Council Directive 83/643/EEC of 1 December 1983 on the facilitation of physical inspections and administrative formalities in respect of the carriage of goods between Member States

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 1 December 1983 on the facilitation of physical inspections and administrative formalities in respect of the carriage of goods between Member States (83/643/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43, 75, 84 and 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the European Council has on a number of occasions underlined the need to reinforce and develop further the internal market ; whereas increased efforts are needed to reduce to the minimum the formalities and inspection at internal Community frontiers;
Whereas, on 26 March 1981 (4), the Council approved a priority programme under the common transport policy, concerning the period up to the end of 1983, of which to facilitate the crossing of frontiers was one of 10 priorities ; whereas the Council called upon the Commission to submit proposals on this subject;
Whereas, on 12 June 1978, the Council approved a priority programme for air transport, one priority being facilitation;
Whereas waiting times at frontier crossing-points affect the flow of transport between Member States, lead to an increase in transport costs, which is passed on in the end price of the goods carried, and thus have a negative effect on intra-Community trade;
Whereas waiting times at frontiers may have a negative effect on the working conditions of those employed in the transport sector, in particular in road transport and inland waterway transport;
Whereas these waiting times at frontier crossing-points are caused by transport-related factors and other factors;
Whereas waiting times could be reduced by organizing inspections and formalities and inspections, which are justified under Community law, more efficiently;
Whereas, in order to ensure a smoother flow of means of transport engaged in the carriage of goods between Member States, it is desirable to centralize the various  (1) OJ No C 127, 18.5.1982, p. 6. (2) OJ No C 42, 14.2.1983, p. 67. (3) OJ No C 90, 5.4.1983, p. 22. (4) OJ No C 171, 11.7.1981, p. 1.   inspections in one place, preferably the place of departure or destination of the goods;
Whereas it is advisable that, in intra-Community trade, Member States should carry out inspection by means of spot-checks, except in duly justified circumstances;
Whereas the flow of goods traffic between Member States may be improved by application of the principle of recognition of inspections carried out and of documents drawn up by the competent authorities of another Member State which prove that the goods meet the conditions applicable in the Member State of import or transit;
Whereas it is desirable to attain, through cooperation and concerted effort between the various inspection services and the different types of users, better exchange of information on the various problems which arise at certain frontier crossing-points, in order to seek joint solutions likely to improve the situation at the crossing-points in question;
Whereas a minimum of business hours at frontier posts and appropriate organization of the hours during which inspection services operate may reduce waiting times in traffic passing through;
Whereas the establishment of express lanes reserved for means of transport travelling empty or carrying goods under a customs transit procedure is likely to bring about a reduction in waiting times at the frontier;
Whereas it is also necessary to ensure that Member States do not introduce any new inspections or formalities that would render inoperative the measures taken to facilitate the crossing of frontiers,