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.TER-PRLSIDENT

The Hague, March 6, 1984 C

e

e

With a view

to the

forthcoming

meeting

of the

European

19-20 March 1984, I should like to draw your attention Community's Recent

events

important which

transport

early

is a necessary

roads

have

progress

component

within the Community. the attention

partners

be made

occasions

transportmarkets developments.

free

internal

market

Margareth

such

Thatcher

that

these

of a free

market

of transport

have drawn

to this matter

interests

interests

process

at stake

are

in

of transport

of European for goods

past

is, however,

integration

and people

market. a genuine

does not exist. Government

generally goods

cross are

notes frontiers

carried

are

with particular without still

concern

hindrance,

subject

that

the

to bilateral

10 Downingstreet LONDON Verenigd Koninkrijk

-

2500 EA

s-Gravcni

- Kant,,

Fi:mwnhot

-

whereas

vehicles quotas.

FRS M.P.

20001

and I

in national

rooted

Prime Minister

Posrhus

how

emphasis.

for all categories

of the

again

policy,

the Netherlands

and the Commission

are different

policy

movement

The Netherlands

which

and

component

Without

can

there

A joint

an essential

goods

that

yet

on transport

to the achievement

should now like to do so again with increased aware

once more to the

demonstrated

should

On various

of the

I am fully

on

policy.

on Europe's

it is that

Council

0

in The

rt.)51

'IL,(S

MI "•:ISTER-PRESIDENT

-2effects

of such a quota

and as such contravene Such restrictions great

inefficiency

the

goods

competitive

and serious

carried.

in the prOfitability

unnecessarily

Europe

In general

States.

which

the Memorandum

its concern

vehicles

harmonise

It is against

this

the following

meeting

required

within

the

Council

market. now

it

that

before

of

-

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of commercial

is of

the

liberalisation.

I intend

raise

to

the

Council

opinion

that

in the complete

to liberalise

- Kantoora.ir

view

and precede

the

element

Inter

advanced

have always

opposed

of a

of competitive

and dimensions

In view of this the Council

Community.

of Member

initiation

harmonisation

has

over

for

supported that

such

question

of

and to place

the Council:

the alia,

on the basis of Commission

20001

gradually

of a majority

session of the European

an essential

the internal

quotas

the immediate

the

accompany

background

European

that

transport,

draft conclusion

constitutes

taken

on

reception.

While the Netherlands

at the forthcoming

are

of road

EC Transport

of road use) is not yet sufficiently

must necessarily

"The

treatment

at the Stuttgart

the support

(such as the weights

to take place. to

transport

countries.

to the

road transport

who oppose

however

and the costs

measures

Posrhus

by those

in transport

liberalisation

to abolish

now enjoys

liberalisation

measures

third

its

in a Memorandum

was presented

was given a positive

proposal

It is alleged

conditions

weakening

States.

expressed

Policy,

of five years

gradual

of

high prices

Council.

The Commission's a period

also

respect

Council on 7 June 1983 and was also discussed the European

is

led to

of transport

to pay unnecessarily

in

Member

Government

Transport

have in practice

gives rise to discriminatory

haulage firms from various

European

reductions

way,

barriers

of the EEC Treaty.

services

In this

the quota system

The Nederlands

to those of non-tariff

to provide

has thus been forced

position

Moreover,

are similar

the spirit if not the letter

on freedom

and the consumer for

system

transport

Blrinun

LA 2(

policy

establishment

of

notes that measures market

decisions

proposals

transport

should

effectively therefore

be

with a view to phasing

Tcl

0-0

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40

-3-

The

Transport

to lay down an exact

The Council

of Ministers

with regard

and to decide

timetable

of Transport

before

should

to the harmonisation

of

Ministers

of

Council

the

for this process

arrangements

transitional decisions

instructs

Council

'European

measures.

transitional

period of five years by means of appropriate

a

within

States

Member

between

for traffic

quotas

bilateral

out

appropriate

the end of 1984. concrete

also take

of competitive

conditions

in transport." I am sure that

Community

rules can be devised

policy which will be to the advantage time

the same respect

I consider and

transport positive

provide the

transport

concerned

and will at

of all parties stimulus

a considerable European

Commission's

initiative

with

France's

for European

respect

to goods traffic.

In this

regarding

initiative to transport

by sea

air as

steps.

Community

rules

should

also

be

developed

for

other

categories

transport.

THE PRIME MINIS= Drs R.F.M. Lubbers

of