No C 227/22 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 10. 9. 79 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  laying  down,  in respect  of hops,  the 
amount  of the aid to producers  for the 1978  harvest 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 143  of 8 June  1979,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 30 April  1979  the Council  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 168th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 May  1979. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  198 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  on 
30 April  1979  for an opinion, 
Having  regard  to Articles  18 and  46 of the  Rules  of 
Procedure, 
Having  regard  to the Committee's  previous  work  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by the 
rapporteur-general,  Mr Bernaert, 
Having  regard  to its discussions  at the  168th  plenary 
session  held  on 22 and  23 May  1979  (meeting  of 22 May 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously,  with  two  abstentions: 
1. By  submitting  its report  on the  production  and 
marketing  of hops  for the 1978  harvest  before  30 April, 
the Commission  has observed  the deadlines  stipulated  in 
Regulation  (EEC)  No 1696/71. 2. On  the basis  of this  report,  the Committee  notes  the 
positive  results  of the application,  for the first  time  in 
the Community  of the  reorganization  and  varietal 
conversion  programme.  This  has  led (a), to a reduction 
of approximately  2 000  hectares  in the area  under  hops 
and (b),  to the correct  application  in all Member  States  of 
the Community  certification  scheme  for hop  cones  and 
hop products.  As a result  surpluses  have  been  reduced, 
quality  control  has improved  and  price  levels  have  risen. 
3. In  the light  of these  results  and,  in particular,  the 
increase  in growers'  income  (20 % for aromatic  varieties, 
2% for  bitter  varieties  and  29%  for  new  varieties),  the 
Commission  proposes  that  aid for hop  growers  for the 
1978  harvest  should  be pitched  at a level  making  it 
possible: 
— to increase  growers'  incomes  to take  account  of the 
general  increase  in production  costs  and  their  share 
of the cost  of certification, 
— to strike  an overall,  lasting  balance  between  supply 
and demand, 
— to encourage  growers  who  have  implemented  a 
reorganization  and  varietal  conversion  policy, 
— to narrow  the  gap  between  the  minimum  and 
maximum  aids  granted  to the different  varieties  (100 
units  of account  per hectare  in 1977  as against  215 
units  of account  per hectare  in 1978). 
10. 9. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 227/23 
4. While  the aid proposed  for the 1978  harvest  is on 
average  slightly  lower  than  that  for 1977  (326  units  of 
account  per  hectare  in 1978  as against  335  units  of 
account  per  hectare  in 1977),  it makes  it possible  to 
obtain  an average  per hectare  income  of 3 291  units  of 
account  (including  aid)  in 1978  as against  3 179  units  of account  in 1977.  This  also  reduces  EAGGF  spending  by 
0 • 6 million  units  of account. 
5. In  the light  of the above,  the Economic  and  Social 
Committee  endorses  the draft  Regulation. 
Done  at Brussels,  22 May  1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  defining  the conditions  under  which  a 
person  may  be permitted  to make  a customs  declaration 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 29 of 1 February  1979,  page  3. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 2 February  1979  the Council  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 168th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 May  1979. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  198 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  on 
2 February  1979  for an opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
20 February  1979  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and Services  to draw  up an opinion  on 
the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its meeting 
held on 25 April  1979, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by the 
rapporteur,  Mr Marvier, 
Having  regard  to its discussions  at its 168th  plenary 
session  held  on 22 and  23 May  1979  (meeting  of 22 May 
1979), HAD  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  wishes  first  of all to refer  to its 
opinion  of 17 July  1974  on the proposal  for a Council 
Directive  on the  harmonization  of procedures  for  the 
release  of goods  for free  circulation. 
The Committee  approved  this  draft  Directive,  subject  to 
certain  specific  comments,  but for nearly  five  years  now 
it has been  pending  before  the Council. 
. The  draft  Regulation  (not  a draft  Directive  in the present 
case)  defining  the conditions  under  which  a person  may 
be permitted  to make  a customs  declaration  reiterates,