17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/75 
2.3.1.5.  Adequate  solutions  —  including  those 
which  involve  structural  adjustments  — must  be 
found  for this  situation,  which  is all the more  serious 
because  the  fall  in the  purchasing  power  of these 
categories  often  triggers  the dismissal  of a significant 
number  of wage-earners,  and  because  self-employed 
persons  who  are  affected  are  often  relatively  old, 
which  makes  their  re-employment  in other  work 
difficult,  especially  at the present  time. 
2.3.1.6.  Reference  should  be made  here  to the 
Commission  document  on  the  machinery  for 
adjusting  wages  and  salaries  to the  cost  of living, 
which  bears  witness  to the  Commission's  concern 
about  this  situation. 
2.3.2.  Other  incomes 
2.3.2.1.  The  steep  rise  in prices  has  also  had  a 
considerable  impact  on income  in the form  of social 
security  benefits  and  annuities,  as well  as on the 
yield  and  capital  gains  from  investments  in 
transferable  securities  and  personal  savings. 
2.3.2.2.  The  introduction  of  machinery  to 
maintain  the  purchasing  power  of social  security 
benefits,  including  pensions,  is vital,  because  the 
people  concerned  have  relatively  small  resources, 
examples  being  families  who  are multiple  consumers, 
the sick  and  the old. 
2.3.2.4.  On  the other  hand,  the effects  of inflation 
on incomes  from  savings  may  vary  from  case  to 
case;  high-income  groups,  are  able  to withstand 
inflation  better,  whereas  low-income  groups  are  the 
hardest  hit. 
2.3.2.5.  In  this  way,  the  present  rise  in prices 
makes  for increased  income  differentials  between  the 
various  sectors  of the  population.  This  is why  it is 
particularly  urgent  for  the  Commission  to conduct 
an overall  study  of the  relevant  problems,  with  a 
view  to working  out  the  solutions  as recommended 
to safeguard  small  savers'  incomes. 2.3.2.6.  The  Committee  must  also  draw  the 
Commission's  attention  to the  possible  multiplier 
effect  of the  crisis.  Let  us take  the  case  of a low-
income  family:  the  father  has  just  lost  his job,  the 
son, who  has  just  left  school,  has  not  found  a job 
and is being  kept  by his parents.  If there  is now  a 
serious  illness  or accident,  the  family  could  very 
rapidly  sink  into  poverty  and  this  process  would  be 
difficult  to reverse.  In this  way,  a 'normal'  family 
will quickly  become  a marginal  one. 
3. On  a general  level,  the Committee  feels  that  the 
Council  and  the Commission  should  shortly  make  an 
appraisal  of the  effectiveness  of the  measures  which 
have  been  taken  since  the  Conference  on  the 
Prospects  for  Europe's  Social  Policy  was  held  on 
16 December  1974. 
4. Another  significant  fact  which  can  hardly  be 
disregarded,  and  which  the  Committee  would 
therefore  bring  to the  attention  of the  Community 
authorities,  is that  the birth  rate,  and  more  especially 
the reproduction  rate,  in the  Member  States  as a 
group  has been  falling  steadily  for the past  ten years. 
Because  of the  complexity  of this  question  and  the 
individual  circumstances  of each  of the  Member 
States,  it is impossible  to deal  with  this  issue  here.  It 
calls  for  a special  study,  which  should  be initiated 
without  delay.  The  greatest  successes  in the  social 
and economic  spheres  which  could  be obtained  by 
the EEC  might  ultimately  be  jeopardized  if the 
fundamental  vitality  of the various  nations,  on which 
such  successes  hinge,  is not  ensured  by a balanced 
population. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 June  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on the action  to be taken  to bring 
into force  the European  Agreement  concerning  the work  of crews  of vehicles  engaged  in 
international  road  transport  (AETR) 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 123  of 3 June  1975,  page  2. 
