No L 16/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1. 92 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 13 December 1991 prescribing certain provisions of implementation for the Council Decision of 20 June 1991 on the adoption of a programme of Community action for the vocational training of customs officials undergoing initial training (the Matthaeus programme) (92/39/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Decision 91/341/EEC of 20 June 1991 on the adoption of a programme of Community action on the subject of the vocational training ‘of customs officials (Matthaeus programme) ('), and in particular Article 9 thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 (c) of the abovementioned Decision, the Commission is required to introduce common training programmes for customs officials ; Whereas these common programmes are essential in order to achieve the objectives pursued by the Matthaeus programme and, in particular, the uniform application of Community law at the external frontiers of the Commu- nity ; Whereas these common programmes are rendered neces- sary by the diversity of education given in the Member State customs schools; Whereas it is essential to introduce as a priority a common training programme for officials in initial training ; whereas this programme shall include customs subjects as a whole and the principles of the common commercial and agricultural policies, as well as the princi- () OJ No L 187, 13. 7. 1991, p. 41. ples of indirect taxation by reason of the close ties existing between Community customs law and all these disciplines ; Whereas some international conventions constitute an important source of Community law and that conse- quently it is essential that customs officials are acquainted with the provisions inherent in these conventions and their impact on Community law ; Whereas it is essential that this programme allocates a large area to education on the European Communities and their foundations, as customs officials are increasingly required to act on behalf of the Community as a whole ; Whereas this common programme will constitute a unified approach to customs training and will contribute towards accelerating the awareness of customs officials of the increasing Community dimension to their tasks; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Matthaeus Committee, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING DECISION : Article 1 A common programme of vocational training, hereinafter referred to as the ‘common programme’, for customs offi- cials and -the contents of which are specified in the attached Arnnex, will be organized in the customs schools of the Member States.