April 1987 the Economic and Social Committee unanimously 
adopted the following opinion: 
The Committee approves the Commission proposal subject to the following comments: