OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the role of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green Paper
Date: 1995-09-14
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU policy, European integration, economic development, tourism, tourism policy













EUR-Lex - 51995AC0976 - EN






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51995AC0976

OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the role of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green Paper  


Official Journal C 301 , 13/11/1995 P. 0068 





Opinion on the role of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green  Paper(95/C 301/15)On 24  April 1995 the Commission decided to consult the Economic and  Social Committee, under Article  198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the Role  of the Union in the field of tourism - Commission Green Paper. The Section for Regional Development and Town and Country Planning, which was responsible for  preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 25  July 1995, by 33 votes to  8 with 4 abstentions. The Rapporteur was Mr Regaldo, and the Co-Rapporteur Mr Lustenhouwer. At its 328th Plenary Session (meeting of 14  September), the Economic and Social Committee adopted  the following Opinion by 80 votes to 34 with 17 abstentions. 1. Historical survey of Community tourism policy1.1. The first Community measures to  encourage tourism date back as far as 1982, with the Contogeorgis memorandum. 1.2. The Commission subsequently envisaged a series of measures in its Communication to the Council  on Community action in the Tourism Sector, dated 3  April 1986. 1.3. The turning point came in 1990, with the Council decision to declare 1990 'European Tourism  Year'; this brought the tourism sector to the attention of the Community with all its economic and  social ramifications. 1.4. In 1992, the three-year plan for tourism (1993-1995) was launched representing an initial  response, albeit partial and insufficient, to the problems which European tourism must face in the  medium and long term. 1.5. In this period, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee regularly gave  their views on the various proposals, through a series of Opinions and recommendations, all  intended to increase the Commission's and Council's awareness of the need for increasingly incisive  measures to achieve an effective European policy for tourism (). 1.6. At the intergovernmental conference which gave rise to the Maastricht Treaty, the European  Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee pleaded the case for inserting a specific title  and legal basis for tourism policy in the Treaty. The results have been disappointing: the Treaty  on European Union (Article  3t) acknowledges for the first time the possibility of measures to  encourage tourism, but postpones until the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference the debate on the  possibility of incorporating a title on tourism and the corresponding legal basis, into the Treaty,  following a report which the Commission will submit to the Council. 1.7. The inadequacy of the present Treaty on this subject arises not only from the lack of a legal  basis, but also from the fact that the Treaty does not clarify either the specific objectives or  the implementing procedures for Community measures in the tourism sector; this contrasts with the  revised Treaty's provisions on culture (Article  128), consumer protection (Article  129a) and  industrial policy (Article  130). Once again, the European Parliament, in its report of 15  July  1991 and the Economic and Social Committee in its most recent Own-initiative Opinion on tourism, of  15  September 1994, have deplored this state of affairs, stressing the need for tourism be given  the full status of a Community policy at the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference, and calling  for the promised Commission Green Paper on the role of the European Union in the field of tourism  to provide expressly for this possibility. 1.8. In the view of the European Parliament and the ESC, a Community tourism policy helps to make  more effective and more visible the actual complementary nature of the resources available to  tourists and enterprises at the various levels: Community, national, regional and local, and  encourages a linkage between the various types of economic aid to the sector. 1.9. To this end the Commission Green Paper, in the wake of the Tourism Council in Athens on 15   April 1994, seeks to stimulate general consideration of the role of the Union in promoting tourism,  among all those concerned, whether in the public or private sector, operating at all levels  (Community, national or regional) with a view to the 1996 Conference. 