No C 16/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 75 
employees. If the Member States want to maintain the JRC as an active and creative research 
establishment in the longer term, highly qualified young scientists must be offered sufficient 
incentive to work there on fixed-term contracts. The appeal of working for the JRC must also 
be enhanced by assigning it ambitious projects and thus, at the same time, guaranteeing it 
higher status in the scientific world. The Section considers that insufficient effort is being made 
along these lines and that the Member States are unwilling to transfer major scientific work 
and projects from the national to the Community level. Without at least one top-ranking 
scientific project, the JRC will always be overshadowed by national establishments and continue 
to be engaged on more or less supplementary work. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of 
the Member States relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels 
The text referred to the Committee was published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 35 of 28 March 1974, pages 75 to 77. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 26 February 1974, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee under Article 100 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 125th plenary session, 
held in Brussels on 28 November 1974. 
The Opinion is published below: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the referral on 26 February 1974 by 
the Council of the European Communities of the 
proposal for a Council Directive on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels; 
Having regard to Article 100 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community; 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
26 February 1974, instructing the Section for 
Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up 
an Opinion and a report on the matter; 
Having regard to the Opinion adopted by the Section 
for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at its 
meeting on 3 July 1974, 
Having regard to the supplementary Opinion 
adopted by the Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs 
on 18 June 1974; 
Having regard to the report submitted by the 
Rapporteur, Mr De Bievre; 
Having regard to the discussions at its 125th plenary 
session of 28 November 1974, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 63 votes to 18: 
The Economic and Social Committee approves the 
proposal, subject to the following comments: 
23.1.75 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 16/7 
1. General comments 
1.1. The proposal has a number of features which 
the Committee considers it appropriate to mention: 
(a) the introduction on the market of the grades of 
gas oil recommended by the proposed Directive 
does not present any technical problems with 
regard to production; 
(b) the information received by the Committee 
indicates that implementation of the proposed 
Directive should not entail any appreciable 
increase in the present production costs of the 
fuels in question for the refining industry; 
(c) the Commission has deliberately limited the 
present proposed Directive to those products 
which will involve no serious technical 
difficulties and whose price will rise only slightly. 
1.2. The Committee further notes that the 
Commission has not made any proposals with regard 
to heavy fuel oil which is primarily for industrial use 
and is precisely a product liable to involve such 
technical difficulties, as well as undergo very 
considerable increases in price. 
1.3. The problem of the zones 
1.3.1. The proposal provides that the Member 
States are to determine regions and zones in which 
the use of type B gas oil is permitted and are to 
inform the Commission of their decisions as well as 
the criteria employed in selection. 
1.3.2. The Committee notes that by virtue of the 
provisions of the proposal, notably those of Article 
5 (information to be given to the Commission) and 
Article 6 (supervision of the measures taken by the 
States) it is possible to avoid distortions in 
competition between the Member States. The 
Committee also feels that the zones in which the use 
of type B gas oil is to be permitted should not be 
regarded as zones with a lesser degree of protection; 
rather, the zones in which the use of type A gas oil is 
prescribed should be regarded as zones of special 
protection, similar to those which have already been 
set up in several countries within the Community, 
without giving rise to criticism from the public. 
1.3.3. The Committee further notes that in the 
comparatively rare cases where such action may be called for it would always be possible for the local 
authorities to prescribe the use of other primary 
sources of energy, such as natural gas, for certain 
purposes, thereby allowing complete elimination of 
sulphur in the atmosphere. 
1.3.4. Notwithstanding the etablishing of zones, it 
should be recognized that there. are certain special 
applications where a higher sulphur content should 
be permissible provided that the provisions of 
paragraph 1.4 are eventually met. These special 
applications are: 
(a) marine usage in coastal areas; 
(b) starting up boilers and non-continuous gas 
turbine operations in power stations. 
For these applications the use of gas oil of type B 
should be permitted. 
1.4. Objective measurement of the degree of 
pollution 
1.4.1. There is a direct and close link between the 
question of objective measurement of the degree of 
pollution in the Community and the determination of 
the zones. The Committee observes that, if the 
permissible degree of pollution could be measured 
objectively, then the problem of the zones could be 
completely excluded from the possible arbitrariness of 
decisions at national level. The Committee notes that 
important work is in progress at the Commission but 
that the results of this work will not be available 
until 1977/78; this being so, the Committee agrees 
with the views expressed by the representative of the 
Commission and considers that the measures 
recommended in the proposed Directive should be 
adopted without waiting for the results of this work. 
It also seems essential, from the point of view of 
eliminating technical barries to trade, that a Directive 
on the sulphur content of liquid fuels should be 
adopted before the date on which the 
abovementioned studies become available. 
1.5. Impact of the energy crisis 
1.5.1. The Committee believes that the technical 
and economic consequences of the proposed 
Directive will not be such as to involve any 
considerable consumption of energy; furthermore, 
bearing in mind present knowledge concerning the 
levels of pollution in the various regions of the 
Community and the permissible limits of pollution, 
the Committee considers that the creation of zones, 
as set out in Article 5 of the proposal, is inevitable at 
the present time. The Committee therefore 
recommends that the dates specified in Article 2 
should stand. 
No C 16/8 Official Journal' of the European Communities 23.1. 75 
1.6. Gas oil used in road and rail transport 
1.6.1. The Committee is of the opinion that type A 
gas oil must be prescribed throughout the 
Community for both road and rail transport without 
establishing special zones. The essential feature of 
these forms of transport is that they move from one 
area to another; it would therefore be inappropriate 
to oblige them to use different fuels depending on the 
areas in which they are operating. 
1.6.2. Gas oil used as a motor fuel, particularly on 
the roads, could give rise to a significant sulphur 
concentration on congested roads and in traffic jams. 
The use of a fuel causing little pollution is, therefore, 
most essential. 
1.6.3. Furthermore, the marketing of two types of 
motor fuel could complicate the organization of 
distribution and create price distortions between the 
zones. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Articles 5 and 6 
2.1.1. The Committee notes that work on the 
establishment of objective criteria has not yet reached 
the stage where it would be possible to include 
criteria in the present proposed Directive. The Committee, however, approves the Commission's 
intention of examining the individual national 
measures on the basis of such criteria, as soon as new 
information concerning levels of atmospheric 
pollution is available (Article 6). 
2.1.2. The Committee also notes that, whatever 
the legal significance of the date specified in Article 6, 
the Commission has expressed its intention of 
making a complete review of the situation and 
drawing up appropriate proposals by 1 October 1980 
at the very latest. This being so, the Committee 
endorses the provisions of these two Articles. 
2.2. Article 7 
2.2.1. The Committee notes that the method of 
determining the sulphur content of gas oil, which is 
to be defined in European Standard (CEN) No 316, 
has not yet been published; this analysis method, 
which has long been tested by the American Society 
for Testing and Materials will have to be published 
before the date for the first stage set out in Article 2 
of the proposal, namely 1 October 1976. 
Done at Brussels, 28 November 1974. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Henri CANONGE 
ANNEX 
to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
The following amendment, tabled in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Rules of 
Procedure, was rejected during the discussion. 
Replace point 1.1 by the following: 
'1.1. The proposal provides for the marketing of two categories of gas oil. Firstly, type A, 
which has a low sulphur content and which it will be permissible to use anywhere in the 
Community. 
Secondly, type B, which has a higher sulphur content and which will only be permissible 
in certain regions or zones determined by the Member States. 
The Committee deplores the proposed creation of zones. Even if objective methods of 
measuring permissible pollution levels existed, zoning is liable to be arbitrary because of 
the variations in the intensity of pollution which are caused by seasonal factors, the 
weather, and differences in the degree and type of industrialization. The terms of com­
petition may be distorted as a result. 
23.1.75 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 16/9 
Furthermore, if the proposal is adopted, firms using type B will have lower costs than 
those using type A, even though the former causes more pollution. This is a very strange 
way of applying the "polluter pays" principle. 
Finally, a zoning would cause particular problems for rail and road transport.' 
Insert points 1.6.1 (second sentence), 1.6.2 and 1.6.3 after new point 1.1. 
Point 1.1 (c) and the present point 1.2 now become point 1.2. 
Point 1.3 should have the heading '1.3. Special cases'. 
Delete points 1.3.1 and 1.3.2. 
1.3.3: delete 'further' in the first line. 
1.3.4: delete. 
1.4.1: delete the first two sentences. 
1.6 to 1.6.3: delete. 
• 
2. Specific comments 
Delete points 2.1, 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 and replace them by: 
'2.1. The Committee proposes the following amendments to individual Articles: 
2.1.1. Article 1 
The Committee is of the opinion that no distinction should be made between regions and 
zones of the Community in which gas oil with a different sulphur content can be used; for 
this reason it proposes that Article 1 (2) and (3) be deleted.' 
2.1.2. Article 2 
For the reasons indicated in the comments on Article 1, the Committee proposes that Article 2 
be amended to read: 
'Article 2 
The Member States shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that gas oils shall be made 
available for sale in the Community only if their sulphur compound content, calculated 
as sulphur, does not exceed 0-5 % in weight as from 1 October 1980 and 0-3 % in weight 
as from 1 October 1985.' 
2.1.3. Article S 
For the same reasons the Committee suggests that this Article be deleted. 
2.1.4. Article 6 
The reference to Article 5 in the second line of this Article should be deleted. 
Result of the vote 
for: 28 
against: 38 
abstentions: 12. 
No C 16/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 75 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a programme of tech­
nological research in the textile sector 
The text referred to the Committee was published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 133 of 29 October 1974, pages 7 and 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 30 September 1974, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal 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 125th plenary session, 
held in Brussels on 28 November 1974. 
The Opinion is published below: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the referral on 1 October 1974 by 
the Council of the European Communities of the 
proposal for a Council Decision establishing a 
programme of technological research in the textile 
sector; 
Having regard to Article 198 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community; 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
8 October 1974, instructing the Section for Industry, 
Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up an 
Opinion and a report on the matter; 
Having regard to the Opinion adopted by the Section 
for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at its 
meeting on 6 November 1974; 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
Rapporteur, Mr de Precigout; 
Having regard to the discussions at its 125th plenary 
session of 28 November 1974, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
with no dissenting votes and 11 abstentions: 
The Economic and Social Committee approves the 
proposal, subject to the following comments: 1. General comments 
1.1. Textile manufacturing occupies an important 
position in the economy of the Community. In 1972 
3-6 million metric tons of cotton, wool, linen and 
chemical fibres were processed by the industry. 
1.2. The textile industry employs just over 2-5 
million people, or four million if we include those 
working in the clothing industry. These figures 
represent 5 % and 8 % respectively of the total 
industrial labour force of the Community. 
1.3. In 1972 trade within the enlarged Community 
in manufactured textiles and clothing was worth 
7 400 million units of account, i.e. nearly 10 % of 
intra-Community trade. The sector's net exports were 
worth 1 000 million units of account — exports to 
non-member countries amounted to 4 600 million 
units of account —^ whilst imports from non-member 
countries came to 3 600 million units of account, 
i.e. 6-8 % and 5-2 % respectively of total Community 
trade with non-member countries. 
1.4. Even though substantial structural changes 
have been carried through in recent years, there are 
still a large number of medium-sized undertakings in 
the textile industry. As a result, a number of research 
projects are carried out on a collective basis in each 
of the Community countries. 
1.5. It is most desirable that alignment and 
coordination of this research be encouraged. The