No C 197/48 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 23. 8. 76 
Reasons 
We think  a greater  multiplicity  of bodies  handing  out  money  should  be  avoided  in the 
interest  of economy  and  administration.  We  must  refute  that  the  EEC  administration 
is an  ever-expanding  bureaucracy.  Therefore  we  favour  this  reasonable  and  sensible 
extension  of rhe  work  of that  competent  and  well-managed  Bank.  If it becomes  too  great 
or difficult  an extension,  then  it could  later  be separated.  But  once  started  separate,  it will 
never  be joined  to it. 
Voting 
For: 18,  against:  59,  abstentions:  2. 
Opinion  on the  development  of the  social  situation  in the  Community  in 1975 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  not  been  published  in the  Official  Journal  of 
the European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19 March  1976,  the  Commission  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
139th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 May  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  Article  198  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made 
by the  Commission  of the  European  Communities 
on 19 March  1976, 
Having  regard  to  the  decision  taken  by  the 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  2 April  1976 
instructing  the  Section  for  Social  Questions  to draw 
up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Social  Questions  at its 104th  meeting,  held  on 13 
May  1976,  and  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Noddings, Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 139th  plenary 
session  held  on 25 and  26 May  1976  (meeting  of 25 
May  1976), 
Whereas  in 1975  the Member  States  of the  European 
Communities  as  a whole  were  faced  with  an 
economic  crisis  involving  higher  unemployment  and 
a considerable  rate  of inflation,  which,  although 
lower  than  in 1974,  is still  disquieting; 
Whereas  such  a situation  poses  serious  social 
problems,  not  only  as regards  employment  but  also 
in connection  with  the  reduction  of  social 
inequalities  and  the  financing  of social  protection 
systems; 
Whereas  it would  be useful  not  only  to study  these 
different  questions  but  also  to analyse  Community 
action  in  the  social  field  and  make  various 
suggestions, 
23. 8. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 197/49 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a majority  (I vote  against  and  8 abstentions): 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  points  out  that 
it has  already  discussed  some  key  aspects  of the 
social  situation  in 1975,  notably  in its opinions  on 
unemployment,  aid  from  the  Social  Fund,  migrant 
workers,  the  economic  and  social  situation  of 
women  in the  Community,  equal  treatment  for  men 
and women,  the  updating  of the  Social  Action 
Programme  and  the  fight  against  poverty.  In 
this present  opinion  the  Committee  would  like  to 
bring  home  the  gravity  of the  social  situation  by 
making  a more  detailed  analysis  of a number  of 
important  aspects  already  dealt  with  and  by adding 
new reflections  to what  has  already  been  said. 
I. Employment 
The employment  situation  deteriorated  further,  and 
according  to the  Commission's  figures  there  were 
about  5-5  million  wholly  unemployed  in the  Member 
States  of the  Community  at the  end  of 1975.  The 
Committee  notes  that  in parallel  with  the  high 
figures  for  unemployment  there  are  many  unfilled 
vacancies  in some  sectors.  The  reasons  for  this  are 
complex  but  the  fact  should  be  given  greater 
emphasis  with  a view  to finding  practical  solutions. 
1.1. All  social  categories  are  represented  in this 
higher  unemployment,  which  affects  not  only  wage-
earners  in industry  but  also  those  in commerce  and 
the services  sector.  Some  data  are  available  on the 
number  of  unemployed  in  these  sectors  of  the 
economy  and  on  the  duration  of  their 
unemployment,  which  is tending  to increase. 
Whilst  it is more  difficult  to establish  the  exact 
situation  as  regards  unemployment  and 
underemployment  among  the  self-employed,  we  do 
know  that  difficulties  exist,  particularly  in the  case 
of craft  undertakings.  This  is also  true  of agriculture 
and under-privileged  rural  areas,  from  which  there  is 
a constant,  large-scale  exodus.  This  is due:  (a) to 
inadequate  operating  structures  and  social  services, 
and (b) to the  absence  of jobs  in other  sectors  of the 
economy  in rural  areas. 
1.2. All  social  categories  are  affected  by 
employment  problems,  but  some  are  more  seriously 
affected  than  others.  Among  those  more  seriously affected  the  Committee  would  single  out  persons 
looking  for their  first  job. 
1.2.1.  These  are,  in the main,  people  aged  between 
15 and  25,  although  the  group  also  includes  women 
coming  onto  the  labour  market  for  the  first  time, 
either  because  they  have  finished  rearing  their 
children  or because  they  have  been  widowed  or 
divorced.  In the  majority  of cases,  such  job-seekers 
have  the  greatest  difficulty  in finding  employment. 
