Council Regulation (EEC) No 3904/92 of 17 December 1992 on measures to adapt the profession of customs agent to the internal market

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) NÂ° 3904/92 of 17  December 1992 on measures to adapt the profession of customs agent to the internal market
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article  235 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 construction of the internal market is a fundamental objective of a decisively positive  nature for the development of the Community;
Whereas a certain number of areas will face severe difficulties as they depend heavily on customs  activity;
Whereas the abolition of customs formalities on 1 January 1993 will have considerable repercussions  on economic activity at the Community's internal borders;
Whereas the work of customs agents and their equivalents derives primarily from customs controls  and customs formalities;
Whereas the abolition of customs formalities at the Community's internal borders will abruptly end  the intra-Community activities of this profession;
Whereas this profession must completely rethink its future beyond 1 January 1993; whereas this will  have major repercussions both for employees in the sector and for the enterprises and areas whose  economic structure is geared primarily to cross-border activities;
Whereas small and medium-sized enterprises in particular need help in adapting to the abolition of  customs formalities at Community internal borders;
Whereas, given the circumstances and in the light of the Birmingham European Council declaration of  16 October 1992, supplementary Community measures can usefully contribute to the work undertaken by  Member States;
Whereas such measures could also encourage the Member States and regions concerned to draw up  proposals and release the necessary resources for the purpose of dealing with the economic problems  of the border areas in question;
Whereas the Community feels that urgent back-up measures to help customs agents are called for;
Whereas these measures will be related in particular to Community action under the Structural  Funds;
Whereas it is necessary to supplement the action supported by the Structural Funds with operations  not financed under these Funds, so as to have available a complete set of measures to assist in the  restructuring and diversification of the services provided by this profession;
Whereas these specific and exceptional measures, designed to supplement Structural Fund activities,  should be limited in time;
Whereas the measures covered by this Regulation should be in keeping with Community policies,  including those relating to competition rules;
Whereas these measures are designed to contribute to economic and social cohesion;
Whereas the Community aims to assist the areas and enterprises affected by the Community policy of  abolishing tax frontiers and customs controls;
Whereas the measures to support the areas and enterprises concerned should provide various types of  assistance relating, in particular, to management, access to capital markets and vocational  training of workers;
Whereas the arrangements for Community action should be specified with a view to implementing the  measures for attaining the objectives set,