27. 7. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 185/3 
Opinion on the proposal of the Commission to the Council modifying Regulation (EEC) 
No 2895/77 concerning operations qualifying for a higher rate of intervention by the 
European Social Fund 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 11 March 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 127 and 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 
187th plenary session held in Brussels on 29 and 30 April 1981. 
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 
Articles 127 and 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 11 March 1981, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 12 March 1981, in anticipation of the request for 
an opinion, instructing the Section for Social 
Questions to draw up an opinion and a report under 
Articles 22 and 47 of the Rules of Procedure, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the above 
Section on 2 April 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr Laval, 
Having regard to its discussions on 30 April 1981, 
during its 187th plenary session held on 29 and 
30 April 1981, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1.1. Like the Commission, the Committee considers 
it necessary to promote a better spatial distribution of 
facilities for the type of vocational training eligible 
for grants from the European Social Fund (ESF). The 
Committee also agrees that it is necessary to prevent 
any accentuation of the existing regional disparities 
in Greece. 
1.2. A substantial proportion of Greek training 
(and other) facilities are located in the Athens and 
Thessaloniki areas, which are excluded from the 
proposal. Since the aims set out in 1.1 will take some 
time to achieve, exclusion of these two areas at this 
stage could seriously reduce the number of 
operations eligible for a 55% Community grant 
instead of the standard rate of 50%. 
1.3. The Committee therefore recommends that the 
draft Regulation should be amended to provide that 
operations anywhere in Greece are provisionally 
eligible for 55% grants. 
No C 185/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 7. 81 
1.4. It should be emphasized that this would be a 
temporary arrangement and would in no way 
prejudice the forthcoming designation of the Greek 
regions which are to be eligible for assistance from 
the European Regional Development Fund. When this decision is taken, the geographical scope of the 
55 % grants will have to be re-examined in the light of 
initial experience and the forthcoming review (to be 
carried out by 31 December 1982) of the basic 
European Social Fund Regulation. 
Done at Brussels, 30 April 1981 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE 
ANNEX 
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
The follQwing passage of the Section's opinion was deleted subject to the adoption of the 
amendment tabled during the discussions: 
'1.5. In the meantime, examination of applications for assistance from the Athens and 
Thessaloniki areas should be based on extremely selective criteria designed to prevent an 
increase in the present trend towards concentration of Greek vocational training facilities. 
When deciding on whether support should be given to operations in these two areas, account 
should be taken of the need to correct regional disequilibria by furthering operations liable to 
promote the development of training facilities elsewhere in the country.' 
Result of the vote: 
For: overwhelming majority with no votes against; abstentions: 4