20. 10. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/29 
APPENDIX III 
The following members, present or represented, voted for the amendment: 
Antonsen, Arena, Bagliano, Bento Goncalves, Berns, Binnenbruck, Bredima, Breitenstein, Broicher, Gammann, 
Costa, De Bievre, De Tavernier, Dore, Dracos, Fernandes, Fortuyn, Fuller, Hannon, Hemmer, Kelly, Kenna, 
Law, Lencastre, Lopez de la Puerta, Low, Machado von Tschusi, Martin Almendro, Marvier, Masprone, 
Muller, Neto da Silva, Noordwal, de Normann, Pearson, Pelletier, Poeton, Querleux, Regaldo, Rolao 
Goncalves, Sa'iu, Schnieders, Stahlmann, Staratzke, Storm-Hansen, Swift, Tamlin, van der Mensbrugghe, van 
Melckenbeke, Vasseur, Wagner, de Wit, Zinkin. 
The following members, present or represented, abstained: 
de Caffarelli, Cashman, De Bruyn, Estevao, Emo Capodilista, Margot. 
The following members, present or represented, voted against the amendment: 
Amato, Aparicio Bravo, Bazianas, Beretta, Berger, Bernasconi, Bleser, Boddy, Bonety, Burnel, Cal, Calvet 
Chambon, Carroll, Cavazzuti, Ceballo Herrero, Ceyrac, Chalioris, Conde, Corell, Ayora, Curlis, Dassis, 
Dassoulas, De Grave, d'Elia, Delia Croce, Delourme, Dos Santos, Drago, Dunet, Elkan, Engelen-Kefer, Etty, 
Flum, Geuenich, Glesener, Gomez Martinez, Goris, van Greunsven, Hammond, Hilkens, Houthuys, Jarvis, 
Jaschick, Jenkins, Kamizolas, Kirschen, Kitsios, Laca Martin, Landaburu de Silva, Lojewski, Maddocks, 
Margalef Masia, Masucci, Meraviglia, Mols Serensen, Mourgues, Muniz Guardado, Murphy, Nielsen B., 
Nielsen M., Nielsen P., Nierhaus, Ognibene, Proenca, Pronk, Quevedo Rojo, Raftopoulos, Ramaekers, van 
Rens, Roseingrave, Rouzier, Santillan Cabeza, Schmitz, Schoepges, Schwarz, Silva Augusto, Smith A.R., 
Smith L.J., Soulat, Spijkers, Termez Carrero, Tixier, Vallejo Calderon, Vanden Broucke, Vassilaras, Velasco 
Mancebo, Vercellino, Weber, Williams, Zoli, Zufiaur Narvaiza. 
Opinion on relations between the European Community and the Member States of the 
Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
(86/C 263/10) 
The Economic and Social Committee decided on 4 July 1985, acting in accordance with the 
fourth paragraph of Article 20 of the Rules of Procedure, to draw up an opinion on relations 
between the European Community and the Member States of the Association of South-East 
Asian Nations (ASEAN). 
The Section for External Relations, which was instructed to prepare the Committee's work 
on this subject, adopted its opinion on 10 June 1986. The rapporteur was Mr Nierhaus. 
The Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously with one abstention at its 238th 
plenary session (meeting of 3 July 1986): 
General comments 
1. This opinion is intended to provide suggestions 
for possibilities and requirements for more intensive 
cooperation between ASEAN and the European Com­
munity. It therefore concentrates on those fields where, 
in the Committee's view, there are possibilities for 
action to develop cooperation further. These are sum­
marized in a recommendation, based on the 
accompanying report drawn up by the Section for 
External Relations. The Committee drew its infor­
mation from a great variety of sources. For example, 
the Section for External Relations Study Group respon­
sible for the preparatory work invited representatives of the ASEAN States' Embassies to the European Com­
munities to a meeting in order to hear their views on 
the subject of ASEAN/European Communities cooper­
ation. 
2. The Committee considers the formation in 1967 
of ASEAN, comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philip­
pines, Singapore, Thailand and (since 1984) Brunei, to 
have been very beneficial. The Committee feels that of 
all the regional groupings of Third World States, or so-
called 'newly industrializing countries' (NICs), ASEAN 
has made the most promising start towards achieving 
a higher level of cooperation in the future. The relative 
political stability of its Member States, promoted by 
the Association, has encouraged economic growth in 
No C 263/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 10. 86 
the region. Conversely, economic success has strength­
ened the common political efforts of the ASEAN 
countries. 
3. The level of integration in ASEAN is still small 
— despite clear progress — in comparison with, say, 
the European Community. The European Community 
is not suggesting its own integration process as the only 
feasible model for ASEAN. The fact remains, however, 
that as its integration progresses, ASEAN, like the 
European Community, is becoming an attractive 
trading partner. 
4. A positive assessment of ASEAN as an economic 
grouping from the standpoint of the European Com­
munity is still justified today in spite of the most recent 
difficulties and events in the Philippines, which have 
brought about a decisive political change in that 
country, and the economic problems which have arisen, 
such as weak or even negative growth in many of the 
ASEAN countries and sharp falls in the prices of virtu­
ally all commodities of importance to ASEAN. The 
ASEAN Member States do, however, have the potential 
to overcome such economic fluctuations more effective­
ly than many comparable countries. The European 
Community Member States and the Community's busi­
ness world should recognize this and take care to be 
present when the economy picks up again in ASEAN. 
Despite the difficulties and shortcomings, which will be 
dealt with in the individual chapters of this opinion, 
the overall verdict on the 1980 Cooperation Agreement 
between the European Communities and ASEAN and 
its impact must be a positive one. 
Specific comments 
Economic development of ASEAN 
5. The Committee feels that cooperation between 
the ASEAN States could be strengthened if further 
progress were made with concerted industrialization in 
the region. The continuing high level of dependence on 
agriculture and the fact that the states are in compe­
tition over commodity exports are not conducive to 
closer economic cooperation. Industrialization tailored 
to each individual country with the attendant comple­
mentarity of demand could create the conditions neces­
sary for achieving the kind of trade between ASEAN 
States which would promote integration. Such industri­
alization would also meet the need for new jobs, as 
agriculture and the extraction industries already largely 
have their full quota of workers or will only be able to 
provide a small number of new jobs. 
6. The Committee would like to stress that the type 
of industrialization here should be one which meets the 
needs of the individual states and their population. One 
should therefore think in terms of the need to develop 
economic activity in a way that encourages the skilled 
trades and the transition to the various forms of very 
small and small craft/industrial enterprises. First and 
foremost, a certain degree of self-sufficiency should be 
ensured for the ASEAN States in both the industrial and the agricultural sectors. Only then could exports 
come more to the fore. The concentration of industry 
in conurbations has led to excessively large differences 
between these areas and the remaining parts of the 
countries. Giving preference to large-scale projects — 
decisions which are frequently based on prestige con­
siderations rather than on objective cost/benefit calcu­
lations — has caused mistakes to be made. 
7. The Committee welcomes the fact that intensified 
industrialization drives in ASEAN are going hand in 
hand with attempts to shift the balance from the public 
to the private sector. It stresses, however, that proper 
consideration must be given to the interests of workers 
in this context. 
8. The Cooperation Agreement of 7 March 1980 
between the European Communities and ASEAN States 
consolidated economic links. The Committee is, how­
ever, aware that not all the aspirations of the ASEAN 
States have been fulfilled. This applies above all to the 
agricultural sector, which is important to the economic 
development of many of the ASEAN States. 
Foreign trade 
9. Although trade between the European Com­
munity and ASEAN (cf. points 39 and 40 of the report) 
has grown since the cooperation agreement came into 
effect, the European Community is still only ASEAN's 
third largest trading partner after Japan and the USA. 
It is, however, important to note that the proportion 
of finished products in ASEAN exports to the European 
Community has greatly increased, whereas access to 
the Japanese market for semi-finished products is not 
without problems even for ASEAN countries. In 
addition to ASEAN's wish for regional diversification 
of its foreign trade, this is another comparative advan­
tage for European Community countries over Japanese 
competition. These points also apply to investments. 
10. Current customs policy trends in ASEAN show 
that there is an awareness of the need to reduce the 
excessive level of protection in certain sectors and to 
rationalize the customs structure. The Committee 
stresses, however, that further action is needed if this 
awareness is to be translated into reality. There is, 
for example, a need for simplified customs clearance 
procedures in ASEAN, as well as for the establishment 
and observance of clear guidelines for the assessment 
of customs value, for uniformity in customs classifi­
cation and for the reduction of import licences. In the 
Committee's view it is essential, above all, that the 
ASEAN States follow a clear course as regards the 
implementation of trade policy instruments so that 
their trading partners are able to take account of the 
prevailing conditions in their planning. 
11. The practice of 'compensation trading' is increas­
ing in some ASEAN countries, in some cases with State 
support. The Committee points to the dangers which 
20. 10. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/31 
such practices pose to the development of international 
trade and advocates avoidance of such methods in 
external trade. 
12. To sum up, the Committee notes that a discrep­
ancy exists between the relatively open access to Euro­
pean Community markets and the still restricted access 
and other non-tariff trade barriers in many of the 
ASEAN countries. These restrictions and barriers 
should be removed as soon as possible in the interests 
of closer European Community/ASEAN cooperation. 
13. In spite of these facts — which all countries have 
to face up to — the overall conditions in the ASEAN 
States are favourable. The Committee stresses that 
Europeans must perceive and take advantage of the 
opportunities inherent in ASEAN, not least by being 
prepared to direct their efforts towards winning over 
markets in this region, as Japanese trading companies 
have done and plan to continue to do. 
Investment 
14. Leading figures in the field of economic policy 
in ASEAN have emphasized their considerable interest 
in investment from the European Communities. The 
reason for this is the desire of ASEAN to achieve 
greater diversification of foreign investment and more 
independence vis-a-vis other major investors (e.g. Japan 
and the United States of America). The Com­
mittee feels that these efforts should be encouraged. 
15. ASEAN, with its approximately 280 million 
inhabitants, has considerable scope for development 
and represents an important potential market. Close 
cooperation among the Member States of ASEAN and 
coordinated development strategy are thus also impor­
tant to European Community investors. Foreign firms 
have to deal in reality with six different economies 
which vary in the degree to which they are open to 
international trade. For this reason it is necessary within 
ASEAN to: 
— make national supply structures complementary to 
each other, 
— remove market access restrictions among Member 
States, 
— promote the economic development of all ASEAN 
States. 
16. The Committee emphasizes that if European 
Community companies are to commit . capital to 
ASEAN the general investment climate (cf. points 55 
and 58 of the report) is an essential consideration. The 
investment climate is determined, inter alia, by the still 
relatively high level of political and economic stability 
and the number of sectors in which foreign investment 
is permitted. The investment climate is also influenced 
by the following factors: 
— the absence of complicated authorization pro­
cedures and other administrative obstacles, 
— the absence of restrictions of foreign capital, — the ease with which profits can be transferred to 
the investor's home country, 
— work permits for foreigners, 
— the absence of restrictions or duties on imports of 
necessary machinery which is unobtainable in the 
country concerned, 
— investment protection agreements, either at Euro­
pean Community level or at individual State level, 
— recognition of international courts of arbitration 
for investment disputes. 
17. The Committee draws attention to the need for 
more balanced conditions of competition with regard 
to contracts in ASEAN. In practice the methods used 
by countries seeking contracts vary from the granting 
of state subsidies to tendering firms and the linking of 
commercial credit with development aid, to the one­
sided establishment of investment conditions by carry­
ing out free feasibility studies. The Section calls on 
ASEAN to do all in its power to change this situation. 
Financial sector 
18. In all the ASEAN States there are restrictions on 
foreign banks (in the sense of fully-fledged banks) (cf. 
point 63 of the report). Although there seems to be no 
significant demand in the ASEAN States for an increase 
in the number of financial and credit institutions, the 
Committee strongly urges the lifting of the restrictions 
confronting many banks when they consider opening a 
branch in an ASEAN State. Such a measure would have 
positive effects, not the least of which might be the 
effect on the investment climate. 
19. Development banks play an important part in 
financial cooperation between the European Com­
munity and ASEAN. In this context the term 'develop­
ment bank' applies not only to national bodies operat­
ing in the various developing countries, but also to 
regional and international banks and companies active 
in the field of development finance (cf. points 65 to 
68 of the report). Given that the main objective of 
development bodies is the provision of financial support 
to medium-sized businesses, the Committee urges that 
these institutions be supported and their range of activi­
ties extended. 
Small and medium-sized enterprises 
20. The relatively small extent of European 
Community/ASEAN cooperation is, to a considerable 
degree, due to the relative lack of interest hitherto 
shown by small and medium-sized European Com­
munity businesses in this regions. The large distances 
involved, the very different mentalities and, above all, 
the lack of information on the economic system and 
economic development in ASEAN are the main reasons 
for the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises are 
not yet paying due attention to these markets. The 
economic structure of ASEAN offers small and 
medium-sized enterprises a good basis for trade and 
industrial cooperation. 
No C 263/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 10. 86 
21. In view of the abovementioned problems, coop­
eration between the ASEAN member countries and 
small and medium-sized European firms will continue 
to involve extremely high risks. Any real increase in 
these firms' investments in ASEAN would require finan­
cial incentives to be provided by the States concerned, 
and other measures (e.g. the setting up of a joint rep­
resentation to ASEAN for European SMEs — cf. points 
71 and 72 of the report). The Committee feels that the 
possibility of the Commission playing a major role in 
this area should be studied. 
Agricultural sector 
22. ASEAN is a major producer and exporter of 
agricultural products. The UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization estimates that increasing surpluses, 
especially of rice, sugar, plant oils and fats, can be 
expected in the South-East Asian region over the next 
few years. In view not only of the European situation 
but also of the world market for agricultural products, 
the Committee wonders whether certain structural 
changes in the agricultural production system might 
not be in the interests of the people of the ASEAN 
countries. There are, for example, isolated instances of 
sugar cane plantation owners, who are unable to pay 
full wages to their workers because of falling world 
market sugar prices, making small areas of currently 
uncultivated sugar cane fields available to them to 
enable them to grow other crops for their own use. The 
Committee urges that thought be given to ways of 
making increased use of these and similar methods. 
23. In order to improve the economic and social 
situation of people employed in agriculture, cooperat­
ives should also be encouraged, again using the experi­
ence and support of those established elsewhere in the 
region, or even in the developed world. It is highly 
desirable for commercial banks to be persuaded (backed 
up by supportive security) to spread their services into 
small villages and allocate their loans directly to farmers 
instead of to 'loan sharks' who relend money at 
exorbitant rates. 
24. The Committee also suggests that assistance be 
given for mechanization of agriculture in the ASEAN 
countries. Such mechanization should be adapted to 
local conditions and should promote productivity 
whilst retaining employment opportunities. The fisher­
ies sector, which is an important one for ASEAN, 
should also be promoted. 
Shipping sector 
25. The Committee notes that in the shipping sector 
the ASEAN countries resort to flag discrimination prac­
tices vis-a-vis third flag carriers. This is so both in the 
liner and tramp sector (e.g. Indonesia decrees that 45 % 
of all cargoes must be carried on national flag bottoms) 
(cf. point 81 of report). These practices infringe free 
and fair competition in access to maritime transpor­tation and are highly detirmental to the interests of 
European Community shipowners. Governments of 
European Community Member States have therefore 
made joint diplomatic representations to the ASEAN 
countries concerned. The Committee believes that the 
shipping sector dimension should be included in future 
European Community/ASEAN negotiations with a 
view to achieving a mutually acceptable commitment 
to the principles that would govern their respective 
shipping relations. The main principle should be as 
follows: the general commitment to handle shipping in 
such a way that it contributes to the development and 
the promotion of trade between the respective parties. 
