20. 3. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 74/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 684/92 of 16 March 1992 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus 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 Commission (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, in accordance with Article 75 (1) (a) of the Treaty, the establishment of a common transport policy entails, énter alia, laying down common rules applicable to the international carriage of passengers by road ; Whereas such rules were laid down in Council Regula- tions No 117/66/EEC (*), (EEC) No 516/72 (%) and (EEC) No 517/72 (%) and whereas this Regulation does not call in question the liberalization achieved by those Regulations ; Whereas freedom to provide services constitutes a basic principle of the common transport policy and requires that carriers from all Member States be guaranteed access to international transport markets without discrimination on grounds of nationality or place of establishment; Whereas there should be provision for flexible arrange- ments subject to certain conditions for shuttle services with accommodation, special regular service and certain occasional services, in order to satisfy market demand ; Whereas, while maintaining authorization arrangements for regular services and shuttle services without accommo- dation, certain rules should be amended, particularly as regards authorization procedures ; ' () OJ No C 120, 6. 5. 1987, p. 9 0J No C 301, 26. 11. 1988 2 "5 and 0J No C 31, 7. 2. 1989, @ O] No C 94, 11. 4. 1988 p. %26, () OJ No C 356, 31. 12. 1987, p. 62. 4 O] No 147, 9. 8. 1966, p. 2688/66. (®) OJ No L 67, 20. 3. 1972, p. 13. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2778/78 (O] No L 133, 30. 11. 1978, p. 4). (9 OJ No L 67, 20. 3. 1972, p. 19. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1301/78 (OJ No L 158, 16. 6. 1978, p. 1). Whereas observance of the Treaty rules on competition must be guaranteed ; ‘Whereas administrative formalities should be reduced as far as possible without the abandonment of the controls and penalties that guarantee the correct application of this Regulation ; Whereas it is for the Member States to adopt the measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation ; Whereas the application of this Regulation should be monitored by means of a report to be submitted by the Commission and any future action in this area should be considered in the light of that report, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : SECTION 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 Scope 1. This Regulation shall apply to the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus within the terri- tory of the Community by carriers for hire or reward or own-account carriers established in a Member State in accordance with its law, using vehicles which are regis- tered in that Member State and are suitable, by virtue of their construction and equipment, for carrying more than nine persons, including the driver, and are so intended, and to the movement of such vehicles empty in connec- tion with such carriage. Change of vehicle or interruption of carriage to enable part of a journey to be made by another means of trans- port shall not affect the application of this Regulation.