There  are  a number  of reasons  for  this,  some  purely 
cyclical,  others  more  deep-rooted  and  structural  in 
character. 
1.2.1.1.  In  this  period  of economic  instability  it is 
only  logical  that  when  early  signs  of an upturn  in 
economic  activity  manifest  themselves,  firms  should 
prefer  to put  their  short-time  workers  on full  time, 
or introduce  overtime,  rather  than  recruit  new  staff. 
Where  more  manpower  is needed,  some  employers 
turn to temporary  employment  agencies.  Others  seek 
workers  experienced  in  the  type  of  job  to  be 
performed,  thus  saving  on training  costs,  which  are 
sometimes  high.  In all these  cases,  persons  seeking 
their  first  job  are  ruled  out.  There  are  other  adverse 
factors  affecting  youth  employment.  These  include 
clandestine  (i.e.  undeclared)  work.  A separate,  more 
detailed  study  should  be made  of this  phenomenon. 
1.2.1.2.  The  difficulties  these  unemployed  people 
are experiencing,  however,  do not  stem  solely  from 
the unfavourable  economic  situation.  In its opinion 
on the  development  of the  social  situation  in the 
Community  in 1974,  the  Committee  already  drew 
attention  to the  mismatch  between:  (a) the  general 
education  and  vocational  training  given  to young 
people,  and  (b) the job qualifications  required. 
This problem  remains  very  serious  in spite  of: (a) the 
measures  taken  to  further  the  training  and 
retraining  of  the  under  25's,  especially  those 
seeking  their  first  job  (aid  totalling  40  million 
units  ol  accounr  under  Article  4 of  the 
European  Social  Fund),  and  (b)  the  warnings 
issued  at both  national  and  Community  level  (the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee's  study  on  the 
systems  of education  and  vocational  training  in 
the European  Communities  (Doc.  CES  926/73)). 
Moreover,  it is compounded  by  the  difficulties 
caused  by  regional  disparities,  particularly  in 
underprivileged  rural  areas.  Because  of geographical 
remoteness  or in some  cases  low  income  levels, 
young  people  in such  areas  are  not  able  to obtain 
vocational  guidance,  information  or  training 
equivalent  to  that  available  to  their  urban 
counterparts.  More  often  than  not,  they  are  forced  to 
move  to the  towns  and  better-off  regions,  without 
No C 197/50 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 23. 8. 76 
any guarantee  that  they  will  find  a job  quickly.  In 
reality,  the  proposals  made  by the  Commission  in 
1971  for  creating  alternative  jobs  in underprivileged 
agricultural  areas  as a matter  of priority  have  had 
no effect. 
1.2.1.3.  Solutions  must  be  found  and  decisions 
taken  in the near  future  to deal  with  this  problem  of 
people  seeking  their  first  job.  The  Member  States 
cannot  with  impunity  leave  1-5  to 2 million  people 
under  25 without  work  (this  figure  does  not  take 
account  of those  who  will  be leaving  school  and 
university  in June  and  coming  onto  the  labour 
market).  The  repercussions  would  be,  and,  indeed 
are already,  considerable.  They  are economic  because 
in some  Member  States  a heavy  price  is paid  in 
unemployment  benefits  and  non-utilized  productive 
capacity. 
The repercussions  are  also  human  and  political  in 
that young  people,  feeling  excluded  from  economic 
activity,  will  have  greater  difficulty  in finding  their 
place  in society  and  will  be all the  more  inclined  to 
listen  to calls  for 'contestation'. 
Solutions  could  be achieved  by  large-scale  action, 
such  as: 
— measures  to substantially  increase  the  supply  of 
jobs wherever  this  is possible  and  economically 
useful,  and  there  is an unsatisfied  demand  for 
goods  or services.  To  this  end  it would  be 
necessary  to identify  and  remove  all obstacles  to 
the creation  of jobs,  and  encourage  sectors  and 
measures  which  are  likely  to yield  rapid  results 
(preferably  those  which-require  low  investments 
in relation  to the number  of jobs  created), 
— training  and  retraining  programmes,  particularly 
when  firms  switch  to new  activities, 
— action  to develop  vocational  guidance,  training 
and information  services  and  promote  vocational 
advancement, 
— vigorous  national  policies  to provide  multi-skill 
training, 
—- upgrading  of manual  work  from  the human  angle 
and as regards  working  conditions  and  wages, 
— measures  to obtain  a more  balanced  distribution 
of available  jobs. 