2. The Green Paper: Objectives2.1. The Green Paper concentrates on three main areas: - it describes the actions currently being carried out by the Community in the field of tourism and  the instruments it already possesses for this purpose; - it makes a more in-depth examination of the added value brought by the implementation of a policy  at Community level, highlighting in particular the reasons which inspire and justify Community  action to encourage tourism and basic objectives which can be pursued by Community action in this  field:    strengthening economic and social cohesion;    important contribution to achieving sustainable growth;    contributing to the promotion of the European identity;    contributing to the management of structural and technological changes and to the development of  tourism SMEs;    creation of added value through a consistent approach in policies and instruments;    tourism and respect for the principle of subsidiarity; - it outlines the likely trends defining the future role of the Union, according to the four  possible options:  a) Tourism could continue to benefit from measures under the various Community programmes without  the need to draw up a specific action programme.  b) Maintenance of the present framework and level of intervention.  c) Strengthening of Community action on the basis of the existing Treaty.  d) Towards a Community tourism policy. 3. General comments3.1. The Commission Green Paper constitutes both the point of arrival and the  point of departure of European policy in favour of tourism. The point of arrival, since it clearly  presents the present Community situation as it has developed through the various measures so far  taken to promote the sector: the point of departure, since on the basis of the options it raises  the question of the need to move on to achieve a full-blown European tourism policy, obviously  based on subsidiarity and the recognition that primary action in the sector is a matter for Member  States and regions in the first place. 3.2. Some key elements emerge from the presentation of the Green Paper: the desire to encourage the  widest possible debate on a sector which, as we shall see later, plays a fundamental role in the  socio-economic growth of the Union; the attempt to promote partnership at all levels, whether  horizontal, vertical or transnational, and between public authorities and the world of business;  the ambition to prove that the economic growth obtainable through tourism is not only compatible  with, but can contribute to safeguarding, the environment, protection of the cultural and artistic  heritage, and strengthening European identity, whilst respecting the individual cultures and  traditions, combining diversity with the search for a competitiveness which can best be activated  at the level of a European tourist system. 3.3. This acceptable approach would tend to benefit the entire Union, both in socio-economic and in  identity image terms. 3.4. However, the action to be taken will depend on integrating the Union's activities with  national measures on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity. 3.5. The problem to which the ESC and the European Parliament have been calling for a solution for  some time is that of the Commission's right to operate fully in the tourism sector. 3.6. Tourism must be given the same prominence as other policies in order to achieve a true and  proper balance among them - necessary for the forthcoming revision of the Treaty. 3.7. The incorporation of tourism in other Community programmes and policies is a necessary, but  not a sufficient, condition; it does not necessarily comply with the logic of overall development  of tourism to develop all its potentialities fully, as the ESC and the European Parliament have  frequently stressed. 3.8. The Green Paper then draws attention to the advantages which would flow from a consistent  approach of policies and instruments through the establishment of a balance among three priority  poles: entrepreneurial activity, protection of the tourist/consumer and protection of the natural  and cultural heritage. Such an approach is acceptable, because it is one of the basic conditions  for fully activating all the sector's potential. 3.9. As regards added value, subject to the specific comments below, the Green Paper's approach,  although very cautious, tends to bring out the elements justifying Community action, particularly  promotion of coordination, already begun with the three-year Action Plan, which in our view must be  consolidated and legitimized by an agreed approach to the main objectives shared by the Union, the  Member States and the Regions, exchange of experiences and promotion of specific measures. In  short, tourism should be seen as a system - as the sectoral approach alone is insufficient - which  functions well if all the components of the system are coordinated. Moreover, cooperation between  public and private sectors and between groups of activity can develop better if the various actors  can interact at Community level. 3.10. On the options, it seems necessary to reassess at this point the ESC's view in its report on  tourism. Only an adequate legal basis in the forthcoming Treaty will make possible efficient growth  of the tourism sector on a Community basis - an essential factor for the revival of socio-economic  growth in the Union. 