Carriage of passengers: international carriage by coach and bus

The coach and bus transport sector needs to guarantee efficient, high-quality services: greater passenger comfort, right to information on fares, contractual terms, handling of complaints, mechanisms for resolving disputes, vehicles better adapted to the needs of persons with reduced mobility, etc. In terms of road safety, the fact is that Community legislation, together with technological advances, has resulted in ever safer vehicles. This trend is vital for transport by coach and bus.

ACT

Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 of 16 March 1992 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus.

SUMMARY

This Regulation repeals Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 117/66, 516/72 and 517/72.

It applies to the international carriage of passengers by road, for any portion of the journey within the Community, using vehicles registered in a Member State.

Definitions of "regular services", "shuttle services", "occasional services" and "own-account transport operations" are given.

Community carriers are free to operate passenger transport services between any Member States without discrimination on the grounds of nationality or place of establishment.

The procedures for applying for and issuing authorisations for regular services and shuttle services without accommodation are laid down. Occasional services, shuttle services with accommodation and special regular services covered by a contract are exempt from authorisation.

Transport undertakings operating occasional services and shuttle services with accommodation are required to produce control documents.

Similarly, a certificate is required for own-account transport operations.

Control procedures and penalties are provided for in this Regulation: travel documents must be supplied to passengers, transport operators must allow inspections, authorisation may be withdrawn for breaches of the Regulation, etc.

A Community licence system

Regulation (EC) 11/98 subsequently amended 684/92, introducing a system of Community licences for own-account transport operators who are entitled, in their State of establishment, to carry passengers by coach and bus and who meet the conditions for admission to the occupation and the road safety criteria. This licence, which is renewable every five years, is issued by the competent authorities of the Member State of establishment. It is issued in the name of the carrier.

Simplification of definitions: shuttle services are removed, occasional services are defined as services which do not meet the definition of regular services, including special regular services, and which are characterised above all by the fact that they carry groups of passengers assembled on the initiative of the customer or the carrier himself.

The market access rules are amended.

The following are exempt from any authorisation:

• occasional services;
• special regular services covered by a contract between the organiser and the carrier;
• unladen journeys.

The following are subject to authorisation:

• regular services;
• special regular services not covered by a contract between the organiser and the carrier.

The Regulation lays down the procedure for authorising regular services.

Occasional services exempt from authorisation must be carried out under cover of a journey form stating:

• the type of service;
• the main route;
• the carrier(s) concerned.

The Commission is to be assisted by the advisory committee set up under Regulation (EC) No12/98.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2121/98 of 2 October 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 684/92 and (EC) No 12/98 as regards documents for the carriage of passengers by coach and bus [Official Journal L 268 of 03.10.1998].

This Regulation provides models for the control documents, journey forms, applications for authorisation and certificates introduced by the regulations on the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus and on the principles of road cabotage.

It repeals, with effect from 31 December 1999, Regulation (EEC) No 1839/92 (Official Journal L 187, 07.07.1992), itself amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2944/93 (Official Journal L 266 of 27.10.1993).

Commission report, dated 10 May 1996, on the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 of 16 March 1992 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus [COM(96) 190 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the operation and prospects of the Community framework for passenger transport by coach and bus: access to international transport and cabotage markets, safety and rights of passengers [COM(2004) 527 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

The communication analyses the operation of Community regulations on access to international and cabotage markets for passenger transport. As required by Regulations (EC) Nos 11/98 and 12/98, the Commission reports on the application of the Community rules on access to passenger transport markets and on the impact of cabotage transport operations on national transport markets.

Last updated: 23.01.2008