This commitment would cover, inter alia, the following 
provisions (cf. also point 82 of report): 
— free access to ports, 
— non-discrimination against other country's ship­
pings 
— freedom of forwarders to choose between Confer­
ence and non-Conference ships, 
— respect for European Community rules of compe­
tition. 
26. In this context, the Committee would draw 
attention to its opinion on the European Community 
maritime transport policy (*), where it is clearly stated 
that in agreements with groups of countries, the Com­
munity should endeavour to include undertakings by 
the contracting parties not to engage in flag discrimi­
nation or cargo reservation in shipping. 
Social conditions 
27. Working conditions are a fundamental element 
in international competitiveness (cf. points 85 to 88). 
Although there are laws covering this area in the 
ASEAN countries, in practice workers in the predomi­
nantly small and medium-sized enterprises in these 
countries often receive less than the minimum wage, 
and minimum worker protection standards are often 
ignored. These conditions are aggravated by the 
employment problems and social problems faced by 
migrant workers. 
28. The Committee therefore points to the need for 
ILO standards to be fully applied in ASEAN. All 
ASEAN and European Community Governments are 
members of the ILO and should therefore promote and 
guarantee basic trade union rights and the implemen­
tation of minimum social standards (such as freedom of 
association, freedom of collective bargaining, minimum 
working conditions, health and safety at work and non­
discrimination) based on ILO conventions. 
(!) Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the com­
munication and proposals by the Commission to the Council 
on progress towards a common transport policy — maritime 
transport (OJ No C 344, 31. 12. 1985). 
20. 10. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/33 
A particular problem is posed by restrictions on trade 
union rights for workers in export production zones. 
Thus there have been cases of foreign investors putting 
pressure on ASEAN Governments for 'no union' 
guarantees as a condition for investment. The Com­
mittee urges that an end be put to such practices. 
29. The Committee also urges the ASEAN Govern­
ments to ratify and implement ILO conventions on 
equality of opportunity and equal pay for men and 
women. Both governments and employers should be 
prevailed upon to provide vocational training for 
women. Another cause for concern is child labour with 
children being exploited as a cheap substitute for adults. 
Environmental questions 
30. The ASEAN countries are faced with a range of 
environmental problems. The Committee proposes that 
existing environmental protection measures in ASEAN 
countries (cf. points 93 to 98 of the report) be supported 
by drawing up a code of conduct in relation to the 
environment. The latter should cover the following 
problem areas: 
— stopping the wasteful exploitation of natural 
resources which goes on in many places, 
— measures to counter the unchecked flight from the 
land and the resulting urbanization, 
— information on the proper use and marketing of 
pesticides. 
Technology 
31. The stage reached in the introduction and use of 
new technologies varies considerably from one ASEAN 
country to another. The Committee stresses that in 
promoting this the emphasis must be placed on tech­
nology tailored to the needs of the country in question 
— development technology is a term frequently used 
here. More account should also be taken of the effect 
of low-cost training and communications projects. In 
addition it is desirable that direct European help should 
be available to the relevant organizations, without 
applications necessarily having first to go through 
governments. 
32. The Committee wholeheartedly endorses the 
European Community's efforts to intensify cooperation 
with ASEAN in science and technology. The meeting 
of European Community/ASEAN Economic Affairs 
Ministers in Bangkok showed especially keen interest 
in microelectronics, biotechnology and marine sciences. 