4. The importance of tourism4.1. The need to devote greater attention and more Community  measures to tourism emerges in the first place from an analysis of its socio-economic importance  and its main characteristics. Tourism contributes to wealth creation in the Community, accounting  for 5,5% of the GDP, with more than double that figure for countries such as Greece, Ireland,  Portugal and France; it directly employs 9 m. people, accounting for 6% of total Community  employment, and this proportion increases considerably if induced employment is included. The trend  is for tourism, both at European and at world level, to become one of the main reserves of  employment, and it may have a considerable impact on reducing unemployment and on job creation,  particularly in the more vulnerable sectors of the labour market (young people and women). The  basic feature of the sector is the very high proportion occupied by SMEs, mainly very small firms  (0-9 employees), which are labour-intensive. 4.2. The annual growth trend forecast for the Union between now and the year 2000 is 3,7%, mainly  dependent on the growth of internal and intra-Community demand. On a world scale, according to ILO  estimates, the scale of the tourist market should double in less than 20 years. 4.3. The positive trend at Community level, however, does not cause us to ignore the problems  confronting the sector. First and foremost, there is the strong international competition,  particularly from countries of the East Asian basin and the Pacific, and non-Community  Mediterranean countries: in the last 20  years this has cut Community tourism's share of the world  market by more than 10%. Nonetheless, with 60% of international arrivals and 50% of currency  revenue, Europe remains the principal tourist area in the world, although a further fall of 10% is  forecast by the year 2000. This must cause Community and national authorities carefully to consider  the need to promote an effective Community tourism policy in order to stimulate its internal  development in terms of quality and economic efficiency - a precondition for the action necessary  to make Europe more competitive in relation to other regions of the world. 4.4. There is also an internal challenge to the sector, namely the need for firms to make  structural adjustments in order to deal with the new reality of the European market, the complex  system of rules, the challenge of the information society, and the growth of demand for  increasingly sophisticated and diversified tourist services, and new requirements in terms of  quality standards, respect for the environment and a more effective tourist/consumer protection and  quality control policy. A large unified market changes the logic of economic activity, and hence of  supply and demand in tourism. The Community will be able to make a fundamental contribution, as a  unified area, to solving this problem. 4.5. The Community's responses must involve in the first place the effective establishment of the  Single Market and of Economic and Monetary Union; in particular, it is necessary to reaffirm the  need for the tourism dimension to be effectively incorporated into the other Community policies  which have an impact on tourism (e.g. transport, fiscal, environment, social, consumer protection  and other policies), into the Community financial loan instruments (EIB/EIF) and into the  Structural Funds. For example, on VAT, there are the problems of rates in the catering sector and  the difficulties encountered by tour operators and travel agencies in applying the VIth Directive  to transport (). Coordination of all Community aid in the sector can and must be carried out by  Commission DG XXIII by strengthening its horizontal scope. It is also necessary to enable the  Commission to promote framework conditions and specific measures designed to give an effective  stimulus to Community policy in favour of tourism, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity.  An increase in the staff and financial resources of DG  XXIII is the precondition for the success  of this policy. 5. Community added value5.1. The Green Paper highlights the need for consistency between  Community action and existing national measures. 5.2. The first Community Action Programme to assist tourism, on which the ESC would reiterate the  comments made in its Opinion of 14/15  September 1994, and on which the Commission will issue a  final report, constitutes the first clear example of the added value which the Commission can give  to a tourism policy; to this should be added the indirect actions examined in some detail above  (internal market, environmental policy, etc.). 5.3. With regard to economic and social cohesion, tourism helps to redress the socio-economic  imbalances between Community regions, to redevelop areas in industrial decline and to breathe new  life into rural areas. This is done by locating activities and creating jobs throughout the Union.  Tourism also traditionally has a spin-off effect on primary and secondary-sector activities,  commerce and craft sectors. 5.4. Via the Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, EAGGF), the EIB and the other financial instruments  available to it, the Community has come to recognize the contribution which tourism can make to  achieving the above-mentioned objectives; this is done via the co-financing of community support  frameworks drawn up in conjunction with national and regional authorities and aimed specifically at  tourism. The funds made available for tourism should be sufficient to achieve feasible objectives  and so should be increased proportionately. 