No C 189/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7. 81 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision setting up an information and consul­
tation procedure for relations and agreements with third countries in the field of trans­
port by rail, road an inland waterway 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 350 of 31 December 1981, page 23. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 16 January 1981 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 
188th plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 May 1981. 
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 
of the European Communities on 16 January 1981 
for an opinion on the proposal for a Council Deci­
sion setting up an information and consultation pro­
cedure for relations and agreements with third coun­
tries in the field of transport by rail, road and inland 
waterway, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Com­
mittee chairman on 10 February 1981, instructing 
the Section for Transport and Communications to 
prepare an opinion and a report on the matter 
(Article 22 of the Rules of Procedure), 
Having regard to the section opinion adopted at its 
137th meeting, held on 23 April 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report made (under 
Article 29 of the Rules of Procedure) by the rappor­
teur, Mr Schneider, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 188th plenary 
session, held on 26 and 27 May 1981 (meeting of 
26 May 1981), HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a majority vote, with three votes against and one 
abstention: 
The Committee approves the proposed Decision, 
subject to the following comments: 
It agrees on the need to expand the information sys­
tem and consultation procedure which have been 
operating since 1962 but which, in the case of land 
transport, actually only cover national projects. 
In the light of current relations with non-member 
countries in the sea and air transport sphere, the 
Commission should be in a position to assess 
whether bilateral or multilateral agreements envis­
aged by a Member State are consistent with Com­
munity interests. This assessment should, however, 
take place at a sufficiently early stage of negotia­
tions to ensure that any Community action will be 
effective. 
With this in mind, the Committee has examined the 
various provisions proposed by the Commission, 
giving particular attention to Articles 2, 4(1) and 6. 
The latter provisions could help solve the difficul­
ties caused by some of the practices pursued by 
governments and undertakings in the State-trading 
countries. 
Under Article 2(1) Member States would have to 
forward, before the initialling stage, a complete 
30. 7. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 189/21 
draft of any agreement likely to interfere with the 
implementation of the common transport policy. States should be acquainted with the agreements in 
good time, i.e. during the preparatory stage. 
The Committee regards this last criterion as too 
vague and feels that it could be deleted. Conse­
quently, the agreements referred to in Article 2(1) 
should be forwarded subject to the provisions of 
Article 6. The Commission and the other Member In addition, the Committee feels that it would be 
preferable to add after the words '.. . complete draft 
. ..' in the first sentence of Article 2, the words 'or a 
file containing all relevant details'. 
Done at Brussels, 26 May 1981. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE