No C 120/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 5. 90 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision on Community actions for the elderly 
COM(90) 80 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 6 April 1990) 
(90/C 120/07) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas account must be taken of the European 
Parliament's resolution of 18 February 1982 on the 
situation and problems of the aged in the European 
Community ('), its resolution of 10 March 1986 on the 
assistance to elderly people (2) and its resolution of 14 
May 1986 on Community action to improve the situation 
of elderly people in the Member States ('); 
Whereas account must be taken of the Council's recom­
mendation of 10 December 1982 on the principles of a 
Community policy with regard to retirement age (4); 
Whereas current demographic developments tend to an 
increase of the elderly population with a particular 
emphasis on the very old which will have considerable 
economic and social implications, in particular for the 
employment market, social security and social expen­
diture; 
Whereas the completion of the internal market in 1992 
should contribute to the improvement of the situation of 
elderly people in Europe; 
(') OJ No C 66, 15. 3. 1982, p. 71. 
O OJ No C 88, 14. 4. 1986, p. 17. 
O OJ No C 148, 16. 6. 1986, p. 61. 
(4) OJ No L 357, 18. 12. 1982, p. 7. Whereas exchange of information and experience, 
concertation and consultation between the Commission, 
the Member States and representatives of the elderly on 
policies for the elderly are important for the development 
of solidarity within the Community; 
Whereas the European Community Charter of Funda­
mental Social Rights for Workers recognizes the right of 
elderly people to adequate social protection; 
Whereas the actions to be carried out at Community 
level have the purpose of making known and comple­
menting the different types of actions carried out in 
Member States at different levels; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide the specific powers 
necessary for the adoption of this Decision, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
Actions at Community level for the elderly will be 
carried out in the period 1 January 1991 to 31 December 
1993. 
Article 2 
The actions shall have the following objectives: 
1. to contribute to the development of preventive 
strategies to meet the economic and social challenges 
of an ageing population; 
2. to identify innovative approaches to strengthening 
solidarity between the generations and integration of 
the elderly population, involving all economic and 
social agents, in rural as well as in urban contexts; 
3. to develop and highlight the positive potential of 
elderly citizens in contributing to the Community. 
16. 5. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/9 
Article 3 
1. The objectives shall be pursued through the 
following actions: 
(a) the organization of the exchange of information; 
(b) the carrying out of studies and establishment of a 
database; 
(c) the exploration of the usefulness and the feasibility 
of setting up a European Network on innovative 
experiences. 
2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be 
decided in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 6. 
Article 4 
The Commission shall have responsibility for the 
implementation of the actions and shall take the appro­
priate measures. 
Article 5 
The Commission shall establish the necessary annual 
appropriations to be included in the preliminary draft 
budget within the framework of the financial 
perspectives incorporated in the inter-institutional 
agreement. 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Whereas Council Directive 66/403/EEC (*), as last 
amended by Directive 89/366/EEC (2), lays down 
(') OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2320/66. 
(2) OJ No L 159, 10. 6. 1989, p. 59. Article 6 
The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee of an 
advisory nature composed of the representatives of the 
Member States and chaired by the representative of the 
Commission. 
The representative of the Commission shall submit to the 
Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The 
Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a 
time limit which the chairman may lay down according 
to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a 
vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in 
addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask 
to have its position recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the 
opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the 
Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been 
taken into account. 
Article 7 
The year 1993 shall be designated as 'European Year of 
the Elderly and Solidarity between Generations'. 
Article 8 
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. 
It shall take effect on ... 
Community rules for seed potatoes marketed within the 
Community; 
Whereas, in the light of modern advances in propagation 
techniques, it is appropriate to lay down a Community 
procedure for the establishment of specific rules 
applicable to the marketing of seed potatoes produced by 
techniques involving micro-propagation; 
Whereas Directive 66/403/EEC also provides in Article 
15 (2) that, after certain dates, Member States may no 
longer determine for themselves whether seed potatoes 
harvested in third countries are equivalent to seed 
potatoes harvested in the Community and complying 
with the Directive; Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 66/403/EEC on the marketing of seed 
potatoes 
COM(90) 134 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 27 April 1990.) 
(90/C 120/08)