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COM (83) 016 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 008 
  
 
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concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
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In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
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COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
COM(83) 16 final 
Brussels,  27 January  1983 
PROPOSAL  FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION  (EEC) 
on the implementation  of the  spécial programme  to combat 
hunger in the  world 
(presented  by the  Commission  to the  Council) 
COM(83) 16 final 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 
I. Special  measures  to combat world hunger were approved  in principle  by 
the budgetary  authority  in the  course of the  adoption  of the 1983 
budget; a new heading  (Article  958: Special programme  to combat hunger 
in the world) was inserted,  with an appropriation  of 50m ECU. 
This was the  culmination  of Parliament's great debate  on the  subject -
the adoption  of the  Ferrero  resolution,  and the  talks on two  Commission 
Communications  to the  Council and Parliament, viz.  "Towards  a plan of 
action to combat world hunger"  (COM(81)560  final, 2 October 1981)  and "A 
special programme  to combat hunger in the  world" (COM(82)320  final, 3 
June 1982). 
2. When  adopting  transfer  proposal  No. 30/82, the Council made the 
following  statement imposing  certain  conditions  on the use of the  funds 
to be released for implementation  of the  planned measures: 
"The Council  has not  been able to agree to the  transfer  proposed  by the 
Commission  relating  to hunger in the  world, in the  absence of a decision 
on the substance  of the  action plan which the Commission  communicated  to 
the Council. 
As soon as such a decision  is taken, on the basis  of a formal proposal 
from the Commission  on implementation  of this action plan, on which the 
Council undertakes  to take a decision  as soon as possible,  the Council 
will make any  necessary  budget  provisions  in accordance with  the 
appropriate  procedures." 
3. The  Commission  has accepted  that the implementation  of the new  Article 
958 in the 1983  Budget would entail  application  of the  provisions  of the 
Joint Declaration  on various  measures  to improve the budgetary procedure 
signed by the  Council,  Parliament  and the  Commission  on 30 June 
(statement  by Mr.  Tugendhat  at the  plenary session  of Parliament  on 26 
October 1982). 
Under the Joint Declaration,  the Commission  is obliged to submit a 
proposal  for a Council  regulation  by the end of  January, while  the 
Council and Parliament  must do all they  can to get the  regulation 
adopted by the end of May. 

2 
The text of the proposal in question is  annexed  to this communication. 
OBJECTIVES:  SCOPE OF OPERATIONS  AND IMPLEMENTATION  PROCEDURES 
4. The basic guidelines for the  campaign,  to tackle world  hunger have 
already been described in the two  earlier  Commission  communications,  and 
will here be  summarized  only briefly  insofar  as they  come within the 
scope of the proposed  regulation. 
Sectoral  breakdown 
5. The Community  operations  would  fall into two main categories: 
support for beneficiary countries 1 food  strategies  or policies; 
such operations,  aimed at increasing these countries1  self-
sufficiency  in food,  would provide assistance in the  rural sector 
and in particular  with the production, marketing, storage and 
transportation  of food; 
operations with a  specific  "theme",  i.e. structural  projects 
designed to protect natural ressources in the developing countries 
and improve  the way they are  utilized.  They would pave the way 
for work in areas of general  interest  such as the  efficient  use of 
fuelwood,  reafforestation,  control  of desertification,  village  water 
supplies  and improvement  of the domestic and wild  livestock  population. 
Training  operations could also be financed in the  above fields. 
Geographical spread 
6. The  least developed countries should  have a priority  claim on aid to 
improve the food  position. 
Nature of operations 
7. Community  aid can be provided  either  separately or in combination with 
external  finance  from other sources. It can  either  be supplied  direct 

or channelled via national regional or  international  financial  bodies. 
8. Procedures and conditions 
Given the objectives to be attained, the type of country concerned and 
the sectoral  guidelines put forward in  this communication,  the 
Commission  feels that the only conceivable  form of aid would be grant 
aid. 
In its view all natural and  legal persons of  Member  States or of the 
beneficiary  state should be  eligible  to participate  on equal  terms in 
invitations  to tender and contracts. The  possibility  of extending 
eligibility  to other developing countries  which are recipients  of 
Community  aid should also be kept  open. 
9. Implementation 
The appropriations the  budget  authority has entered in the 1983 general 
budget are non-differentiated,  which means they must be committed  wi thin 
the year, otherwise they  will be cancelled. 
The Commission  will be attempting to  reconcile  demands  made by the 
administration  of these appropriations with the implementation of the 
planned measures.  The supply of inputs such as  fertilizer,  seeds and 
tools, for which non-differentiated appropriations can  easily be used, 
will generate counterpart funds  which can be used in turn to develop 
agricultural  and food production over a  number  of years. 
10. Consultation and  notification  procedures 
The financing decisions  relating  to the various  measures  will be adopted 
by the Commission,  taking  into account the opinion of an advisory 
committee. 

