The Council Decision of 26 March 1981 on the opening of negotia tions between the European Economic Community and third countries on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined road/rail carriage of goods authorized the Commission to open negotiations with Yugoslavia, Austria, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and Spain with a view to the conclusion between the European Economic Community and these States of one or more Agreements laying down common rules applicable to the combined road/rail carriage of goods.
Ωστόσο, η Κοινό­τητα έχει αναπροσαρμόσει σταδιακά το ΣΓΠ σύμφωνα με τις πραγματικές ανάγκες των αναπτυσσόμενων χωρών, λαμβάνο­ντας ταυτοχρόνως υπόψη το επίπεδο ανάπτυξης και τη γενική οικονομική τους κατάσταση.