3. 3. 80 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 53/17 
tions in all of them depending on the various condi­
tions prevailing in each State, and thus, different 
orders of priority. But no single State can cut itself 
off from trends that concern all the EEC countries. 
Done at Brussels, 24 October 1979. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the third paragraph of Article 20 of 
its Rules of Procedure, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 21 May 1979 instructing the Section for Energy 
and Nuclear Questions to prepare an additional 
opinion on the communication from the Commis­
sion to the Council entitled: 'Energy objectives for 
1990 and programmes of the Member States', and in 
particular on the communication entitled: 'First ac­
tions of cooperation with certain developing coun­
tries in the field of energy' (doc. of 28. 3. 1979), 
Having regard to the Committee's opinion of 
23 May 1979 on the first of the abovementioned 
communications ('), 
0) OJ No C 227, 10. 9. 1979, p. 6. By improving the data in the social budget, we shall 
see the need to align policies under the auspices of 
the Community institutions in many sectors which 
are as yet imprecisely defined. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
R. VANNI 
Having regard to the related Commission communi­
cations entitled: 'Cooperation with developing 
countries in the field of energy' (doc. of 3. 8. 1978) 
and 'Instruments of mining and energy cooperation 
with the ACP countries' (doc. of 14. 3. 1979), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
referring these related documents to the Section for 
Energy and Nuclear Questions and asking it to use 
them as reference material in the preparation of its 
additional opinion, 
Having regard to the opinion drawn up by the Sec­
tion for Energy and Nuclear Questions at its 51st 
meeting on 5 October 1979, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted at that 
meeting by the rapporteur, Mr Margot, Opinion on the first actions of cooperation with certain developing contries in the field of 
energy 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 21 May 1979 the Bureau of the Committee decided, under the third paragraph of 
Article 20 of its Rules of Procedure, to deliver an additional opinion on the above-
mentioned subject. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
172nd plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 1979. 
No C 53/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 3. 80 
Having regard to the discussions at its 172nd plen­
ary session on 24 and 25 October 1979 (meeting of 
24 October 1979), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously, with one abstention: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Commission's communication on first ac­
tions of cooperation with certain developing coun­
tries in the field of energy leads on from its earlier 
communication on cooperation with developing 
countries in the field of energy, on which the Com­
mittee did not deliver an opinion as its membership 
was being renewed at the time. It has also been pub­
lished in response to the Council's invitation to the 
Commission of 30 October 1978 to draw up a study 
of operations undertaken in the field of energy 
cooperation both internationally and bilaterally and 
to investigate whether further action was required. 
1.2. The Committee notes that the Commission's 
proposals are commensurate with the wish voiced in 
its opinion of 23 May 1979 on energy objectives for 
1990 and programmes of the Member States and, 
more specifically, aspects of external measures by 
the Community Energy Sector, for the systematic in­
tegration of energy objectives in the Community's 
relations with third countries and, in particular, its 
relations with countries of the developing world. 
1.3. The Committee notes that the communication 
on first actions of cooperation with certain develop­
ing countries in the field of energy is of only limited 
import and must therefore be assessed in conjunc­
tion with the earlier document and with the com­
munication of 14 March 1979 on instruments of 
mining and energy cooperation with the ACP coun­
tries. The Committee hopes that an opinion on such 
a general range of topics may be of assistance to the 
Commission in the drafting of the communication it 
is to publish very shortly on further means of coop­
eration. 
1.4. The Commission pointed out, in communica­
tion COM (78) 355 fin., that the 4 000 million inhab­
itants in the world today consume about 6 300 mil­
lion tonnes of oil equivalent and that, according to 
some estimates, world energy consumption will rise 
to 17 000 million tonnes of oil equivalent by the be­
ginning of the next century, when the world popula­
tion will have reached about 6 500 million inhabi­
tants (including some 4 000 million in the develop­
ing countries). This forecast fully justifies closer 
cooperation between industrialized and developing 
countries, in which a major part must be played by 
the Community. 1.5. The Commission lists the following main 
areas for cooperation with the developing countries: 
(1) the 'inventorizing' of these countries' energy re­
quirements and potential, (2) the exploitation of 
their potential energy resources (including the en­
couragement of a more rational utilization of 
energy, (3) the analysis of various renewable re­
sources (solar energy, wind power, geothermal 
energy and hydroelectric power), and (4) personnel 
training. 
1.6. The Commission rightly thinks that the Com­
munity can promote this cooperation in various 
ways. Firstly, it can use the North-South dialogue 
being held under the UN's auspices to submit con­
crete proposals, especially for cooperation with the 
'least-developed countries'. Secondly it can take in­
dependent action within the context of Community 
cooperation with the ACP countries. Thirdly, it can 
provide funds to stimulate European investments in 
developing countries. Fourthly, it can use existing 
machinery for intra-Community cooperation 
(CREST) to expand and step up scientific and 
technical cooperation with the least-developed 
countries and, finally, it can promote the alignment 
and coordination of development policy in the 
energy sector. 
