No C 35/42 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
— Whereas  the  present  system  of compulsory  bilateral  tariffs  has  failed  to bring  about 
the expected  harmonization;  and  whereas  the  system  is applied  in only  six  Member 
States;  and  whereas  the  resulting  de jure  and  de facta  situation,  which  has  been  in 
existence  now  for  nearly  three  years  should  be brought  to an end  as soon  as possible; 
— Whereas  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  was  also  asked  on 21 October  1975  to 
deliver  an opinion  on a proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  for  a system  of reference 
tariffs  for  the  carriage  of goods  by road  between  Member  States  (COM  (75)  490  final, 
Part 7 of 1  October  1975);  whereas  the  Council  will  therefore  be able  to reach  a 
decision  in the  course  of 1976  on the  tariff  system  that  is to replace  the  compulsory 
system  of bilateral  bracket  tariffs'. 
Replace  the  body  of the  opinion  by the  following  text: 
'1. The  Committee  endorses  the  Commission's  proposal  that  the  bracket  tariff  system 
be extended  for  one  more  year,  that  is to say  up to 31 December  1976. 
2. It  considers,  however,  that  this  third  extension  must  be the  last  one  in view  of the 
fact that  a proposal  has  been  made  for  a system  of reference  tariffs.'. 
Reasons 
It was  originally  intended  that  the  compulsory  system  of bilateral  bracket  tariffs  should  expire 
on 31 December  1972. 
This  system  was  subsequently  extended  for  two  successive  periods  of two  years  and  one  year 
respectively.  The  first  extension  was  made  because  it was  felt  that  not  enough  experience  had 
been  acquired  with  the  system  of bracket  tariffs,  the second  because  the  system  of rates  which 
was to take  over  had  not  been  worked  out.  The  Commission  has  now  been  able  to work  out 
this new  system  and  submitted  a proposal  for  a Regulation  on reference  tariffs  (Doc.  COM(75) 
490 final)  to the Council  on 1 October.  The  Council  must  now  examine  this  proposal. 
It will  thus  be possible  to implement  a new  tariff  system  in the  nine  Member  States  by 
1 January  1977. 
Voting: 
For: 17;  against:  21;  abstentions:  10. 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on  reciprocal  recognition  of 
navigability  licences  for  inland  waterway  vessels 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 265  of 19 November  1975,  page  6. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 29 October  1975,  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
The full  text  of the  opinion  is as follows: 
16. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 35/43 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 29 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  75 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 October  1975  (in  anticipation  of the  request  for 
an opinion),  instructing  the  Section  for  Transport 
and Communications  to draw  up an opinion  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Transport  and  Communications  at its  101st 
meeting  held  on 26 November  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Fredersdorf, 
Having  regard  to Articles  29,  46 and  47 of its Rules 
of Procedure, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
Whereas: 
1. uniform  technical  control  of inland  waterway 
vessels  can  help  to  improve  the  safety  of 
passengers  and  crews  and  make  vessels 
themselves  safer; 
2. the  introduction  throughout  the  Community  of 
mandatory  navigability  licences  which  Member 
States  are  to recognize  on a reciprocal  basis  if 
they  conform  to minimum  standards  is a first 
step towards  uniform  technical  control,  and 
should  be welcomed  as such; 
3. further  steps  must  be taken  as soon  as possible 
to introduce  uniform  technical  requirements;  and 
whereas  the  criteria  drawn  up  by  the  UN Economic  Commission  for  Europe  can  form  a 
useful  basis  for this  work, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Committee  gives  its fundamental  support 
to the  Commission's  proposal,  which  seeks  to 
initiate  uniform  technical  control  of vessels  operating 
on the  Community's  inland  waterways  by making  a 
navigability  licence  compulsory  for such  vessels. 
2. It  considers  this  proposal  to be  a first  step 
towards  improving  the  safety  of passengers  and 
crews  and  making  vessels  themselves  safer.  This  is an 
extremely  urgent  matter  in view  of the  growth  in 
traffic,  the increase  in continuous  or semi-continuous 
use of vessels,  and  the  greater  risks  from  dangerous 
cargoes,  etc. 
3. The  Committee  holds  the  view  that  proposals 
for uniform  technical  requirements  for  inland 
waterway  vessels  should  follow  as soon  as possible. 
It assumes  that  it will  be  consulted  on  such 
proposals  in due  course.  The  Committee  also  thinks 
that the  recommendations  drawn  up  by  the  UN 
Economic  Commission  for  Europe  will  provide  a 
useful  basis  when  work  is started  on these  additional 
proposals. 
4. Without  wishing  to go  into  legal  detail,  the 
Committee  would  state  its view  that  the  existence  of 
rules  for  the  Rhine  and  associated  waterways  cannot 
be used  as an argument  for  limiting  the  field  of 
application  of  the  draft  Directive  to only  some 
inland  waterways.  Instead,  the  Community  bodies 
should  make  every  effort  to ensure  that  uniform 
rules  applicable  to all  inland  waterways  in the 
Community  are  brought  into  force  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  experience  gained  with  existing 
provisions  could  be drawn  upon  in framing  these 
uniform  rules. 
5. In  view  of the  short  deadline  set  for  the 
delivery  of this  opinion,  the  Committee  reserves  the 
right  to revert  to this  matter  at a later  date. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
No C 35/44 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
ANNEX 
to the  opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
1. The  following  passage  in the  opinion  of the  Section  for  Transport  and  Communications 
was amended  at the  plenary  session  by 19 votes  in favour,  10 against  and  7 abstentions: 
'2. It  considers  this  proposal  to be  a first  step  towards  improving  the  safety  of 
passengers  and  crews  and  making  vessels  themselves  safer.  This  is an extremely  urgent 
matter  in view  of the  serious  accidents  that  have  occurred  on inland  waterways  in recent 
years.'. 
2. The  following  amendment  was  rejected  during  the  discussion: 
'Add  a new  item  6: 
6. However,  the  Section  would  point  out  right  away  that  the  Annex  also  should  refer 
to manning  provisions  (to be laid  down  in a Regulation),  and  any  exceptions  thereto.'. 
Voting: 
I-or:  9; against:  20;  abstentions:  11. 
3. Reasons  for  amendment 
None. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  on the  Community  quota  for  the 
carriage  of goods  by road  between  Member  States 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  not  yet  been  published  in the  Official  Journal 
of the  European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 16  October  1975,  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
The full  text  of the  opinion  is as follows: