16.4.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 103/7 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: sion might not be better advised to choose a more 
binding legal instrument and include provisions for 
making appropriate funds available. 
1. The Committee feels that adoption of the pro­
posal's recommendations on the international car­
riage of goods by rail would improve quality and 
efficiency and might reduce costs. They would also 
strengthen international cooperation between rail­
way companies. 5. The Committee also feels that many of these 
measures would be of little financial benefit to the 
railways unless conditions of competition were to be 
harmonized at the same time. 
2. Without wishing to undermine the validity of 
the Commission proposals, it should be remembered 
that for some time the railways themselves have 
been making moves in this area. Indeed their repu­
tation as major carriers would have suffered if they 
had not. A number of measures referred to in the 
Commission proposal have already been intro­
duced. These include inter-network trains, engine 
interchange, wagon pools, and the centralized man­
agement of goods traffic and customer information 
services. 
3. It should also be borne in mind that outside bar­
riers and lack of money rule out the implementation 
of some of these measures. 6. The Committee feels it should draw attention to 
Commission document COM(83) 58 final, 'Towards 
a Common Transport Policy — Inland Transport', 
of 9 February 1983. The Commission calls here for 
the rapid implementation of measures which would 
take effect immediately, freeing international road 
transport from all quota restrictions, and relaxing 
conditions of use of hired vehicles and conditions 
for access to the market. Measures concerning rail­
ways relate mainly to international cooperation. The 
validity of such measures is in no doubt. However, 
they can only be implemented in stages, and the 
lack of harmonization of conditions of competition 
within the Community would limit their effect. 
4. The Committee therefore wonders whether, 
despite railway companies' autonomy, the Commis-7. The Committee approves the Commission pro­
posal, subject to the above reservations. 
Done at Brussels, 29 February 1984. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 66/403/EEC on the 
marketing of seed potatoes 
(84/C 103/05) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 19 of 26 January 1984. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 3 February 1984 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Econo­
mic and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 43 and 100 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community. 
NoC 103/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 84 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
215th plenary session held in Brussels on 29 February and 1 March 1984. 
The full text of the opinion is a follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 3 February 1984 
for an opinion on the proposal for a Council Direc­
tive amending Directive 66/403/EEC on the mar­
keting of seed potatoes, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 15 February 1984 (Article 47 of the Rules of Pro­
cedure), instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
draw up an opinion on the matter, ratified by its 
Bureau on 28 February 1984, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Agriculture at its 250th meeting held on 
21 February 1984, Having regard to the oral report made by the rap­
porteur, Mr De Tavernier, 
Having regard to the discussions on 29 February 
1984 during the 215th plenary session held on 
29 February and 1 March 1984, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Economic and Social Committee approves the 
Commission proposal. 
Done at Brussels, 29 February 1984. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a concerted-action project of 
the European Economic Community on the use of lignocellulose-containing by-products 
and other plant residues for animal feeding 
(84/C 103/06) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 32 of 26 November 1983, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 23 November 1984 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 43 and 100 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community.