5.5. The tourist sector should be integrated more closely into regional development. This is  contingent on planning at all levels coordinated by the Commission. The aim would be to define  priority regional development and tourism objectives in order to improve the quality and variety of  tourism, protect the environment, ensure an effective seasonal and geographical spread of tourism  by promoting a more balanced distribution of school holidays and annual holidays, and develop  alternative and complementary forms of tourism, particularly cultural tourism, rural tourism, spa  cure tourism, congress-linked tourism, weekend tourism, and tourism catering for specific social  categories (elderly people, young people, etc.). This approach to planning, the exchange of experiences, monitoring and defining framework  conditions at Community level makes it easier to combine and guarantee the compatibility of the  three requirements laid down in the Green Paper (tourism-related economic activities, consumer  protection and respect for the natural and cultural heritage) and help avoid the subsequent  spoiling of specific areas with natural tourist attractions. 5.6. The ESC has already recognized the need for sustainable development, i.e. the need to ensure  that economic interests are compatible with geographical/environmental interests. It has done so  particularly in its Opinion Europa 2000+ which states categorically that economic activities must  be linked to the quality of the environment since the former depend on the latter if they are to be  successful. 5.7. Because of its horizontal nature, tourism is well suited to playing its part in the search for  a fair balance between the environment (including the urban environment) and economic activity.  Just as improvements are required in the quality of tourism, so tourists themselves must be made  more aware of environmental issues. This need for awareness of the environmental dimension and the  observance of the standards pertaining thereto, as propounded in the Fifth Community Action  Programme on the Environment, must be compatible with the needs of tourist industry enterprises, if  the latter are not to be put in a position where they have to comply with impossible conditions. 5.8. The Community should insist that environmental and tourist protection standards are complied  with not only by Community tourist industry enterprises, but also by enterprises located in tourist  countries outside the European Union. This can be achieved within the framework of the economic  cooperation negotiations being conducted between the European Union and these third countries, the  aim being to remove distortions of competition that put European tourist enterprises at a  disadvantage. More generally, we share the view that tourism policy should be an integral part of  any cooperation agreement concluded with third countries. 5.9. The Commission's role in coordinating and stimulating tourist activities, and in producing its  own specific initiatives, can undoubtedly give added value to the policies of the Member States.  Areas where a Community contribution can come in useful include: the building of infrastructures of  Community interest; vocational training; the trying out and dissemination of new tourist products;  making the most of the employment potential offered by tourist activities. 5.10. The compilation of statistics allowing a greater and more qualitative understanding of the  tourism sector, which began with the 1991-1992 programme, needs to be continued and reinforced in  agreements between the Community, the Member States, the OECD and the WTO. Only an adequate  knowledge of all aspects of the tourist industry can put the public authorities and private  operators in a position where they are able to work properly to develop tourism within the  Community and in third-country markets. 5.11. The Community and the Member States should also commit themselves to producing reliable and  exhaustive analytical studies, broken down by market segment, on both the supply and demand sides  and taking into consideration consumer needs for tourist products on a Community and international  scale. To this end it is essential to allocate more funds to DG  XXIII and Eurostat. 5.12. With regard to promotion of the European identity, the ESC shares the Commission's view that  tourism helps to further the concept of European citizenship even if it is necessary to step up  activities so that the EU can turn this concept into reality, as provided for under Article  5 of  the Treaty. 5.13. Given the exceedingly large number of very small firms in the tourist industry and the  challenges facing them - the need to improve quality of service, ensure international  competitiveness, adapt to new legislation occasioned by the internal market, comply with  environmental policy and take into account the advent of the information society - the Commission  needs to take action to improve and simplify the legislative and administrative environment, to  increase the flow of information, to stimulate cooperation and association between firms, to  encourage the introduction of new technologies and new management methods, to guarantee respect for  competition rules to protect SMEs and the consumer in the face of commercial concentrations and in  access to and use of European telematic networks, and to support the restructuring needed if SMEs  are to adapt to ever-changing demand. Restructuring processes can be assisted by funds originating  from the Structural Funds, the EIB and other Community financial instruments and disbursed within  the framework of a coherent action programme. 