No C 103/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 84 
In view of these projects' major significance the 
Committee also proposes that the possibility of 
increasing the budget appropriation be considered. 
Done at Brussels, 29 February 1984. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 75 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
on 4 October 1983 for a Committee opinion on the 
above proposal, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Com­
mittee's Bureau on 27 September 1983 in anticipa­
tion of the referral, instructing the Section for Trans­
port and Communications to draw up an opinion 
on the matter (Article 22 of the Rules of Procedure), Subject to these comments, the Committee approves 
this part of the multiannual programme. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Transport at its 155th meeting on 15 Febru­
ary 1984, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Schneider (Article 29 of the Rules of 
Procedure), 
Having regard to the discussions on 29 February 
during the plenary session of 29 February and 
1 March 1984, 
Whereas international cooperation between railway 
companies is necessary mainly to improve transport 
standards but also to reduce costs, Opinion on the proposal for a Council recommendation to the national railway 
undertakings on technical matters concerning operation and internal carriers to the 
crossing of frontiers affecting the international carriage of goods 
(84/C 103/04) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 254 of 22 September 1983, page 6. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 4 October 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Econo­
mic 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 
215th plenary session hedl in Brussels on 29 February and 1 March 1984. 
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.