The Committee  notes  with  interest  that  some 
Member  States  have  taken  measures  to promote 
youth  employment. 1.2.2.  Besides  the  problems  of persons  seeking 
their  first  job,  special  mention  should  also  be made 
of the  problems  confronting  other  categories  of 
workers: 
— elderly  people,  who  often  experience  extreme 
difficulty  in finding  new  employment.  Early 
retirement  has  in some  cases  not  only  serious 
psychological  repercussions  but  also  considerable 
financial  implications, 
— migrant  workers,  particularly  those  who  are 
obliged  to return  to their  country  of origin, 
where  they  aggravate  the  under-employment 
problems,  particularly  in underprivileged  rural 
areas, 
— women,  who  have  particular  difficulty  in finding 
new jobs. 
1.2.3.  In  connection  with  all  these  employment 
questions  the  Committee  calls  for  the  regular 
meetings  of the  Standing  Committee  on Employment 
in 1975  to be continued.  These  points  should  also  be 
examined  closely  by  the  tripartite  conference 
(Labour  and  Economic  Affairs  Ministers  of the 
Member  States,  employers'  representatives,  workers' 
representatives)  to  be  held  in  June  next.  The 
Committee  likewise  considers  the  introduction  and 
development  of joint  sectoral  meetings  at European 
level  to be advantageous.  In so far as such  meetings 
meet  the  wishes  of the  two  sides  of industry  and 
follow  the  differentiated  procedure  advocated  by 
these  parties,  it is to be hoped  that  they  will  lead  to 
the establishment  of European  joint  committees. 
1.2.4.  At  a time  when  important  discussions  on 
employment  are  taking  place  at international  and 
Community  level  between  representatives  of 
government  and  the  two  sides  of industry,  the 
Committee  would  at all events  draw  attention  to the 
structural  aspects  of the  unemployment  which  is 
besetting  the  Community  and  which  it has  not  been 
possible,  so far,  to combat  effectively. 
The number  of unemployed  has  not  gone  down 
significantly  and  it still  stands  at more  than  five 
million.  Neither  are  there  any  reasonable  grounds  to 
suppose  that  there  will  shortly  be a return  to the 
situation  that  marked  the  economic  and  social 
development  of the  Community  throughout  the 
1960s. 
The Committee  notes  the  disquiet  of the  public 
authorities  and  the  two  sides  of industry,  who,  in all 
the countries  of the  Community,  are  getting  together 
23. 8. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 197/51 
at all levels  to acquire  a better  understanding  of the 
unemployment  phenomenon.  It considers,  however, 
that the  time  for  reflection  is past,  however 
constructive  this  may  be,  and  that  resolute  action 
and decisions  must  be taken,  especially  since  the 
Community  should  take  the opportunity  offered  to it 
of recommending  basic  principles  of  common 
economic  and  social  policy  in the  consultations 
taking  place  at world  level  on  the  question  of 
employment. 
The Committee  re-affirms  that  one  of the  essential 
objectives  must  be the  removal  of structural  and 
regional  inequalities  through  an  active  and 
coordinated  Community  employment  policy.  This 
policy  should  be worked  out  and  applied  in close 
liaison  with  the  other  common  policies  which  are 
needed  if economic  and  monetary  union  is to be 
achieved. 
This  must  not  preclude  a better  use  of present 
national  and  Community  instruments,  in order  to 
achieve  immediate,  concrete  and  specific  solutions  to 
some  of the problems  engendered  by the crisis. 
2. The  reduction  of social  inequalities 
2.1. In  its opinion  on  the  development  of the 
social  situation  in the  Community  in 1974,  the 
Committee  already  drew  attention  to the  way  in 
which  inflation  aggravates  social  inequalities  by 
hitting  particularly  hard  those  people  with  low 
incomes. 
2.1.1.  The  Committee  can  only  approve  the policy 
pursued  in all  Member  States  of providing  for 
greater  relative  increases  at the  lower  end  of the 
income  scale  in order  to enable  people  with  low 
incomes  to catch  up.  At the  same  time,  however, 
skilled  and  highly  skilled  workers  must  not  be 
penalized. 
2.1.2.  The  Committee  would,  however,  point  out 
that wage  increases  have  varied  from  sector  to 
sector,  and  that  the  sectors  with  the  lowest  wage 
increases  have  been  those  hardest  hit  by 
unemployment. 
2.1.3.  Furthermore,  there  has  in some  cases  been 
a relative  decline  in the  average  income  of a large 
section  of  the  farming  population.  Agricultural 
incomes  are  already  lower  than  average  incomes  in 
the secondary  and  tertiary  sectors.  This  is a 
disquieting  fact,  since  declining  income  in farming  is 
one of the  causes  of rural  depopulation  and  is 
aggravating  unemployment. 2.1.4.  The  difficult  employment  situation  has 
resulted  in certain  inequalities  between  workers  in 
full-time  employment  and  those  who  are:  (a)  on 
short  time,  or (b) without  a job and  have  to manage 
on their  social  security  benefits. 
2.2. The  Committee  accepts  that  major  steps  were 
taken  by the  Member  States  and  the  Community  in 
1975.  The  Committee  does  not  wish  to play  down 
the importance  of these  steps,  but  it is deplorable 
that the  more  vulnerable  members  of society  were 
again  harder  hit than  others  by the  rise  in consumer 
prices;  in addition,  some  Member  States  have  not 
succeeded  in checking  the growing  disparities  caused 
by the  differences  in levels  of social  protection. 
2.2.1.  In  certain  Member  States  the  increase  in 
pensions  more  than  offset  inflation.  But  this  was  not 
the case  everywhere.  Furthermore,  many  elderly 
people  still  receive  old  age  pensions  and  benefits 
which  do not  provide  a basic  subsistence  level.  There 
are excessive  delays  in increasing  pensions  in some 
Member  States.  Pensions  are  only  increased  after 
elderly  people's  purchasing  power  has  already 
shrunk. 
2.2.2.  Pensions  for  the  handicapped  were  raised 
significantly  in a number  of Member  States.  Both  the 
Member  States  and  the  Community  have  taken 
positive  action  to integrate  the  handicapped  into 
normal  working  life. 
There  are nevertheless  grounds  for  fearing  that  these 
measures  will  not  suffice  to meet  the needs,  given  the 
fact that  the  number  of handicapped  persons  is 
increasing  steadily  for well  known  reasons.  It should 
also be pointed  out  that  too  little  has  been  done  to 
help  handicapped  housewives. 
2.2.3.  In  1975  family  benefits  were  increased  in 
most  Member  States  and  an allowance  is now  paid 
in respect  of the first  child. 
On the  whole,  however,  family  allowances  do not 
cover  the  cost  of raising  and  educating  children. 
Furthermore,  the  increases  in some  Member  States 
have  not  always  been  large  enough  to  offset 
inflation,  particularly  in view  of the  time-lag  before 
increases  are  implemented.  So  we  are  far  from 
attaining  the  increase  in benefits  advocated  by the 
family  organizations  of the  Member  States  (these 
organizations  are demanding  an overall  family  policy 
covering  all the relevant  fields,  including  taxation). 
No C 1.97/52 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 23. 8. 76 
The Committee  would  stress  the need:  (a) to inform 
families  of their  entitlement  to the  various  benefits, 
and to do so in simple  language,  and  (b)  to cut 
down  on 'red  tape'. 
2.3. More  generally,  it is unfortunate  that,  in 
certain  fields,  the  measures  taken  by the  Member 
States  have  not always  led to greater  social  justice. 
2.3.1.  For  instance,  the housing  policy  pursued  by 
a number  of Member  States  can  be considered  a 
success  from  the point  of view  of social  policy.  This 
unfortunately  is not  the  case  in other  Member  States 
where  subsidized  housing  has  benefited  persons  with 
a higher  income  than  those  for  whom  it was 
originally  intended.  The  result  is that  significant 
numbers  still  live  in substandard  accommodation.  In 
other  Member  States  subsidized  housing  programmes 
have  not always  been  adequate. 
2.3.2.  The  steps  taken  to reduce  income  disparities 
have  mainly  affected  wages,  since  these  are  easier  to 
ascertain  than  other  forms  of income. 
Greater  social  justice  cannot  be attained  without  a 
knowledge  of incomes  of all  types,  and  even  of 
personal  wealth.  This  knowledge  is absolutely 
essential  in the  present  situation,  particularly  since 
the economic  climate  is encouraging  the  growth  of 
income  which  escapes  scrutiny. 
Taxation  must  also  play  a very  important  role  — 
particularly  in this  period  of inflation  — in efforts  to 
lessen  social  inequalities. 
2.3.3.  These  efforts  also  imply  an active  counter-
inflation  policy.  As has  already  been  stated,  inflation 
aggravates  social  inequalities. 
