THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3,

Whereas a policy in respect of transport rates constitutes an important aspect of the common transport policy, which the Treaty provides for the Council to establish;

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3568/83 of 1 December 1983 on the fixing of rates for the carriage of goods by road between Member States4, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1991/885, expires on 31 December 1989 and whereas it stipulates in Article 20 that the Council must decide, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, on the subsequent arrangements applicable to the rates for such carriage;

Whereas the free fixing of rates for the carriage of goods by road is the tariff system best suited to the creation of the free transport market as decided upon by the Council, to internal market objectives and to the need for a tariff system applied uniformly throughout the Community; whereas this tariff system is also well suited to the specific situation of the sector concerned;

Whereas it should be possible to monitor haulage rate trends,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: