7. 2. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 33/5 
1.7. Article 6 stipulates that the Commission 'shall 
withdraw' exemption if a specialization agreement is 
not producing the desired results or consumers are 
not receiving a fair share of the resulting profit. This 
provision should be amended. Exemption should 
not be withdrawn automatically; the Commission 
should first exercise its right to intervene, before 
deciding whether to withdraw exemption. 
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1982 
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 Council's decision on 
5 October 1982 to ask it for an opinion on the 
abovementioned proposal, 
Having regard to Council Decision 82/505/EEC of 
15 July 1982 by which the Council concluded the 
Agreement on the International Carriage of 2. To conclude, the Committee endorses the 
Commission's policy of encouraging specialization 
agreements, which usually have beneficial effects in 
the sector concerned, not to mention their 'spin-off 
impact. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Passengers by Road by means of Occasional Coach 
and Bus Services (ASORX1), which therefore 
applies to such services between the Community and 
the other Contracting Parties which have ratified it, 
Having regard to its opinion of 27 May 1982(2) on 
the relevant Commission proposal, 
(i) OJ No L 230, 5. 8. 1982, p. 38. 
(2) OJ No C 205, 9. 8. 1982, p. 1. Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on measures implementing the 
Agreement on the International Carriage of Passengers by Road by means of Occasional 
Coach and Bus Services (ASOR) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No 265 of 9 October 1982, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 5 October 1982 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 
203rd plenary session held in Brussels on 15 and 16 December 1982. 
No C 33/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 7. 2. 83 
Having regard to the decision of its Bureau on 
19 October 1982 instructing the Section for 
Transport and Communications to prepare an 
opinion on the present proposal under Article 22 of 
the Rules of Procedure, 
Having regard to the preparatory work of the 
rapporteur, Mr Morselli, and the co-rapporteurs, Mr 
Binnenbruck and Mr Schneider, 
Having regart to the opinion adopted by the above 
Section at its 147th meeting held on 8 December 
1982, 
Having regard to the oral report given by Mr 
Morselli under Article 29 of the Rules of 
Procedure, 
Having regard to the discussions on 15 December 
1982 during the 203 rd plenary session held on 15 
and 16 December 1982, 
Whereas implementing measures to settle practical 
details must be adopted under Articles 13 and 14 of 
the ASOR referred to above, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. General comments 
1.1. With its proposal on the implementation of the 
ASOR Agreement in the Member States, the 
Commission wishes to take the situation reached in 
the Community in granting authorizations for 
international passenger transport by occasional 
coach and bus services and transfer it to bus 
journeys in associated non-EEC countries. The 
types of journey covered consist mainly of the 
following: 
— so-called 'laden journeys', 
— closed-door tours in EEC countries, 
— unladen journeys to pick up travel groups set 
down on the outward journey, 
— unladen journeys to pick up travel groups (e.g. 
from airports) in accordance with an agreemant 
concluded with a travel agency or other 
organization. 
It is clear that the Commission's proposal will lead 
to a standardization and simplification of 
authorization procedures. 
1.2. The Committee basically welcomes the 
implementing measures and finds them consistent 
with the policy of improving the conditions for 
tourism and extending freedom of movement with 
the Community to certain transport links with 
non-EEC countries. But it would point out that it cannot fully assess the 
measures because a common policy on tourism has 
not yet been fully developed and so its effect cannot 
yet be judged. However, one thing especially worth 
looking at is whether the number of unladen 
journeys will increase in the future. 
1.3. It is assumed that the Community helps its 
Member States to abolish distortions of competition 
weighing on transport firms established in the EEC, 
possibly by applying the ASOR. 
1.4. In general, the ASOR is unusually complex 
and obscure. The Committee would therefore like to 
suggest that the competent authorities and 
equivalent agencies in all the Member States 
produce a practical information guide available to 
all transport firms and those involved in 
international transport. This would simplify the 
administration side of things, as would a 
simplification of the code of symbols in the green 
route book. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 
It is obviously not clear who in the individual 
Member States is to be regarded as a 'competent 
authority' or equivalent agency. The Committee 
recommends that a list of such bodies be drawn up 
and made available to all firms engaged in ASOR 
transport. 
2.2. Article 2 
No comments. 
2.3. Article 3 
Because of the wide language spread of the 
Agreement (it covers nearly all European linguistic 
areas), the Committee thinks it would be particularly 
useful, as far as is possible and legally acceptable, to 
use a standardized set of symbols agreed to by all 
parties for the relevant forms (green showcard, 
cover page of the control documents and other 
official papers). 
2.4. Article 4 
No comments. 
2.5. Article 5 
It is worth pointing out here that in journeys outside 
the EEC it is local laws which apply, not 
7. 2. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 33/7 
Community law. This includes journeys which are 
simply transit voyages through an EEC country. 
The Committee can see no particular disadvantage 
if Article 5 came into force. But it would help 
matters if the passenger lists were asked for as little 
as possible. 
2.6. Article 6 
No comments. 
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1982. 
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 
Articles 99, 100 and 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request dated 22 November 
1982 from the Council of the European 
Communities for an opinion on the proposal for a 
Council Directive amending Directive 72/464/EEC 
on taxes other than turnover taxes which affect the 2.7. Article 7 
Steps should be taken to ensure that all Member 
States make use of this option and all Member 
States inform the others in good time and at the 
same time. 
2.8 to 2.14. Articles 8 to 14 
No comments. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
consumption of manufactured tobacco, prolonging 
the period of applicability of the second stage of 
harmonization for a fourth time, 
Having regard to the Rules of Procedure of the 
Economic and Social Committee, and in particular 
Article 22, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
23 November 1982 instructing the Section for 
Economic and Financial Questions to prepare an 
opinion on the matter, Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 72/464/EEC on 
taxes other than turnover taxes which affect the consumption of manufactured tobacco 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 310 of 27 November 1982, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 22 November 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 99, 100 and 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 
203rd plenary session held in Brussels on 15 and 16 December 1982.