Modest  savings,  for example,  yield  a negative  rate  of 
interest  in most  Member  States.  This  is a blatant 
social  injustice. 
2.4. The  Committee  is concerned  about  the  risks 
of social  tension  stemming  from  intolerable 
situations.  It will  therefore  continue  to pay  great 
attention  to the  problems  referred  to above.  A 
dynamic  economy  may  entail  certain  explicable 
inequalities,  but  these  must  be moderated  if we are 
to preclude  substantial  (and  understandable)  social 
tension. 3. Financing  social  protection 
In the year  under  review,  all Member  States  found  it 
increasingly  difficult  to  finance  their  social 
protection  systems. 
In a number  of Member  States  this  poses  problems 
as regards  business  management  and  competitiveness, 
public  investment  policy  and  the  continuity  of 
benefits.  Furthermore,  firms  which  provide  a great 
deal of employment  within  the  EEC  will  be tempted 
to locate  their  production  establishments  in countries 
where  manpower  is cheap. 
3.1. Unemployment  insurance 
The substantial  increase  in  expenditure  on 
unemployment  benefits  because  of the  employment 
situation  is a heavy  financial  burden  for  all States.  It 
has an effect  on the economy. 
3.2. Social  security  in the strict  sense 
3.2.1.  State  spending  on social  security  increased 
sharply  in  most  member  countries  for  a large 
number  of  reasons:  increases  in  pensions  and 
reduction  in  retirement  age,  ageing  of  the 
population,  higher  medical  costs  (health  insurance), 
the fact  that  undue  expenditure  is charged  to the 
social  security  authorities  in some  Member  States. 
3.2.2.  The  upsurge  in  expenditure  has 
unfortunately  not  been  matched  by an increase  in 
revenue.  On the  contrary,  in some  cases  the latter  fell 
off in 1975.  The  problem  is that  the  proportion  of 
the population  in  gainful  employment  (i.e. 
contributors)  is shrinking  steadily  because  of the 
present  employment  difficulties  and  the  more  long-
term  factor  of the  ageing  of the  population  in most 
Member  States.  Worst  affected  are  those  Member 
States  where  social  protection  is financed  to a large 
extent  by employees'  and  employers'  contributions. 
The anticipated  increase  in the  number  of young 
contributors  over  the  next  two  or three  years  is 
unlikely  to slow  down  this  ageing  trend  to any 
significant  extent. 
3.2.3.  These  problems  are  very  alarming  and 
solutions  must  be found  soon  so that:  (a)  certain 
unnecessary  costs  can  be  reduced  and  social 
protection  made  more  efficient,  and  (b) the  financial 
bases  of the  various  social  security  schemes  can  be 
re-examined. 
23. 8. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 197/53 
3.3. The  social  services 
In the  Member  States  as a whole  1975  saw  an 
increase  in the  number  of persons  receiving  help 
from  the social  services.  Quite  apart  from  the human 
problems  inherent  in being  'on  assistance',  this  led 
to a rise  in central  government  and  local  authority 
expenditure  which  must  not be overlooked. 
Owing  to this  increase  in expenditure,  a number  of 
Member  States  had  to dismiss  social  workers  or cut 
back  on recruitment,  despite  needs.  Other  Member 
States  encouraged  the  use  of voluntary  workers. 
Some  social  workers'  unions  are  afraid  that  the 
governments  may  use  voluntary  workers  as a way  of 
ducking  their  responsibilities.  The  Committee  is 
nevertheless  keenly  interested  in the  development  of 
voluntary  social  work,  which,  in its view,  makes  for 
integration,  communication  and  humanization  of 
social  relationships.  This  must  not,  however, 
diminish  the  responsibility  of the  relevant  public 
services. the alignment  of social  statistics.  Nevertheless,  the 
Committee  deplores  the  fact  that  these  measures 
have  not  yet  borne  fruit.  It requests  that  it be 
consulted  on these  matters  in good  time. 
4.2.2.  The  Committee  regrets  that  the  findings  of 
the study  on  demographic  trends  in  the 
Community,  which  was  requested  in its opinion  on 
the development  of the  social  situation  in 1974,  are 
not yet available. 