5.14. Vocational training continues to be the key to the development of the tourist industry and  must be available for all categories - employees, managers and entrepreneurs. This is particularly  true with the introduction of new technologies and new management methods requiring specific and  on-going training. The development of language skills and continuous training are themselves  central to improving the quality of the service to tourists. We are aware of the need to identify  new and original solutions to training requirements, partly by aggregating supply and demand for  training services, so that all aspects of tourism and all types of work can be taken into account,  including part-time work, work for an undefined period, seasonal work and fixed-term employment so  as to match the supply of tourism training to the needs of the firm, encourage a balance between  demand and supply of jobs, improve the employment situation and increase the sector's  attractiveness. Closer cooperation between the social partners will facilitate the quest for new  solutions. 5.15. The Commission should press on with its pilot projects in the field of tourism, take concrete  steps to bring tourism within the orbit of the European Social Fund and the Leonardo and Socrates  training programmes, and develop the exchange of 'best training practices' between the authorities,  training establishments and economic operators. 5.16. Action should subsequently be taken to secure the practical recognition of the qualifications  of tourism professionals in order to effectively guarantee on a Community scale the mobility of  people employed in this sector. 5.17. The horizontal approach hitherto pursued by the Commission with the aim of bringing tourism  under the umbrella of other Community policies that have an impact on the tourism industry,  together with the specific actions of the Commission provided for under the Action Plan to assist  tourism, nevertheless call for a higher level of action is the three priority aspects of a European  tourism policy - improvements in the quality of tourist services, diversification of tourist  activities and products, integration into tourism of the concept of sustainable and balanced  development - are to be acceptable to all the Member States of the Union. 5.18. But if these three priority aspects are to be combined with tourism's three poles of interest  - development of firms, protection of the tourist/consumer and satisfaction of his/her needs,  protection of the natural and cultural heritage - then it is necessary to lay down a Community  framework to form the basis for guidelines which go further than economic short-termism. This is a  task that must be carried out by the Commission in conjunction with the Member States and  representative tourism professionals. 5.19. With this in mind the linkage needs to be strengthened between the different organizations  representing tourism professionals in Europe. This should be done within a representative  horizontal structure. The Commission could further this necessary linkage by acting vigorously to  promote the introduction of an effective Community policy to assist tourism. It will be just as  important to ensure a more incisive dialogue between the social partners in the field of tourism,  particularly in relation to the social protocol in the Treaty on European Union. 6. Possible developments in the role of the Union as regards tourismThe Green Paper identifies  four possible ways in which the EU can develop its future role as regards tourism. 6.1. The first option comprises the reduction or elimination of specific Community action in the  field of tourism. Tourist satisfaction would be guaranteed by measures taken under other Community  policies. This option excludes de facto any form of coordination since there would be no specific reference  framework for tourism. 6.2. The second option entails maintenance of the current framework and level of intervention. As  things stand at present, the Community does not have a specific legal basis for tourism policy. It  can therefore only base its action on Article  235, as was the case with the Community Action Plan  to assist tourism of  July 1992. This Action Plan however is of limited duration and scope. This  second option thus leaves unresolved the question of the Commission's political authority in the  field of tourism, confirms the status quo and limits the aims and scope of cooperation. It also  recognizes the experimental nature of the Community's Action Plan. 6.3. The third option calls for a strengthening of Community action via the existing Treaty. The  Action Plan has not been sufficient to mobilize the full potential for tourism so the Community can  only stimulate tourist activities by a strengthening of existing measures in sectors which may have  an impact on tourism (regional development, consumers, business, environment and culture).  Political legitimacy in the field of tourism will still be out of the question although instruments  currently in operation will be bolstered in terms of resources, if not objectives. What is lacking  with this option is something which can only be given by political legitimacy, viz. more closely  coordinated measures in order to give Community action a higher profile and create a multiplier  effect for the added value of each of the separate policies. 