The Committee welcomes the proposal made in Bang­
kok to set up a network of interlinked research institutes 
in areas of mutual interest. Training 
33. The growth potential of any economy and its 
capacity to create jobs are closely related to levels of 
education and training. The improvement of education 
in general, and vocational training in particular, should 
therefore be one of the main elements in ASEAN/ 
European Community cooperation (cf. points 106 and 
109 of the report). The Committee, therefore, considers 
it important that: 
— training should be relevant and that training pro­
grammes should fit in with the requirements of 
existing production, processing and marketing 
systems, 
— appropriate training and on-going 'refresher' 
courses should be made available at all levels, and 
not just for executives and middle management, 
— such training should be carried out as far as possible 
at local or regional level, with the possibility of some 
particularly advanced courses being given abroad, 
— the work of certain non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) and local social and economic groups 
(including cooperatives) should be developed and 
coordinated, 
— the specific needs of women should be catered for 
without discrimination, 
— training, whether in agriculture, industry or the 
service sector, should ensure that trained individuals 
themselves become capable of instructing the 
unskilled. 
34. The Committee points out that effective cooper­
ation between the Community and ASEAN in the field 
of education and training requires first and foremost 
the provision by the Community of comprehensive 
information on training opportunities; no overall guide 
to them as yet exists. It is therefore necessary to make 
a survey of the range of training offered in the Com­
munity's Member States and present the information 
to ASEAN. The proposal put forward at the meeting 
of European Community/ASEAN Economic Affairs 
Ministers to set up a computerized data bank on post­
graduate and specialist courses available in the Com­
munity in advanced engineering, information tech­
nology and business management, is therefore most 
welcome. At the same time it is hoped that the hand­
book planned by the Commission will remedy this lack 
of information about post-graduate and other types of 
courses as soon as possible. 
35. The Committee emphasizes that a Community 
commitment in the area of education and training in 
ASEAN is of supreme importance in the long term from 
the point of view of economic cooperation. A student, 
post-graduate or otherwise, is strongly influenced by 
the continent in which he pursues his studies even after 
his studies are complete. The Community should give 
much greater weight to this factor when drawing up its 
plans and programmes and should be prepared to spend 
money on this 'investment in the future'. The Com­
mission should also consider setting-up a special fund 
for this purpose. 
No C 263/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 10. 86 
Worldwide context 
36. A particular area of common interest for the 
European Community and ASEAN is the Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP). There is agreement 
between the European Community and ASEAN that 
the GSP is an effective instrument for expanding trade 
between the two areas. The Committee is aware that 
ASEAN is interested in further improvements to the 
GSP (the number of products falling within the GSP, 
the margin of preference, and the quantitative restric­
tions on preference imports). The Committee hopes 
that mutually satisfactory agreements will be reached 
in these areas. ASEAN has welcomed the new system 
of regional cumulation regarding rules of origin in force 
from 1986 onwards. 
37. The European Community and ASEAN are 
agreed that the existing Multifibre Arrangement has 
helped to increase the exports of the textile producing 
countries and that — although the ultimate goal must 
be the liberalization of trade in textile products — 
under present circumstances it is necessary to preserve 
an appropriate multilateral framework within which 
trade can develop in an orderly manner. The Committee 
hopes that during the negotiations on the renewal of 
the Multifibre Arrangement, close contact will be main­
tained between the European Community and ASEAN. 
38. The Committee is very pleased to note that since 
the meeting of European Community/ASEAN Econ­
omic Affairs Ministers, ASEAN has been adopting a 
more positive attitude to the Europeans' ideas for a 
new GATT round. There is agreement that the tra­
ditional areas of negotiations should take first place on 
the agenda. 
Future ASEAN-European Community cooperation 
39. The European Community has a natural interest 
in the healthy economic development of ASEAN. 
Increasing cooperation within ASEAN would lead not 
only to a larger market for European products, but also 
to one which could be better equipped to absorb their 
own products. 
40. If the European Community wishes to play a 
greater role in the ASEAN markets, long-term market 
strategies will have to be developed which include readi­
ness to cooperate with local firms in addition to the 
transfer of know-how. If European firms are to gain 
increased market share, however, there will have to be 
a greater awareness in Europe of the importance of the 
ASEAN region and European particularism will have 
to be stemmed. Europe should renew its confidence in 
its own strength and encourage an increased readiness 
to take risks. 
