In the Report which he presented on behalf of the Committee on Economic Questions on 26th November, 1951, M. van de Kieft explained the reasons which had led the Council of Europe to consider the establishment of an effective organisation for the co-ordination of internal transport by rail, road and waterway.
After re-considering the initial draft presented by M. Bonnefous, the Committee on Economic Questions agreed to recommend the establishment of a European Transport Office, and defined the latter's competence, task, duties and structure.
The Committee has not changed its attitude. It wishes, however, to take into account political and economic developments in Europe within the past year. The European Coal and Steel Community has been constituted, and within the next few days the machinery provided for in its Treaty in respect of transport will go into operation (Article 70 of the Treaty, and Paragraph 10 of Chapter I of the Transitional Provisions). A specialised Committee, appointed for the purpose, is to meet at the beginning of October, 1952, to handle this assignment, which is thus shown to be of the greatest importance for the inauguration of the common market.
While it is gratified to note that this question is recognised to be of the greatest importance, the Committee on Economic Questions feels constrained to point out that the framework in which the Committee in question will puruse its studies will inevitably be that provided by the six member countries, whereas it would have been better if the transport problem had been considered as a whole.
The Committee further wishes to call the attention of the Assembly to the serious difficulties which might arise if, in the sphere of transport rates, for instance, a method were applied which led to a splitting-up of the problem of internal transport in terms of various economic sectors and within artificial geogra-fical limits.
Bearing in mind the prominent place occupied by coal and steel transport rates in the general system of rail and waterway transport, it is hard to imagine how they could be altered without seriously upsetting the whole system of tariffs.
The problem of transport must be considered as a whole; and the requirements of the European economy, together with the problems resulting from such measures of integration as may be contemplated, make it clear that steps should be taken without delay to set up a general organisation suitably adapted to the European situation.
This is the solution proposed by the Committee on Economic Questions.
While endorsing the aims already set forth in M. van de Kieft's Report, the Committee suggests the establishment of a European Council for Internal Transport, to be set up with due regard to future improvements in the operation of existing specialised organisations, and designed to carry out only such tasks as appear to be of vital importance.
The machinery described in the following Recommendation would present, among other advantages, that of lending itself to direct integration, in due course, into a European organisation of a more all-embracing character.
The Assembly,
Having regard to the Recommendation adopted on 26th August, 1950, on the coordination of European communications;
Having regard to Article 70 of the Treaty instituting the European Coal and Steel Community and Paragraph 10 of Chapter I of the Transitional Provisions;
Recommends to the Committee of Ministers, the establishment of a European Council for Internal Transport in accordance with the following principles :
The European Organisation for Internal Transport shall take the form of a two-tier structure.
The International Union of Railways,
The International Union of River Navigation,
The International Road Federation, and,
The International Road Transport Union.
The basic organs should aim to secure the necessary degree of activity and efficiency in each branch as rapidly as possible, for the following purposes :a Studying and achieving internal co-operation and co-ordination in the following fields :operation of transport services;joint utilisation of installations;loans, exchanges and pooling of equipment;standardisation of equipment;equipment and utilisation of the most economical routes in order to reduce charges ;transport rates.b Drawing up plans for the replacement of equipment and for large-scale investments commensurate with the needs of the European economy.
the Governments ;
the three major organisations representing the three modes of transport;
the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe;
the High Authority of the Coal and Steel Community;
the International Chamber of Commerce;
the Trade Unions.