6.4. Finally, the fourth action is to lay the foundations for a Community tourism policy. Such a  policy would not aim to subvert national and regional policies but would make it possible to lay  down Community guidelines in order to secure a convergence of objectives and actions. A Community  tourism policy would also give the Commission a greater right and political legitimacy a) to act  more decisively when decisions are taken on other policies affecting tourism, and b) to take action  to promote coordination at Community level or to satisfy the specific needs of tourism. Political  legitimacy derives from the insertion in the Treaty of a specific Title containing an adequate  legal basis that defines the nature, scope and objectives of a Community tourism policy. 7. Conclusions7.1. In the European Union tourism plays a fundamental role not only at the  socio-economic level but also at the political and cultural level, as a factor for integration  among peoples and among the differing geographical conditions in the Community, it is the vehicle  par excellence for strengthening the European identity; and it contributes to the defence and  promotion of European values on the international scene. 7.2. Tourism remains one of the main sources of new jobs, and is a decisive factor for restoring  the socio-economic balance among the Community regions. As regards sectoral interdependence, the  growth of tourism has a multiplier effect in the other economic sectors linked with it:  agriculture, industry, craft industries, trade, transport, etc. 7.3. Europe is still the world's main tourist market, but this position is seriously threatened by  ever-increasing international competition from the newly emerging areas of world tourism, whose  growth rates are considerably higher than those of the Community. 7.4. However, European and international tourism offer significant opportunities for growth. The  growth potential on a Community scale will be achieved provided that the European tourist system as  a whole becomes more competitive as regards qualitative standards, local structure, diversification  of supply to cope with trends in the needs and motivation of a tourism demand which is ever more  sophisticated and less stereotyped. 7.5. The Green Paper sets out with sufficient clarity what is at stake at Community level, in all  its aspects, and calls for a precise response to formulate a European tourism policy capable of  meeting the challenge. 7.6. Measures taken so far at European level have been an inadequate response to the needs of the  sector, as they were partial, of limited duration, not fully thought out for the medium and long  term, and not fully integrated with the new Community reality. 7.7. The lack of a specific legal basis in the EC Treaty has acted hitherto as a brake on Community  initiative on tourism. 7.8. The above comments on the added value which the Community can give to the development of  tourism would leave no doubt as to the need for a fully-fledged, effective Community policy on  tourism, as spelt out in Option IV of the Green Paper. The ESC, in line with the views expressed in  the past and most recently in its Opinion of 15  September 1994, reaffirms the need for a Community  tourism policy to be given an adequate legal basis as well as a separate Title in the Treaty; this  must be done at the latest at the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. 7.9. On the basis of Option IV of the Green Paper the Commission should, in agreement with the  Member States and in conjunction with organizations representing enterprises, trade unionists and  consumers, define the overall framework, guidelines and coordinating measures which, alongside  autonomous initiatives, are needed to ensure that the most important activities engaged in as part  of a Community tourism policy are effective in achieving the objectives of the Union, whilst at the  same time complying with the principle of subsidiarity. 7.10. In order to make a practical contribution to the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference, the  Committee proposes that the following new title be added to the Treaty: TOURISM1. The Community and the Member States shall be responsible for creating the necessary  preconditions for maintaining and improving the competitive capacity of the Community tourism  sector. To that end, their action shall aim to:  - achieve close coordination between Community and Member State policy in the tourism sector;  - develop joint measures by the Community and the Member States to ensure that the Community  tourism sector is able to stand up to worldwide competition;  - strike a balance between the interests of the industry and those of the consumer, with due  regard for the principle of sustainable development predicated on conservation of the cultural and  natural heritage. 2. In order to achieve the aims set out in paragraph  1 above, the Commission shall ensure that  tourism policy is integrated and coordinated with all aspects of Community policy. Done at Brussels, 14  September 1995. The Presidentof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos FERRER() Opinion of  the ESC in OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990 (Rapporteur: Mr Vassilaras); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 49,  24. 