No C 263/76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17.11.  75 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 May  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  75 of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 131st  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 25 and  26 June  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below.  -
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  on 14 May  1975,  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities,  for an 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Regulation  of the 
Council  on the action  to be taken  to bring  into  force 
the European  Agreement  concerning  the  work  of 
crews  of vehicles  engaged  in international  road 
transport  (AETR); 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community  and,  in particular, 
Article  75 thereof; 
Having  regard  to Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 543/ 
69 0) of 25 March  1969,  on the  harmonization  of 
certain  social  provisions  in the  field  of road 
transport,  as amended  by Council  Regulations  (EEC) 
No 514/72  and  (EEC)  No 515/72  (2) of 28 February 
1972; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Chairman 
on 16  May  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Transport  and  Communications  to draw  up  an 
Opinion  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for  Transport  and  Communications  at its 
97th  meeting  held  on 11 June  1975; 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr de Vries  Reilingh; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 26 
June  1975  (131st  plenary  session  of 25 and  26 June 
1975); 
Whereas  the  Community  has  always  regarded  the 
entry  into  force  of the  AETR  as a prerequisite  for 
the establishment  of uniform  social  provisions; 
Whereas  the  AETR  will  be of distinct  value  in 
improving  road  safety  and  promoting  social 
progress; 
OI No  L 77, 29. 3. 1969,  p. 49. 
(2) OJ  No L 67, 20. 3. 1972,  p. 1 and  11. Whereas  the  AETR  will  enable  the  operation  of 
Community  social  legislation  relating  to  road 
transport  to be more  effectively  supervised  where 
transport  to and  from  third  countries  is involved; 
Whereas  the  AETR  is to enter  into  force  180  days 
after  the  deposit  of the  eighth  instrument  of 
ratification  or accession  with  the  Secretary-General 
of the United  Nations; 
Whereas  six countries  which  are not members  of the 
EEC  have  now  deposited  instruments  of ratification 
or of accession  and  all that  is needed  for the AETR 
to enter  into  force  after  180  days  is the deposit  of 
instruments  of ratification  by Member  States  of the 
Community; 
Whereas  it is in the interest  of the Community  that 
the AETR  should  enter  into  force  simultaneously  in 
all Member  States, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously,  less two  abstentions: 
1. The  Committee  welcomes  the step  taken  by the 
Commission  to ensure  that  the  AETR  may  finally 
come  into  force.  The  Section  regrets,  however,  that 
none  of the Member  States  has followed  the Council 
recommendation  of 23 September  1974,  which  called 
upon  the  Member  States  to take,  before  1 January 
1975,  the measures  necessary  to enable  the AETR  to 
enter  into  force  immediately  with  the  participation 
of all the Member  States  of the Community. 
2. The  Committee  accordingly  approves  the 
proposed  Regulation  obliging  the Member  States  to 
ratify  the said  agreement  without  delay. 
3. The  Committee  is however,  doubtful  about  the 
date specified  in the proposal.  In the Section's  view 
it will  be difficult  for the  nine  Member  States  to 
17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 263/77 
ratify  the AETR  in time  for the agreement  to come 
into force  on 1 January  1976,  which  is 180  days  after 
the deposit  of the instruments  of ratification. 
4. The  Committee  would  therefore  not  be 
opposed  to the fixing  of a more  realistic  date  in the 
Regulation. 
5. Finally,  the  Committee  draws  the  Council's 
attention  to the fact  that,  at the Council  meeting  of 
11 December  1974,  some  governments  requested  the 
Commission  to  consider  ways  of  improving 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  543/69  so as to make  the 
application  of it easier.  As soon  as an agreement  is 
reached  on  these  changes,  the  compatibility  of Regulation  (EEC)  No  543/69  with  the  AETR  must 
be restored.  The  Council  should  therefore  look  into 
how the AETR  and  any  amendments  to Regulations 
of the  European  Economic  Community  could  be 
brought  into  line  with  each  other.  The  procedure  of 
depositing  instruments  of ratification  would  be 
unaffected. 
Done  at Brussels,  26 June  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  on intervention  by the social  fund  to 
encourage  structural  adjustment  measures 
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 29 April  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 131st  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 25 and  26 June  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
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 Council  of the European  Communities  on 30 
April  1975; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
22 April  1975  in anticipation  of the  request  for an 
Opinion,  instructing  the Section  for Social  Questions 
to draw  up an Opinion  and  a report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  at its meeting  on 12 
June  1975  and  the oral  report  made  by Mr Laval  on 
behalf  of the Rapporteur; Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 25 
June  1975  (131st  plenary  session  of 25 and  26 June 
1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  no votes  against  and  three  abstentions: 
Preliminary  remark 
The Committee  regrets  being  given  only  an 
extremely  short  time  to draw  up an Opinion  on this 
question,  which  is crucial  for  the  framing  and 
implementation  of a genuine  European  Social  Policy.