28.3.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 86/5 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 81/363/EEC on aid to shipbuilding 
COM(84) 73 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 14 March 1984) 
(84/C 86/07) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Articles 92 (3) (d) and 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas Council Directive 81/363/EEC of 28 April 
1981 on aid to shipbuidling (*), as amended by 
Directive 82/880/EEC (2), will expire on 31 
December 1984; 
Whereas the situation of the Community shipbuilding 
industry has deteriorated since the beginning of 1983, 
as reflected in a sharp drop in orders which has hit in 
particular some of the larger yards, which are now in 
danger of running out of work and the untimely 
closure of which would have very serious economic 
and social repercussions in the regions of the 
Community where they are located; 
Whereas it is important for shipping for the sea-borne 
trade of the Community to maintain a shipbuilding 
industry of an adequate and viable size; 
Whereas a competitive shipbuilding industry 
contributes to the Community's economic and social 
development by providing a substantial market for a 
whole range of other industries, including high-
technology industries, and also helps to maintain 
employment in certain regions, some of which are 
already suffering from high unemployment; 
Whereas the structural crisis in the shipbuilding 
industry has led to an increasingly marked loss of 
competitiveness in Community shipbuilding compared with that in some non-member countries; whereas the 
overcapacity in the industry and the extra cost of pre­
serving it are preventing the investment necessary to 
modernize production facilities, which is essential if 
the industry is to be able to face competition from 
non-member countries; 
Whereas the system of control of aid, both direct and 
indirect, set up by Directive 81/363/EEC has helped 
to reduce distortions of competition between the 
Member States; whereas the Directive has also 
enabled the Community to speak with a common 
voice in talks with non-member shipbuilding nations; 
Whereas, however, the restructuring measures for 
shipyards which have been operated by the Member 
States since 1979 in line with the objectives laid down 
in the Council resolution of 19 September 1978 on 
the reorganization of the shipbuilding industry (3), 
and Council Directives 78/338/EEC (4) and 
81/363/EEC on aid to the industry, have, owing to 
the considerable delay in implementing them and the 
worsening of the industry's difficulties, the severity of 
which exceeded expectations, so far proved inad­
equate to achieve the objectives sought by the system 
of control of aid set up by the above Directives of 
restoration of the industry's competitiveness and 
withdrawal of all government support; 
Whereas in the present economic situation the 
Member States do not, given the market outlook for 
the maritime industries, foresee a recovery in the 
shipbuilding industry before the end of 1986; whereas 
the measures designed to bring about a lasting 
improvement in the competitiveness of Community 
shipbuilding by adjustment to prevailing market 
conditions need as a result to be continued; 
Whereas, therefore, in view of the serious social and 
regional effects of the worsening of the crisis and 
having regard to the efforts and sacrifices which the 
restructuring of the industry requires in this area, it is 
O OJ No L 137, 23. 5. 1981, p. 39. 
O OJ No L 371, 30. 12. 1982, p. 46. (3) OJ No C 229, 27. 9. 1978, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 98, 11. 4. 1978, p. 19. 
No C 86/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 3. 84 
legitimate for the Member States to continue to 
support such restructuring measures by means of 
direct or indirect aid; 
Whereas the extremely serious problems of the 
shipbuilding industry and the industries dependent on 
it justify the introduction for a limited period of 
emergency measures and appropriate schemes to 
complete the restructuring process, whilst avoiding 
situations where the social and regional consequences 
of the structural adjustment jeopardize the 
development opportunities of the shipbuilding 
regions; 
Whereas, however, it is particularly important to 
ensure that the aid which the Member States intend 
to give to their industries continues to be linked to 
restructuring objectives involving further capacity 
reductions and that its granting does not lead to an 
escalation of aid levels or deprive the Member States 
whose yards have already made the biggest cuts in 
capacity of the rewards of their sacrifices; 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 75 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the adoption of a common transport policy 
involves inter alia laying down common rules for the 
international carriage of goods by road to or from 
the territory of a Member State or passing across the 
territory of one or more Member States; 
Whereas Community authorizations for the carriage 
of goods by road issued in accordance with the Whereas the Community's shipbuilding industry will 
thus have a further two years in which to complete its 
restructuring so as to adjust to market conditions and 
raise its productivity by shedding the cost of main­
taining the present overcapacity and by rationalizing 
its assets; whereas it will hence be appropriate to 
apply from 1 January 1987 a new Council Directive 
on aid to shipbuilding; 
Whereas the system of control of aid to shipbuilding, 
instituted by Directive 81/363/EEC, should therefore 
be continued in order to assist the industry's 
restructuring and return to viablitity, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
In Article 11 of Directive 81/363/EEC, '31 
December 1984' is hereby replaced by '31 December 
1986'. 
Article 2 
This directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Community quota are accompanied by a journey 
record sheet, the model of which is contained in 
Annexes II and II a to Council Regulation (EEC) No 
3164/76 (*), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) 
No 3515/82 (2); 
Whereas, in order to strengthen the internal market, 
Council Regulation (EEC) No ... of ... simplifying 
customs formalities in trade within the Community 
makes provision for the use of a single document to 
replace the various administrative documents used for 
such trade; whereas it would be possible to obtain the 
information or estimates currently obtained from 
statistical analysis of journey record sheets from this 
single document; 
Whereas, in order to avoid duplication, it would be 
preferable for this single document, once it is 
introduced, to be used instead of the journey record 
sheet; 
C) OJ No L 357, 29. 12. 1976, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 369, 29. 12. 1982, p. 2. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3164/76 on the 
Community quota for the carriage of goods by road between Member States 
COM(84) 109 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 14 March 1984) 
(84/C 86/08)