Den gemensamma transportpolitiken : Elimineringen av hinder för de gränsöverskridande vägtransporterna inom den Europeiska Gemenskaperna 1958-1992

Sammanfattning: This dissertation analyses the European Community's political efforts to eliminate barriers to Community road transport between and within the member states. In this context, the study concentrates on the Community's activities to remove barriers to market access, such as limitations to the freedom to provide transport services, and pshysical barriers such as infrastructure capacity restrictions, checks and inspections at Community internal borders. The dissertation addresses the subjects through an institutional approach. According to the Treaty of Rome, the necessary provisions for international transport and rules under wich nonresident carriers could operate transport services within a member state other than their own (cabotage) should originally have been introduced within fifteen years of the foundation of the EEC. While the Community could be said to be relatively successful in eliminating physical barriers to cross border road transport, progress was lacking in the field of market access. Political crises, national differences and a policymaking system centred around unanimimous decision-making limited or blocked the development of necessary provisions for the enforcement of the freedom to provide services in road transport. The Community's transport policy dead-lock was finally broken in the 1980's through legal action against the Council, new Commission policy initiatives and a change of relevant decision-making rules. Between the mid 1980's and 1992, necessary provisions were developed at an accelerated pace. However, at the end of the period of study, much still remained to be done before the European road transport market could be said to be integrated in the true sense of the word.