8. 3. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 60/35 
requirements falling below a minimum threshold and 
which should be revised and submitted by the Com­
munity to the IMO for approval. 5.2. Article 9 
Paragraph 1): 'may' to be replaced by 'must'. 
Done at Brussels, 18 December 1990. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois STAEDELIN 
Opinion on: 
— the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 3164/76 
on access to the market in the international carriage of goods by road, and 
— the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 4059/89 
laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road 
haulage services within a Member State 
(91/C 60/11) 
On 6 December 1990 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 75 of the EEC Treaty, on the abovementioned proposals. 
At its 282nd plenary session held on 18 and 19 December 1990 (meeting of 18 December), 
the Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Eulen Rapporteur-General and adopted 
the following Opinion unanimously. 
The Economic and Social Committee approves the pro­
posed Regulations subject to the following comments. 2. General comments 
1. The Commission's intention 
1.1. The enlargement of the Community as a result 
of German unification makes it necessary to increase the 
Community quota from 1991 in line with the increase in 
goods traffic. The additional authorizations for the 
international carriage of goods are to be allocated 
amongst the Member States, as when Spain and Portu­
gal acceded to the Community. The Economic and Social Committee's comments on 
transport policy in its Opinion of 20 November 1990 (*) 
on the Community and German Unification (Rappor­
teur-General: Mr Petersen) sketch in the background 
to the pending Council decision. In this Opinion the 
Committee welcomed the Commission's intention to 
pay close attention to the development of East-West 
links so that the merging of European economies is not 
impeded and the associated exchange of goods not 
hampered by transport bottlenecks. The proposed 
changes to the rules on access to market are in line with 
this. 
1.2. For the same reason an extra 298 authorizations 
are to be added to the present quota of 15 000 cabotage 
authorizations for the period 1 January 1991 to 30 June 
1991. They will be allocated amongst the Member 
States in accordance with the principles applied for the 
1991 Community quota. (!) Doc. ESC No 1378/90. 
No C 60/36 Official Journal of the European Communities * 8. 3. 91 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Commission proposals are intended to 
apply the two Regulations in question—on access to 
the market in the international carriage of goods by 
road and on the conditions under which non-resident 
carriers may operate national road haulage services 
within a Member State (cabotage)—to the extended 
goods transport market created by German unification. 
It should be noted that the Council, in its Regulation 
(EEC) No 1053/90, has increased the Community quota 
by 40% only for 1990 for the time being and is still 
examining the Commission's proposal for a further 
increase in the quota for 1991 and 1992. 
3.2. The Committee has taken a close look at the 
rules on access to the carriage of goods market on 
several occasions, most recently in connection with the 
proposal for a Council Regulation on the introduction 
of the final regime for the organization of the market 
for the carriage of goods by road(1). The Committee 
(!) OJ No C 344, 31.12. 1985, p. 7 (Rapporteur: Mr Binnen-
bruck); OJ No C 180, 26. 5. 1986, p. 37 (Rapporteur: Mr 
Bleser); OJ No C 333, 29. 12. 1986, p. 19 (Rapporteur: Mr 
L.J. Smith); OJ No C 232, 31. 8. 1987, p. 34 (Rapporteur: 
Mr. L.J. Smith); OJ No C 112, 7. 5. 1990, p. 14 (Rapporteur: 
Mr Corell Ayora); OJ No C 332, 31.12.1990, p. 133 (Rappor­
teur: Mr Tukker). 
Done at Brussels, 18 December 1990. also delivered Opinions on the Commission drafts of 
the two 1976 and 1989 Regulations to which amend­
ments are now proposed. 
3.3. The efforts to find solutions to the problems of 
East-West transport links should not divert attention 
from the continuing need to align conditions in general, 
including social conditions, in the transport sector. In 
view of the eastward expansion of the EC, it has if 
anything become more urgent to take political decisions 
on alignment so as to avoid distortions of competition. 
3.4. It goes without saying that the Committee has 
not changed its views on Regulations which are amend­
ed solely to take account of German unification without 
changing the system. For this reason it would therefore 
expressly refer to the relevant Opinions. 
4. Concluding comment 
The Committee welcomes the fact that the Commission 
is taking immediate account of the current expansion 
of the market in the carriage of goods and is proposing 
to allocate additional quotas amongst the Member 
States. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis STAEDELIN