4 
The Commission proposes  that a committee of  Member  Stales' 
representatives  be set up, to be  chaired  by a Commission  representative. 
It is proposed  that the new committee be  consulted  in accordance  with 
the procedure  laid down for the  "food aid" committee by  Council 
regulation  EEC No.  3331/82  of 3 December  1982 on food aid policy and 
food aid management.  This would enable the Commission to  take 
immediately-applicable decisions, provided  the committee  returned  a 
favourable opinion.  Otherwise, the Commission would lay the matter 
before the Council within  a month, and postpone  application  of the 
decisions  concerned for a  maximum  of two months.  The Council, acting  by 
a gualified  majority, could  take a different  decision within  the two 
months . 
The Commission  will report to the  Council  and Parliament  on 
implementation  of the  regulation. 
Conclusion 
On the basis of the  proposal  in this Commission communication, the 
Council is asked to adopt the  regulation  at annex. 

Proposal  for a r, 
COUNCIL REGULATION  (EEC) 
implementing  the special  worldwide famine  relief  programme 
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  (1), 
Having regard to the Opinion of the  European  Parliament  (2); 
Whereas the Community,  as part of its  development  policy,  is to undertake  a 
world famine  relief  campaign  in the  form of a  "special  programme"  comprising 
structural  measures  to promote  rural development  and food  self-sufficiency  in 
the short  term and thus provide backing for food  policies  or strategies , plus 
longer-term operations in  specific fields  vital for the future and  survival  of 
many rural communities , 
Whereas the implementation  of this special  programme  would be likely to contribute  to 
the attainment of the  Community's  objectives; 
- Whereas  the action to be  taken to implement  the aid provided  for under the programme 
and the objectives  to be  attained  should  be laid down; 
Whereas  provision  should be  made for a procedure for the  management  of such 
aid ; 
Whereas the Treaty  does not provide  specific  powers  for this purpose, 
HAS ADOPTED  THIS REGULATION . 
(1) OJ No C 
(2) OJ No C 

6 
Article  1 
The Community  shall,  on an  experimental basis,  implement  special famine  relief 
measures  to combat  world hunger,  in accordance with  the criteria  and procedures 
provided  for in  this Regulation. 
Article  2 
The aid granted  under  this Regulation  shall be directed  to all  developing 
countries,  especially  the least-developed. 
Article  3 
1. Community aid  shall take the form both  of measures  to support  the 
implementation  of food policies  or strategies  which the beneficiary 
countries  have decided  to undertake  in order to increase  their  level 
of self-sufficiency  in food, and of  structural  measures  designed  to 
protect  the natural resources  of developing countries  and improve  the 
way in  which these resources  are utilized. 
2. Measures  in support  of food strategies  shall consist  of operations  in 
the rural  sector  relating  in particular  to the  production, marketing, 
storage  and transportation  of agricultural  products. 
3. Structural  measures  shall  consist  of the  financing  of operations  to 
pave the way for  action  in areas of general interest such  as the 
efficient  use of wood  fuel,  reafforestation  and prevention  of the 
extension  of desert,  village  water  supplies  or the  efficient  manage­
ment of  domestic  and wild livestock. 
4. Finance  shall  also be provided  for training operations  in the  fields 
referred  to in  paragraphs  2 and 3,  vocational  and technical training 
in the field of development,  and elementary education  in rural areas. 

7 
Article 4 
Aid shall  be granted by the  Community  either autonomously  or by means of 
co-financing  with Member  States or with multilateral  or regional  bodies. 
The Community  nature of the aid  shall be maintained. 
Article 5 
Community  aid shall be in the  form of non-reimbursable grants. 
Article 6 
Aid may cover both expenditure  on imports and local expenditure required  to carry 
out projects  and programmes. 
Taxes, duties  and charges  shall be excluded from  Community  financing. 
Article 7 
Participation  in invitations  to tender and contracts  shall be open on equal 
terms to all natural or legal persons  of Member  States and the  recipient 
state. Such participation  may be  extended  to other developing countries  which 
are recipients  of Community aid. 

8 
Article  8 
1. A Management Committee for the  special  worldwide  famine  relief  programme 
is hereby established, consisting  of representatives  of the Member  States 
and with  a Commission  representative  as Chairman.  The Commission  shall 
provide  the Secretariat  of the  Committee. 
2. The Committee  shall draw up its own  rules  of procedure. 
Article  9 
Decisions granting  aid shall be taken in accordance with  the procedure  laid 
down in  Article  8 of Council Regulation  No 3331/82 (1) on  food aid policy 
and food  aid management. 
Article  10 
The Commission  shall  report  to the  Council  and the  European  Parliament  on the 
implementation  of this Regulation. 
Article  11 
This Regulation  shall  enter into force  on the day  following  its publication  in 
the Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities. 
This Regulation  shall be binding  in its  entirety  and directly  applicable  in 
all Member  States. 
Done at  Brussels,  For the  Council 
The President 
(1) 0J No L 352, 14.12.1982, p. 1.