4.2.3.  The  Committee  notes  that  certain  measures, 
although  decided  on long  ago,  have  not  been  taken 
or are  being  implemented  too  slowly.  As has  already 
been  pointed  out,  this  lack  of progress  is particularly 
noticeable  in the field  of working  conditions  and  the 
alignment  of statistics  with  a view  to establishing 
valid  social  indicators  and  to drawing  up  annual 
social  accounts  and  budgets.  The  Committee  also 
deplores  the  delay  in setting  up  the  European 
Foundation  for  the  Improvement  of  Living  and 
Working  Conditions  in Dublin. 
4. Steps  taken  by the  Community  and  recommen-
dations  of the  Committee 
4.1. In  view  of  the  problems  posed  by  the 
economic  and  social  situation  in 1975  — and  the 
prospects  for  1976  — the  Committee  deplores  the 
fact that  Community  action  has  often  been  too  slow 
and ineffective. 
Steps  were  admittedly  taken,  for  instance:  (i) under 
the Social  Action  Programme,  with  regard  to the 
training  and  retraining  of certain  types  of worker 
(migrants,  women,  the  handicapped),  and  (ii)  under 
the programme  to combat  poverty. 
The Standing  Committee  on  Employment  met 
regularly  and  there  was  a tripartite  conference  on the 
economic  and  social  situation  in the Community. 
The Committee  welcomes  the  steps  decided  on and 
taken  in this  area. 
4.2. The  Committee  nevertheless  has  reservations 
about  certain  points. 
4.2.1.  The  Committee  submitted  certain  proposals 
in its  opinion  on  the  development  of the  social 
situation  in the Community  in 1974.  The  Committee 
welcomes  the  measures  subsequently  taken  by  the 
Commission.  These  included:  (a)  an  action 
programme  for  safety,  hygiene  and  health  protection 
at work,  and  (b)  research  on social  indicators  and 4.3. For  all  these  reasons  the  Committee,  in 
addition  to the recommendations  made  above,  would 
suggest: 
4.3.1.  That  the  study  on  demographic  trends 
which  was  requested  last  year  should  be completed 
without  delay; 
4.3.2.  That  the  recommendations  the  Committee 
made  in its  opinion  of  1 April  1976  on  the 
coordination  of  national  employment  policy 
instruments  be implemented  as soon  as possible; 
4.3.3.  That,  in line  with  the  resolution  which  the 
European  Parliament  adopted  in July  1975,  a study 
be made  as soon  as possible  of ways  of protecting 
small  savings  against  the  effects  of inflation; 
4.3.4.  That  more  intensive  efforts  should  be 
directed  towards  the  rapid  alignment  of statistics, 
with  a view  to establishing  valid  social  indicators 
and to drawing  up  annual  social  accounts  and 
budgets  covering  all sectors  and  regions; 
4.3.5.  That  the  programme  of work  for  1976, 
announced  by  the  Commission  under  its  Social 
Action  Programme,  be carried  out  in accordance 
with  the schedule  laid  down; 
4.3.6.  That  intensive  consultations  be  held 
between  the two  sides  of industry  at an early  date  on 
the problems  involved  in the  link-up  between  initial 
and continuing  vocational  training  and  employment; 
No C 197/54 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 23. 8. 76 
4.3.7.  That  the  Commission  should,  in  the  Community  (Social  Fund,  Regional  Fund,  EIB 
conjunction  with  the  Secretariat  of the  Standing  and  EAGGF). 
Committee  on  Employment,  engage  in sustained 
action  with  particular  emphasis  on creating  jobs  for Done  at Brussels,  25 May  1976. 
young  people; 
4.3.8.  That  steps  be  taken  to  ensure  better 
coordination  of the  various  instruments  available  to The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and Social  Committee 
The following  amendment  was  rejected  in the course  of the discussion: 
Paragraph  2.1.4 
Add the following  at the end  of the paragraph: 
'Although  these  benefits  should  be increased,  this  may  lead  some  of the  unemployed  in 
some  countries,  under  certain  circumstances  and  quite  apart  from  other  legitimate  motives, 
to hesitate  about  accepting  a new  job  that  would  bring  them  an income  close  to that 
received  from  benefits,  to which  various  advantages  are at times  added.' 
Reason  for submitting  amendment 
When  reducing  social  inequalities,  people  who  work  should  have  an income  equal,  if not 
superior,  to that  of those  who  do not  work;  although  the  responsibility  of the  latter  should 
not be called  into  question. 
Voting 
For: 22, against:  49, abstentions:  21. 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  concerning  the dumping  of waste  at sea 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 40 of 20 February  1976,  page  3. 
On 21  January  1976,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  of the  Treaty 
establishing  the  European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
139th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 May  1976. A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: