Common rules for international carriage by coach and bus (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 684/92)

OBJECTIVE: to set common rules for international passenger transport by coach and bus. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC) No 11/98 amending Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus. SUBSTANCE: the Regulation has the following particular purposes: - to simplify and improve the definitions of the various international coach and bus services, i.e. regular services, special regular services, occasional services and own-account transport operations; - to institute a system of rules on access to the market free of any authorization requirements for all occasional services, for special regular services and for all own-account transport operations; - to continue the authorization system for regular services, while making the conditions for the operation of such services somewhat more flexible; - to relax certain deadlines for the authorization procedure; - to abolish, after a certain period, the priority enjoyed by rail when establishing a coach and bus service, the aim being to preserve intermodal competition; - to introduce a Community licence for international carriage of passengers by bus and coach, with a harmonized model and a swift and effective issuing procedure; - to liberalize certain services of minor economic importance. The Member States will take the necessary measures to implement the Regulation, particularly as regards penalties, which must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. The Commission will be assisted by an advisory committee in the adoption of the implementation measures relating to transport documents. It will report to the European Parliament and the Council by 31/12/1999 on the results of the application of the Regulation. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 09/01/1998. The Regulation is applicable as from 11/12/1998, with the exception of the provisions concerning the Community licence, which will apply from 11/06/1999. �