41. There is unquestionably a need for national 
measures in this field. Such measures and programmes can, however, be that much more effective if backed 
up by cooperation at European Community level. 
The Committee therefore recommends that consider­
ation be given to the following measures: 
— the establishment of European chambers of trade, 
— market analyses conducted on a joint basis, 
— a radical reform of the information and advisory 
services, 
— the establishment of European syndicates which 
could also help to solve financing problems, 
— a strategic price policy (designed to open up 
markets), 
— the training of European specialists in the economic 
conditions of the ASEAN region, 
— establishment of investment agreements on a Euro­
pean Community basis. 
42. It will only be possible to achieve a significant 
increase in trade and industrial cooperation with the 
ASEAN States if there is greater commitment to the 
region on the part of small firms. Quite favourable 
opportunities exist but it will only be possible to exploit 
them if small firms receive suitable support, i.e. special 
administrative and in part also financial back-up from 
public bodies. The Committee is thinking here of ideas 
such as the establishment of a joint commercial organ­
ization along the lines of the Japanese trading 
companies as small firms will only be able to 
succeed by working in concert. 
43. The extent to which these necessary endeavours 
will bear fruit in the short or medium-term depends on 
a variety of factors. It will, for instance, be necessary 
to stem world-wide protectionism as only a relatively 
free world market will enable ASEAN to carry out 
appropriate industrialization. A further not insignifi­
cant factor is, of course, whether or not the above 
average rates of medium to long-term growth which 
have been forecast can be approximately achieved. 
44. Furthermore, ASEAN/European Community 
cooperation could also embrace the following: 
— a regular dialogue in the form of meetings should be 
initiated between European Community economic 
and social organizations and their counterparts in 
ASEAN (cf. ACP) with a view to an exchange of 
experience at this practical level which also involves 
the representatives of the social groups, 
— contacts with organizations such as the UN Econ­
omic and Social Commission for Asia and the 
Pacific (ESCAP) could also be informative, 
— the European Community could place its experience 
at the disposal of ASEAN with a view to intensifying 
cooperation in association, not only as regards 
20. 10. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/35 
institutional and administrative questions, but also 
with a view to the creation of a common market, 
if ASEAN asks for such information, 
NGOs should be able to play a larger part in devel­
opment work; their work in this field should be coordinated and they should be informed about 
sources of finance available to them, 
the field of tourism which is of considerable interest 
to ASEAN should be included in the cooperation 
agreement. 
Done at Brussels, 3 July 1986. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) instituting a Community programme 
for the development of certain less-favoured regions of the Community by improving access 
to advanced telecommunications services (STAR programme) (*) and the amendments to the 
proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) instituting a Community programme for the 
development of certain 1ess-favoured regions of the Community by improving access to 
advanced telecommunications services (STAR programme) (2) 
(86/C 263/11) 
On 3 February 1986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) instituting a Community programme for the 
development of certain less-favoured regions of the Community by improving access to 
advanced telecommunications services (STAR programme). 
In a letter dated 6 June 1986 the Council also asked the Committee to take the amendments 
to the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) instituting a Community programme for the 
development of certain less-favoured regions of the Community by improving access to 
advanced telecommunications services (Star programme) into account in its opinion. 
The Section for Regional Development, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's 
work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 13 June 1986 in the light of the report by 
Mr Broicher. 
At its 238th plenary session (meeting of 3 July 1986) the Committee adopted the following 
opinion by a large majority, with six votes against: 
1. Introduction 
1.1. In its opinion on national regional develop-
(!) OJ No C 356, 31. 12. 1985, p. 66. 
(2) OJ No C 147, 14. 6. 1986, p. 4. ment aid (3) the Committee stated that the provision of 
telecommunications infrastructure was a priority task 
if the Community's peripheral areas were not to be 
(3) OJ No C 75, 3. 4. 1986, (Rapporteur: Mr Broicher, Co-
Rapporteur: Mr Delia Croce), point 4.3, second paragraph, 
(plenary session January 1986).