2. 1992 (Rapporteur: Mr Cunha); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 52, 19. 2. 1994 (Rapporteur: Mr   Cunha); Opinion of the ESC in OJ No C 393, 24. 12. 1994 (Rapporteur: Mr Lustenhouwer).  () ESC Opinion in OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990 (Rapporteur: Mr Vassilaras), p.  160, paragraphs  4.3  and 4.4. APPENDIX to the Opinion of the Economic and Social CommitteeRejected amendmentsThe  following amendments, tabled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, were rejected in the course  of the debate: Amendments by Mr GieseckePage 1Text unchanged up to point 1.2 inclusive. Point 1.3Replace by the following: '1.3. 1990 was declared 'European Tourism Year' by the Council. This drew attention to an economic  sector which is very important for Europe, and to its manifold economic and social  ramifications.'Point 1.4Delete 'and insufficient'. Point 1.5Unchanged. Point 1.6Replace the first three lines (up to 'have been disappointing:') by the following: '1.6. After discussions with national authorities and relevant associations and  organizations,...'Points 1.7 to 2.1Unchanged. Point 3.1Amend as follows: '3.1. In assessing the four options identified in the Green Paper the Committee was guided by the  principle that, in connection with preparations for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference, calls to  transfer new responsibilities to the EU could be supported only under strict constraints. Since  disenchantment with the increasing centralization of tasks in Brussels has grown considerably among  all sections of the population, only new powers which can indisputably be better exercised at EU  level should be allocated to it.'Point 3.2Replace the existing text by the following: '3.2. In the Green Paper the Commission recognizes that the Member States and the Regions are  primarily responsible for tourism. Accordingly, it refers throughout to the subsidiarity principle  which it must observe.'Renumber existing point 3.2 as point 3.4Delete the following phrase: '3.4. ... the desire to encourage the widest possible debate on a sector which, as we shall see  later, plays a fundamental role in the socio-economic growth of the Union,'Add text of 3.3 to  point 3.4 as last sentence ('... a European tourist system. This acceptable approach  ...'). Point 3.3New text: '3.3. Without coming out clearly in favour of one of the four options, it develops a range of  interesting benchmarks for the added value of political measures at Community level.'Renumber  points 3.4 to 3.8 accordingly (3.4 becomes 3.5, etc.). Renumber point 3.9 as point 3.10Add: 'Which still needs to be evaluated and' after 'Action Plan'. Delete existing point 3.10Renumber point 4.5 as point 3.11Fourth line, brackets: Insert 'small firms, regional, training,' between 'e.g.' and 'transport'. Point 4 (4.1 to 4.4)Unchanged. Point 5 - points 5.1 and 5.2Unchanged. Point 5.3Reword second line to read: 'between certain Community regions, ...'Points 5.4 to  5.19Unchanged. Point 6 (6.1 to 6.4)Delete. Renumber point 7 (Conclusions) as point 6Renumber points 7.1 to 7.5 as points 6.1 to 6.5New point  6.6'6.6. In the Committee's view, the Commission's detailed arguments do not permit the conclusion  that there is an urgent need to elevate tourism policy to a fully-fledged Community policy (option  4) in order to carry out Community tasks in this sector efficiently. Rather, Community-level activities can already be carried out on the basis of the present Treaty,  as is clear from the relevant references in the Green Paper.'New point 6.7'6.7. For some time,  the Committee has been conscious of the need to strengthen the Commission's coordination and  integration activity in support of tourism. The considerable importance of this dynamic sector, not  only for several Member States but also, and in particular, for certain otherwise economically  disadvantaged regions, is in itself sufficient to justify this. The various Community policies and  measures must take account of this growth and employment potential.'New point 6.8'6.8.  Notwithstanding the general responsibility for coordination already devolved to the EU, the Council  could also be given the special task of coordinating national infrastructure policies in this  sector.'New point 6.9'6.9. The EU should also be assigned legislative responsibility for the  civil law (tour operator liability, consumer protection, etc.) applicable to this sector.'New  point 6.10'6.10. Organizational improvement should enable the Commission departments responsible  for tourism to perform their duties under the present Treaty even more effectively than in the  past.'New point 6.11'6.11. The Committee would also oppose elevating tourism policy to a  fully-fledged Community policy (option 4) on the grounds that it is debatable whether the  disadvantages of a possible dispute over responsibilities would be outweighed by any advantages.  Tourism, because of its multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral nature, is particularly dependent on  other policy areas.'Delete 7.6 onwardsVotingFor: 37, against: 80, abstentions: 9.