No C 211/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
sion to the Council on structures and procedures for 
the common policy in the field of science and tech­
nology' (COM(83) 143 final). 
3.5. The Committee notes the Commission's 
undertaking to review the programme within two 
years. In this connection it trusts that it will then be 
possible to asses the cost-effectiveness of the deci­
sions taken. 
3.6. The Commission document also highlights 
marked inadequacies in the dissemination of infor­
mation on scientific and technological research pro­
grammes. The Committee trusts that the existing 
data exchange system (Euronet, etc.) will be 
improved and that a study will be made of the pos-
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, sibility of setting up a data bank on Community 
scientific and technical research programmes. This 
would foster a fruitful interplay of the factors influ­
encing the innovative process; human and technol­
ogical resources, funding and markets. 
It should also be possible to obtain general informa­
tion on national budgets, policies and priorities, and 
medium-term programmes in the scientific and tech­
nological research field. 
3.7. The Committee believes that the framework 
programme could and should become a major pillar 
of a future Community policy on research and 
development, as such it is well-suited for bringing a 
Community industrial policy one step closer. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Having regard to the Council's request of 31 May 
1983 for an opinion on the proposal for a Council 
Decision on the framework programme for Com­
munity scientific and technical activities 1984-1987, Opinion on the proposals for a Council Decision on the framework programme for 
Community scientific and technical activities 1984-1987 
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 31 May 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
8.8.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/33 
Having regard to the decision by the its Bureau on 
31 May 1983 appointing Mr Drago as rapporteur-
general to draw up an opinion on the matter. 
Having regard to the opinion drawn up by the Com­
mittee on 1 June 1983 on the communication from 
the Commission to the Council entitled: 'Proposals 
for a European Scientific and Technical Strategy: 
Framework Programme 1984-1987' (COM(82) 865 
final of 21 December 1982), 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rappor­
teur-general, Mr Drago, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
1 June 1983 (208th plenary session of 1 and 2 June 
1983), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the Proposal for a 
Council Decision on the framework programme for 
Community scientific and technical activities 1984-
1987. 
2. In thus approving the proposal, the Committee 
takes cognizance of the fact that the fundamental 
part of this proposal is contained in Annex I, being 
the communication from the Commission to the 
Council entitled: 'Proposals for a European Scien­
tific and Technical Strategy: Framework Programme 
1984-1987' on which the Committee has already 
given a favourable opinion ('). 3. As for the supplementary material contained in 
Annex II (clarifications and adjustments made by 
the Commission in respect of the initial proposals 
put forward in COM(82) 865 final), the Committee 
concurs with the Commission that this does not call 
into question the overall package and the main indi­
cations of priority of the original proposals on 
which the Committee has given a favourable opi­
nion. 
4. The Committee would stress, however, that in 
its opinion on the original proposals ('), the Com­
mittee asked for a shift away from certain pro­
grammes to the advantage of: 
— areas with a bearing on agricultural competitive­
ness (new products, quality improvements, new 
production processes, marginal land), 
— areas with a bearing on industrial competitive­
ness (traditional industries, technical barriers), 
— development aid — transfer of technologies that 
facilitate adaptation, 
— improvement of living and working conditions. 
5. In fact, as the following table clearly shows, the 
Commissions, in formulating the draft Decision, fol­
lowing the Council's examination and discussion on 
8 February 1983 of the Commission's original pro­
posals for a framework programme, has only met 
the Committee's recommendation in one respect 
namely a proportional increase in research into 
improving living and working conditions: 
(') See opinion of the Committee published in this edi­
tion of the Official Journal, page 28. 
Table summarizing the objectives and the amounts considered necessary to achieve them 
(Current proposal as compared with the original proposal contained in the Communication 
COM(82) 865 final on which the Committee gave its opinion (CES 547/83)) 
1. Promoting agricultural competitiveness 
— developing agricultural productivity and 
improving products: 
— agriculture 
— fisheries 
2. Promoting industrial competitiveness 
— removing and reducing impediments 
— new techniques and products for the 
conventional industries 
— new technologies Current proposal 
million 
ECU(') 
130 
115 
15 
1 060 
30 
350 
680 % 
3,5 
28,2 Original proposal 
million 
ECU(') 
130 
115 
15 
1 060 
30 
350 
680 °/0 
3,5 
28,2 
(') In ECU at 1982 constant values. 
No C 211/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
3. Improving the management of raw materials 
4. Improving the management of energy resources 
— developing nuclear fission energy 
— controlled thermonuclear fusion 
— developing renewable energy sources 
— rational use of energy 
5. Reinforcing development aid 
6. Improving living and working conditions 
— improving safety and protecting health 
— protecting the environment 
7. Improving the efficacy of the Community's 
scientific and technical potential 
8. Horizontal activities Current proposal 
million 
ECU(') 
80 
1 770 
460 
480 
310 
520 
150 
385 
190 
195 
85 
90 
3 750 % 
2,1 
47,2 
4,0 
10,3 
2,3(2) 
2,4 
100,0 Original proposal 
million 
ECU(') 
80 
1 850 
540 
480 
310 
520 
150 
270 
110 
160 
85 
110 
3 750 % 
2,1 
49,4 
4,0 
7,2 
2,9 
100,0 
(') In ECU at 1982 constant values. 
(;) Corresponds to 5 % by the end of the period. 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council resolution on the implementation, in stages, of a 
series of measures in the field of the common policy for inland transport and the 
communication from the Commission to the Council on progress towards a common 
transport policy — inland transport 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 154 of 13 June 1983, page 1. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 1 March 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal and communica­
tion to the Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 75 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: