No C 263/44 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17. 11. 75 
III. DIRECTIVE  RELATING  TO  THE  PERMIS-
SIBLE  SOUND  LEVEL  FOR  PNEUMATIC 
CONCRETE-BREAKERS  AND  JACKHAMMERS 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  notes  that  only  equipment 
which  has  received  EEC  type  approval  will  be able 
to circulate  freely  within  the Community. 
1.2. Consequently,  it wonders  whether  it is 
advisable  to oblige  Member  States  which  are unable 
to carry  out  this  type  approval  procedure  to call  on 
the services  of other  Member  States. use of  several  machines,  in  view  of  the 
environmental  problems  which  this  may  pose. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  6 (2) 
2.1.1.  In  line  with  the  request  it has  made  in 
respect  of other  Directives,  the Committee  would  ask 
that the  Member  States  be obliged  to inform  the 
Commission  of any  provisions  which  they  intend  to 
adopt  in the field  covered  by this  Directive. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 May  1975. 
1.3. The  Committee  would  draw  attention  to the 
fact that  the permissible  sound  level  proposed  by the 
Commission  refers  to the use of one  single  machine. 
But the Commission  should  study  the simultaneous The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the communication  from  the Commission  to the Council  concerning  initial 
proposals  for priority  projects  in data  processing 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 99 of 2 May  1975,  page  10. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 24 March  1975,  the  Council  referred  the abovementioned  Communication  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 130th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 28 and  29 May  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 25 March  1975,  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities,  of the 
communication  from  the  Commission  to  the 
Council  concerning  initial  proposals  for  priority 
projects  in data  processing; 
Having  regard  to  Article  198  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
22 April  1975  instructing  the  Section  for  Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to prepare  the 
Committee's  work  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  of the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  on  the  communication  of the 
Commission  to the Council  concerning  a Community 
policy  on data  processing; 
17. 11. 75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 263/45 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services 
at its meeting  on 7 May  1975; 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  made  by Mr Bourel, 
replacing  Mr de Ferranti,  Rapporteur; 
Haying  regard  to the  discussions  at its meeting  on 
29 May  1975  (130th  plenary  session  of 28 and 
29 May  1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously,  less 4 abstentions: 
The Committee  approves  the communication  of the 
Commission  subject  to the  following  general  and 
specific  comments. 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  welcomes  the  initial 
proposals  for priority  projects  in data  processing. 
1.2. Approach  to data-processing  policy 
1.2.1.  Having  studied  the general  remarks  on the 
initial  proposals  in the  field  of applications  as 
formulated  under  Chapter  I, paragraph  2 of the 
Commission's  document,  the  Committee  feels  that 
the five  proposed  priority  projects  can make  a useful 
contribution  to the  Community  policy  on  data 
processing.  In view  of the  very  properly  limited 
scope  of these  projects,  however,  they  cannot  alone 
be held  to constitute  a basis  for the  creation  of a 
strong  European-based  industry. 
1.2.2.  Nevertheless,  the  Committee  believes  that 
the objectives  of the  Community  data-processing 
policy  can  best  be pursued  on a sound  basis  of 
successful  practical  projects.  It is therefore  in 
sympathy  with  the  general  approach  of  the 
Commission  in proposing  that  these  studies  be 
undertaken. 
1.2.3.  In  its Opinion  on data-processing  policy, 
the Committee  proposed  that  legal  measures  within 
the Community  framework  should  be  taken  to 
establish  a freer  market  in Europe  than  currently 
exists  in the United  States.  This  freer  market  would 
give the European  industry  an important  opportunity to establish  a market  base  comparable  with 
American  competitors. 
1.2.4.  The  outcome  of the  priority  projects  will 
also contribute  to building  the  market  in Europe, 
which  is the  soundest  way  of encouraging  a 
European  industry. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. The  five  proposed  projects 
2.1.1.  Although  the  Committee  has  not  had 
sufficient  time  to examine  in detail  the  criteria  for 
selection,  it approves  the  five  priority  projects  and 
agrees  with  their  implementation,  subject  to the 
further  comments  made  in this  Opinion. 
2.1.2.  The  Commission's  document  does  not 
make  provision  for European  industry  to be largely 
responsible  for the implementation  of the projects.  In 
this respect,  the  Committee  would  refer  to its 
Opinion  on data  processing  paragraph  6.3,  which 
calls  for  the  data  processing  industry  of  the 
Community  to  be  largely  responsible  for 
implementation  of such  projects. 
2.2. Preparation  of subsequent  proposals 
2.2.1.  The  Committee  welcomes  the study  in the 
field  of norms  and  standards,  which  would  lead  to 
directives  in accordance  with  Article  100,  and 
stresses  the  importance  of common  norms  and 
standards  for  the  functioning  of the  Common 
Market  in this  sector.  The  Committee  urges  that  the 
economic  interests  and  social  groups  involved,  and 
more  especially  itself,  be consulted. 
2.2.2.  The  Committee  welcomes  the study  into  the 
possibilities  of collaboration  in the  area  of public 
procurement  policy.  It would  like  to make  reference 
to the report  by Mr Guy  Charpentier  and  Sir Richard 
Clarke  on  'Public  Purchasing  in the  Common 
Market'  as presented  to the Commission. 
2.2.3.  The  Committee  is of the  opinion  that  in 
paragraph  3.8 on central  processors  the Commission 
has taken  too narrow  a view  in only  referring  to two 
developments,  and  feels  that  the  Commission  omits 
by implication  other  work  of significance. 
2.3. Financial  implications 
2.3.1.  The  Committee  notes  the  estimate  of cost 
given  for the three-year  period  and  for the 15 studies 
No C 263/46 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17.11.  75 
mentioned  under  point  4.3  of the  Commission's 
document.  However,  the  Committee  would  like  to 
express  its concern  that  the  figures  may  be under-
estimated  and  urges  that  adequate  provision  be made 
in order  to ensure  that  the studies  be of high  quality. 
2.4. Report  on developments 
2.4.1.  The  Committee  welcomes  the 
Commission's  intention  to prepare  a report  on 
developments  in the  data-processing  sector  in the 
Community.  The  Committee  would  urge  the 
Commission  to consult  with  the  economic  interests 
and social  groups  involved,  and  more  especially 
itself,  when  preparing  such  a report. 
2.5. Project  management  and  organization 
2.5.1.  The  Committee  welcomes  the 
Commission's  proposals  regarding  its consultative 
committee  but  feels  that  the  representatives  of each 
of the  Member  States  on the  consultative  committee 
should  be  backed  by  appropriate  measures  of consultation  within  their  respective  countries,  and 
also at Community  level. 
2.5.2.  The  Committee  wishes  to stress  particularly 
the interest  to the  users  that  work  be undertaken  in 
this field  and  hopes  that  the technical  committee  will 
be regarded  as a board  for  the  formulation  and 
approval  of  the  requirements  of  users.  The 
establishment  of 'Requirements  Boards'  has  already 
been  proved  in some  Member  States  to be of value 
where  public  expenditure  on  technology  is 
undertaken. 
2.5.3.  The  Committee  urges  the  Commission  to 
incorporate  reference  to the  establishment  of the 
technical  committee  in the  proposal  for  a Council 
Decision. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 May  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  memorandum  from  the  Commission  to the  Council  concerning  the 
programme  on radioactive  waste,  management  and  storage 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 54 of 6 March  1975,  page  29. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 30 January  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  memorandum  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  under  Article  170  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Atomic  Energy  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 130th  plenary  session, 
held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 May  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 3 February  1975  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities,  of the 
memorandum  from  the  Commission  to the  Council 
concerning  the  programme  on  radioactive  waste, 
management  and  storage; Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Atomic  Energy  Community  and,  in 
particular,  Article  170  thereof; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 January  1975  instructing  the  Section  for  Energy