ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES DE LA COMMISSION COLLECTION RELIEE DES DOCUMENTS "COM" COM (82) 385 Vol. 1982/0133 Disclaimer Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 (JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit règlement. In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003 (ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COM(82)385 final Brussels . 1 July 1982 INITIAL GUIDELINES FOR A COMMUNITY POLICY ON TOURISM ( Communication from the Commission to the Council ) 1 I V' : M COM (82 ) 385 final /• T ?/rS OP THE COWlralCAÏIOÎJ The Commission is sending a communication to the Council on tourism because it has observed the extraordinary expansion of tourist activity in the Community and the interrelationship between tourism and a large number of Community activities . It therefore felt it useful to emphasize the importance of tourism to the Community and consider how it relates to other Community activities . These two aims are elaborated in the study "The European Community and Tourism " annexed to this communication . The paper reveals the areas in which Community action is likely to stimulate the harmonious development of tourism within the Community and indicates to the Council which of the proposals now before it would , when adopted , promote the development of tourism in the Community or improve the conditions in which those involved in the tourist industry tvork . Finally the Commission seeks . to identify the priority areas in which action by the Community , either in addition to or as a means of coordinating wha,t is done at national level , could help solve some of the problems of tourism in the Community . I. THE IMPORTANCE OP TOURISM TO THE COMMUNITY Article 2 of the Treaty of Rome assigns to the European Community the task of promoting closer relations between the States which belong to it . Tourism can assist the Community to achieve this goal and , by cringing the peoples of Europe into contact , it buttresses the edifice of European integration . Tourism is also an important economic activity in the spirit of Article 2 of the Treaty . It provides jobs for 4 million people in the Community and its indirect effect on employment is considerably greater . It contributes to balance of payments stability between - 2 - the northern European countries ana xhose of the south and assists in the development of the poorest regions of the Community . Spaoial attention should therefore he paid to promoting its harmonious development throughout the Community . A further measure of the importance of tourism to the Community is the large number of Community policies which , directly or indirectly , have a bearing on it . These range from the free movement of persons and the freedom to provide tourist services , through passenger transport to regional development and the protection of the environment . To give further stimulation to tourism within the Community , a " tourist dimension" should be given to these so that the needs of tourism are taken into account when decisions are taken and ι Community actions implemented . The following headings show the areas in which tourism can be taken into account . II . FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE PROTECTION OF TOURISTS A number of measures help to encourage tourism within the Community by making it easier for tourists to cross frontiers and stay in other Member States . 1 . Easing of customs checks With the abolition of customs duties within the European Community the nramber of checks has been reduced and it is therefore easier for all Community citizens , including tourists , to cross internal frontiers . However ,, since VAT rates differ between the Member States , random checks en the goods imported by travellers are carried out at frontiers . The system of "duty–free allowances " allows goods to be imported up to certain limits fixed by the Council . If these allowances were more generous , the risk of infringement would be lessened ana customs checks could be correspondingly reduced . - 3 - This would xo~ior .. .-- ar the citizens of the iiooiber States the sc.;so of belonging to the Consruaity# – The C omission therefore intends to propose to the Ccancil in the near future- that a nochonism should "be introduced to ensure fi at the dujy–fvee allowances are increased regularly^ – The Cossdesiicn also proposed to the Council on 2 ?, January 198O a Ce^unity procedure on the provisioning cf "boats , aeroplanes arid international trains* which would also "be beneficial for touxdszu> 2 • Redncti cn of malice checks at frontiers In addition to customs inspections , police checks are still carried out at frontiers within the Consisunity despite the fact that in Leceabcr 1974 the Heads of State or Government advocated a passport union entailing a uniform passport and the abolition of frontier checks. Although these checks are retained on the grounds of pjblie order and public safety ( terrorism, drug struggling ) it does seen possible to uiriplify then for all modes of transport. – The Ccaaaiusioa has recently proposed to the Council a resolution on the S-Liiiplix 2«o«wc«on of cneckij on tne cxti«j0ns o<£ the Menbcr Stages 2 who cross frontiers within tne Ccsaaiaaxty • 3 . Social e^corltr fer tonrS et. s Persons insured under the social security legislation of ens Kcn'-er State of the Ccss&unity are entitled to medical services in any I- Ie-bcr State which ih*y are visiting as tourists or holidaymakcrs . Cfcis puts tourica within tho Co^unity at a great advantage over that in ncn-cw^or c«un*';ric-3. 2ut this fact is n;,-t widely known and traveller? to another lTCv.be*.' Stat.', do not alv?ay3 obtain the "Certificate of &nti"cleiii0n"'j u tne«.r ^j.c~vn*uss xnsurance or^anlz&txon auu. GO 0 tixo or -thia facilixy* * 00K (¿¿) 400 . - 4 - – The Coaaissicn - riM discuss wxth the relevant authorities in the Kcsibor States the iaw-*autiaa of simpler sad more effective procecl..-rci ii, – It will stop up its information csx^paiga to encourage all insured persons to malce full use of their rights* 4 * Tovri t-:t £ :; sl stance and c~r in^xrance Harmonizing the terns under which assistance is provided to tourist ;; who have an accident during a journey within the Ccacxaity and ensuring that the victims of car accidents enjoy ecjual protection in all Cosaunity countries are important to tourisa® the Cosnission has proposed a number of zieasures in these fields : , – Cn 13 January 19 81 , it sent to the Council a proposal for a Sxi.% v>c iiVO co •k^ifjTOvkuco i*nx ± Ojl'iu cona t*.o**s xor to *– >–■ « a*-% *>**> stanv- throughcut the C cmuicr-nty *" ; – On 7 August 198O it Lent to the Council a proposal for a Direct:!-...: on the harmonization of -«he legislation of the Jie-iaber States concerning 2 cxvii. Aiaaility insurance for aotor vehicles ; – On 8 January 1981 it recommended to the Ilenoer States accelerated, settlement of claims under civil liability insurance^. 5. The -protection of tourists * interests The protection of tourists' interests against any shortcomings in the services offered by travel agents , against the sometimes saisleading advertisements a"bout the accomodation offered and against safety ha^-'.;c.v in the places ;;hore they are staying requires strengthening. m x'he cm.– om .0 present to oouncxl a orcn* c – * - ■ ■ - consumer projection in correction vdtid inclusive holidays. 2^0 G 5 **- 4 -*- 0 * « *. Go C . ~ » OJ L 57 y 4*3.19 el y /*. 21 , - 5 - - It . will study non-structural aspects of hotel safety. - It will endeavour to • tnndardiao the presentation of information about hotels . III . KO EKING CONDITIOITS FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN TOURISM The European Community has "brought about a common market in tourist services by permitting freedom of establishment for economic operators and by enabling them to provide services in any Member State . It can further improve conditions for those working in tourism by taking action in the following areas . 1 . The ripht of establishment and freedom to provide tourist services These two rights , which are guaranteed by the EEC Treaty , are important to an international activity such as tourism. The principle of regarding other Community citizens as on the some footing, as those of the host country is generally recognized. But the existence of varying national rules on the conditions of access to a tourist profession may form a barrier to freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services .