No C 23/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 1. 84 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on special measures in favour of 
Greece in the social field 
(84/C 23/11) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 232 of 30 August 1983, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 19 September 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community. 
Procedure 
This matter was referred to the Section for Social Questions, and Mr Jaques van 
Melckenbeke was appointed rapporteur. 
The Section adopted its opinion unanimously on 10 November 1983. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Committee adopted its opinion unanimously at its 212th plenary session, held on 
23 and 24 November 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee generally approves the propo­
sal for a Council Regulation on special measures in 
favour of Greece in the social field. 
It considers that financial help should be given by 
the Community to enable Greece (a) to bring itself 
into line soon with the other Member States as 
regards both vocational training and treatment and 
rehabilitation of the mentally ill and the mentally 
handicapped, and (b) to benefit subsequently from 
the European funds on an equitable basis. 
1.2. The Committee also notes that the financial 
support to be given to Greece will be based on pro­
grammes to be drawn up by that country in accord­
ance with the rules set out in the Regulation. The 
Commission will be able to make recommenda­
tions; precise deadlines are laid down and provision 
is made for checks. 2. Specific comments 
2.1. The Committee points out that after the 
phrase 'Having regard to the opinion of the Euro­
pean Parliament' at the beginning of the Regulation, 
the following should be inserted: 'Having regard to 
the opinion of the Economic and Social Com­
mittee'. 
2.2. According to Article 4 (2), the Commission 
will have the right to make recommendations to 
Greece concerning the programmes proposed by 
that country. 
The Committee thinks that this right to make recom­
mendations concerning the programmes, which 
should form part of Greek general policy, could lead 
to a refusal of financial support if the consultation 
process does not result in compliance with 
Articles 1, 2 and 3. 
2.3. The Committee proposes that the words 'pre­
paratory work' in Article 6 (1) (c) be replaced by 
30. 1.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 23/25 
'preparatory studies' so as to make clearer the scope 
of this provision. 
2.4. The Committee wonders whether it is desira­
ble to set up a committee composed of representa­
tives of the Member States. This formula, which is 
adopted in other Community Regulations, is liable 
to prolong the decision-making process. Will it be 
useful, given that provision will have to be made 
each year in the Community budget (under the 
heading of non-compulsory expenditure) for the 
annual sums specified in the two financial sheets? 
2.5. The Committee also wonders about the desira­
bility of a four-year deadline for taking stock of the 
Done at Brussels, 23 November 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100 thereof, application of this Regulation. Would it not be bet­
ter to reduce this period by one or two years? 
2.6. The Committee hopes that this Regulation 
will make it possible to finance coordinated pro­
grammes suited to the needs of the persons in ques­
tion. The Committee stresses in this connection that 
the execution and financial monitoring of these pro­
grammes ought primarily to be service-oriented 
rather than strictly accountancy-oriented. The key 
element of evaluation, in place of potential bureau­
cratic trappings, ought to be the amount of ground­
work achieved and actual aid provided in real, 
human terms to the trainees, to the sick and to the 
mentally handicapped in question. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Having Regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 27 April 1983 for 
an opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive 
on the combating of air pollution from industrial 
plants, Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the combating of air pollution from 
industrial plants 
(84/C 23/12) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 139 of 27 May 1983, page 5 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 April 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 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 
212th plenary session held in Brussels on 23 and 24 November 1983.