8. 1. 98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 4/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 11/98 of 11 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75 (1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty (), (1) Whereas, in accordance with Article 75 (1) (a) of the Treaty, the establishment of a common transport policy entails, inter alia, laying down common rules applicable to the international carriage of passengers by road; (2) Whereas such rules are contained in Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 684/92 of 16 March 1992 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus (%) (3) Whereas Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 lays down that before 1 July 1995 the Commission shall report to the Council on the application of the Regulation and that the Council shall adopt before 1 January 1997, on a proposal from the Commission, rules on the simplification of procedures including — in the light of the report’s conclusions — the abolition of authorizations; (4) Whereas the definition of the various international coach and bus services should be simplified and (") OJ C203,13.7.1996, p. 11,and OJ C 107, 5. 4. 1997, p. 3. () OJ C 66, 3. 3. 1997, p. 3. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 28 November 1996 (OJ C 380, 16. 12. 1996, p. 40), Council common position of 14 April 1997 (O] C 164, 30. 5. 1997, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 16 July 1997 (O] C 286, 22. 9. 1997, p. 85). () OJ L 74, 20. 3. 1992, p. 1. improved; whereas those may be classed as regular services, special regular services and occasional services; whereas, therefore, the concept of shuttle service can be abolished; (5) Whereas a system of market access exempt from authorization should be introduced for all occasional services, special regular services and all own-account transport operations; (6) Whereas the system of authorization for regular services should be maintained, although a degree of flexibility should be introduced as regards the oper- ating conditions for such services; (7) Whereas in order to preserve intermodal competi- tion, the railways should after a certain period no longer have priority in the context of the es- tablishment of a coach or bus service; (8) Whereas, in order to facilitate the inspection of transport operations, the international carriage of passengers by road for hire or reward should be subject to a Community licence drawn up in ac- cordance with a harmonized model and issued under a swift and efficient administrative procedure; (9) Whereas certain time limits involved in the pro- cedure for the issue of authorizations should be made more flexible; (10) Whereas Member States must take the necessary measures to implement this Regulation, in particular as regards effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties; (11) Whereas provision should be made for the Commis- sion to be assisted by an advisory committee when adopting measures implementing the Regulation as regards transport documents; (12) Whereas an appropriate deadline should be laid down for introducing the Community licence;