1.7. These ways and means of promoting coopera­
tion can be systematically dealt with in a two-part 
programme covering (a) studies and inventories and 
(b) the operational phase. 
1.8. The Committee thinks that the time has come 
to develop the ideas set out in the communication 
of 3 August 1978 more fully and work out detailed 
proposals about specific topics. 
1.9. The communication of 28 March 1979 on in­
struments of mining and energy cooperation with 
the ACP countries may be seen as a first step in this 
direction. The Committee hopes that the renewed 
agreement with the ACP countries will result in the 
urgently required stimulation of European invest­
ments for the development of the ACP countries' 
energy potential and that the funds made available 
for this purpose will be increased appreciably and 
used as rationally as possible. It is also hoped that 
private investors who participate along with the EIB 
in the financing of energy projects in the ACP coun­
tries will be able to count not only on the generally 
inadequate national systems of guarantee but also 
on Community guarantees to protect them mainly 
but not exclusively against non-economic risks. 
3. 3. 80 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 53/19 
1.10. The Commission notes that the communica­
tion on first actions of cooperation with certain de­
veloping countries is centred around possible coop­
eration with a number of Latin American countries, 
with the Latin American Energy Organization 
(OLADE) and with other countries such as Turkey 
and Nigeria. The Committee thinks that a general 
survey and a systematic approach to the problems 
associated with cooperation are missing in this 
Communication, which it merely regards as an in­
terim draft. 
1.11. The Committee thinks that the problem with 
a pragmatic approach to cooperation with develop­
ing countries in the energy sector is that there is a 
risk of efforts being expended less rationally. It 
therefore calls for an overall approach which takes 
equal account of the different regions of the world 
and the various energy sectors, with due regard 
being paid to the separate phases set out in the com­
munication of August 1978 and the priorities to be 
determined. 
1.12. The Committee thinks that it would be useful 
to work out gradually an overall programme for 
cooperation with developing countries. Apart from 
embracing the already proposed inventories of the 
energy potential of developing countries, arranged 
in groups (ACP countries — Latin America — Asia 
— other developing countries) and assessed against 
the background of their economic situation and 
prospects, this programme should outline a frame­
work for possible ways of cooperation and the in­
struments available to this end, and also give a con­
crete description of the projects to be carried out in 
the various fields and sectors of energy policy. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. With reference to the communication on first 
actions of cooperation with certain developing 
countries in the field of energy, the Committee 
thinks that a clear distinction should be drawn be­
tween (a) the 'classical' developing countries and (b) 
the oil-exporting developing countries or semi-
industrialized countries, which cannot be grouped 
together with the former. 
2.2. The posting of experts to developing countries 
and the training of technicians from these countries 
in Europe should not be regarded as a separate form 
of action, the Committee thinks, but should be part 
and parcel of the work involved in drawing up the 
inventories and exploiting energy resources. It is 
Done at Brussels, 24 October 1979. clear that this type of cooperation is less suitable for 
OPEC countries such as Venezuela, which is quoted 
in the Commission's communication. 
2.3. The Committee thinks, with regard to Latin 
America, that the duplication of work must be 
averted. The Committee considers regular contacts 
with the Latin American Energy Organization 
(OLADE) to be important. The discussions with 
Ecuador and Venezuela referred to in the communi­
cation also serve some purpose no doubt but must 
be integrated in an overall policy on cooperation. 
The Committee thinks nonetheless that in its direct 
relations with other Latin American countries the 
Community must take into account the political 
context, the possible non-economic risks involved 
and the possible repercussions which these relations 
may have on Community relations with other coun­
tries. 
2.4. Cooperation with Turkey in the energy sector 
is considered by the Committee to be particularly 
desirable. Community enlargement should not 
create an imbalance between the investment aid 
granted to Turkey and that granted to other Mediter­
ranean countries. 
2.5. The plans for cooperation with Nigeria are en­
dorsed by the Committee just as strongly as the 
plans for cooperation with Venezuela. It is, how­
ever, desirable that cooperation with Nigeria should 
be kept free of the political tensions which some­
times mark relations with OPEC countries. 
2.6. The document under review does not enable 
the Committee to form any opinion about the size 
and utilization of the estimated 30 million EUA of 
credit which the Commission says should be set 
aside in the 1980 financial year to finance the 'first 
actions of cooperation' described in the Commis­
sion documents. 
2.7. The Commission feels that, in submitting this 
initial programme, it is satisfying the wishes ex­
pressed by the Council on 30 October 1978 and the 
objectives laid down by the European Council in 
Paris. This belief is not shared by the Committee. 
Without disputing the usefulness of these 'first ac­
tions', the Committee thinks that the proposals must 
be spelt out in greater detail and integrated in an 
over all and coherent programme of cooperation 
with the developing countries in the field of energy. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
R. VANNI