23.5.9 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 124/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/26/EC of 29 April 1996 on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications intended to facilitate for these operators the right to freedom of establishment in national and international transport operations THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Europeén Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(!), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty (?), Whereas Council Directive 74/561/EEC of 12 November 1974 on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator in national and international transport operations(*), Council Directive 74/562/EEC  of 12 November 1974 on admission to the occupation of road passenger transport operator in national and international transport operations{®) and Council Directive 77/796/EEC of 12 December 1977 aiming at the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications for goods haulage operators and road passenger transport operators, (') OJ No C 286, 14. 11. 1990, p. 4 and amendment forwarded on 16 December 1993. (3) OJ No C 339, 31. 12. 1991, p. § and O] No C 295, 22. 10. 1994, p. 30. Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 December 1991 (OJ No C 13, 20. 1. 1992, p. 443) and of 20 April 1994 (O] No C 128, 9. 5. 1994, p. 136), common position of the Council of 8 December 1995 (O] No C 356, 30. 12. 1995) and Decision of the European Parliament of 28 March 1996 {not yet published in the Official Journal). OJ No L 308, 19. 11. 1974, p. 18. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3572/90 (OJ No L 353, 17. 12. 1990, p. 12). O] No L 308, 19. 11. 1974, p. 23. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3572/90 (OJ No L 353, 17. 12. 1990, p. 12). (3 ~ (4 ~ (5 -~ including measures intended to encourage these operators effectively to exercise their right to freedom of establishment (%) have been substantially amended on a number of occasions; whereas, for reasons of rationality and clarity, the said Directives should be consolidated in a single text; Whereas the organization of the transport market is one of the essential factors in the implementation of the common transport policy provided for in the Treaty; Whereas the adoption of measures aimed at coordinating the conditions of admission to the occupations of road haulage or road passenger transport operators (hereinafter both referred to as ‘road transport operator’) is likely to favour effective exercise of the right of establishment of those operators; Whereas it is necessary to provide for the introduction of common rules for admission to the occupation of road transport operator in national and international transport operations in order to ensure that such operators are better qualified, thus contributing to rationalization of the market, improvement in the quality of the service provided, in the interests of users, operators and the economy as a whole, and to greater road safety; Whereas, therefore, the rules for admission to the occupation of road transport operator should cover the good repute, financial standing and professional competence of operators; Whereas, however, it is not necessary to include in these common rules certain kinds of transport which are of limited economic importance; Whereas, since 1 January 1993, access to the market of transfrontier road haulage transport operations has been (¢ OJ No L 334, 24. 12. 1977, p. 37. Directive as last amended by Directive 89/438/EEC (O] No L 212, 22. 7. 1989, p. 101) and corrigendum (O] No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 31).