8.8.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/7 
The Committee would therefore express its support 
for the draft Regulation on trade statistics, whilst 
pointing out that it has issued an opinion on the draft Regulation introducing a specimen declaration 
form (CES 538/83). 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francos CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the commercial independence of the 
railways in the management of their international passenger and luggage traffic 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 23 of 28 January 1983, page 12. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 January 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
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 12 January 1983 for an opinion on the proposal 
for a Council Decision ('), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 28 January 1983 instructing the section for Trans­
port and Communications, under Article 22 of the 
Rules of Procedure, to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by that Sec­
tion at its 150th meeting held on 11 May 1983, Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Querleux, (Article 29 of the Rules of Procedure), 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
1 June 1983 (208th plenary session of 1 and 2 June 
1983), 
(i) OJNoC23, 28. 1. 1983, p. 12. HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee generally endorses this propo­
sal, which will extend to international passenger and 
luggage traffic the commercial independence 
enjoyed by the railways in their international goods 
traffic since the Council Decision of 19 July 1982. 
No C 211/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
2. General comments 
2.1. International passenger fares are currently cal­
culated by adding up domestic fares applicable to 
national borders. Seasonal fare changes very often 
do not occur at the same time in the different Mem­
ber States and sometimes require government 
approval. The proposed Decision is designed to eli­
minate the consequent substantial complications 
and difficulties which make it harder for the rail­
ways to compete with their rivals. 
2.2. The Committee notes that the Community's 
railways have expressed strong support for the pro­
posal and that there is already close cooperation on 
tariffs, e.g. international youth travel in the summer 
months, supplements for sleepers. This cooperation 
is still somewhat limited, but would naturally 
increase with the proposed independence. Indepen­
dence is also likely to give the railways the oppor­
tunity to bring tariffs more into line with market 
needs. 
2.3. The Committee would stress that freedom to 
determine fares is not enough. In parallel with this 
there must be closer cooperation between the rail­
ways on the provision of international transport. 
This would involve: faster turn-round by reducing 
halts at borders; the streamlining of customs opera­
tions ; the avoidance of locomotive changes at bor­
ders wherever technically possible; the further sim­
plification of the procedure for approving stock; 
improved seat reservation systems on foreign rail 
networks, etc. 
2.4. The Committee notes with interest that the 
proposal is supported both by rail workers and man­
agement. The proposal aims to develop and prom­
ote the Community's railways and make them more 
competitive. It will provide greater opportunities for 
users and society in general to benefit from the 
advantages of rail transport, i.e. safety, energy econ­
omy, low pollution and limited environmental dam­
age. 
Concerning the notion of 'public service' and com­
pensatory finance (to which the railways, workers, 
management and many users subscribe), the Com­
mittee agrees with the Commission that the propo­
sal, which only covers international passenger traffic, does not affect the status quo regarding each 
individual Member States' definition of 'public 
service' obligations. 
2.5. The Committee feels it is only natural that in 
return for this independence the railways will be 
required to organize international passenger trans­
port so as to obtain an optimum remuneration for 
services and to ensure that the overall financial 
results make it possible to cover the specific assigna­
ble costs and contribute towards the coverage of 
joint costs. This obligation nevertheless has to be 
seen in the context described in the previous para­
graph. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Committee has no comments on Art­
icles 1 and 2. 
3.2. The Committee has spent a lot of time study­
ing Article 3. It wonders whether the wording of this 
Article is clear enough, and whether the obligations 
contained therein could be objectively monitored. 
3.2.1. The railways state that they are able to work 
out what part of their income is generated by inter­
national freight and passenger traffic. They can also 
pinpoint the specific direct expenses, (e.g. cost of 
material, engines, sales) of the different interna­
tional traffic flows. Article 3 is concerned with 'the 
overall financial results relating to international pas­
senger traffic' of each railway, and not the indivi­
dual results for each route or fare. 
Railways and their supervisory authorities com­
monly distinguish between specific direct expenses 
and overall joint costs. 
3.2.2. Costs, such as staff remuneration, can vary 
widely between railways; but these variations can 
easily be allowed for when setting fares, and in the 
breakdown of revenue pools between networks. 
3.2.3. The Commission proposal does not question 
the operations of railways in the general economic 
interest (Regulations 1191/69 and 1192/69), nor 
does it query the terms of competition within the 
different Member States. The proposal cannot there­
fore lead to changes in requirements as regards the 
equilibrium of railway finances or public-service cri­
teria. 
8. 8. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/9 
3.2.4. Basically, charging for the use of infrastruc­
ture is not regulated at Community level. An assess­
ment of this aspect would be beyond the compass of 
the present opinion. 
3.2.5. Article 3 is modelled on Article 7 of Council 
Decision 82/529/EEC of 19 July 1982 which grants 
commercial independence in international goods 
transport to railways in the Member States. 
3.2.6. All in all, the Committee approves Article 3, 
which is designed to encourage railways to shoulder 
their responsibilities. It would stress, however, that 
the practical implementation of Article 3 cannot be 
divorced from the general aspects underlined in this 
opinion. 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
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 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the letter of 17 January 1983 in 
which the Council of the European Communities 3.3. The Committee has no comments on Art­
icles 4, 6 and 7. 
3.4. The Committee supports the statement in 
Article 5 that railways should consider establishing a 
joint office for commercial activities. 
The Committee points out that whilst the railways 
are most willing to study this matter, they have 
already made considerable progress in the field of 
cooperation. Such areas of progress include the 
establishment of a passengers' commercial sub­
group by the 10 railways, the European Passenger 
Timetable Conference, and bilateral and multila­
teral international marketing studies. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
asked the Economic and Social Committee for an 
opinion on the research programme (1983-1987) 
Forecasting and Assessment in Science and Tech­
nology (FAST) ('), 
(') OJ No C 89, 31. 3. 1983, p. 9. Opinion on the research programme (1983-1987) Forecasting and Assessment in Science 
and Technology (FAST) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 89 of 31 March 1983, page 9. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 17 January 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned programme to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty estab­
lishing 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983.