No C 23/52 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 1.84 
The rest of the negotiating period should be used: 
— to find solutions to the problem of integrating 
Portuguese and Spanish farmers in the common 
agricultural policy at a cost acceptable to the 
enlarged Community, 
— to give urgent attention to the vexed fisheries 
issue, 
— to study the consequences of enlargement on 
trade agreements with non-Community Medi­
terranean countries and to create the conditions 
for the implementation of an overall Mediterra­
nean policy, 
— to set differentiated transitional periods: 
(a) which would make it possible in the indus­
trial sector to rectify, as soon as possible, 
the tariff, quota and fiscal imbalances 
which some Community industries have 
suffered from as a result of the 1970 trade 
agreement, (b) which would permit the effective introduc­
tion of VAT in Spain from the beginning of 
the transitional period, 
(c) which would be sufficiently long in the agri­
cultural sector to allow harmonious integra­
tion of the respective farm policies and give 
Spanish agriculture a more appropriate 
access to the market place in future, 
(d) which, as far as the free movement of work­
ers is concerned, would be based on the 
transitional periods agreed with Greece. 
The Committee considers it a matter of urgency that 
the EEC should solve its own domestic problems 
rapidly so that the Community can be consolidated 
and the door opened to enlargement. 
This present opinion does no more than take a stand 
in principle on the present state of the 'Enlarge­
ment' dossier. The Committee will draw up a 
detailed opinion at a later date on the problems of 
particular concern to socio-economic groups. 
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the Commission's proposals concerning integrated Mediterranean 
programmes 
(84/C 23/18) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 251 of 19 August 1983, page 1. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 2 September 1983 the Council, acting under the optional consultation clause of the 
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, decided to ask the Economic 
and Social Committee for an opinion on the abovementioned matter. 
30. 1. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 23/53 
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. 
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, 
Having regard to the Commission's proposals con­
cerning integrated Mediterranean programmes, 
Having regard to the decisions taken on 23 and 
24 March and on 27 and 28 April 1983 by its plenary 
assembly, following a proposal from the Bureau, to 
draw up an opinion on integrated Mediterranean 
programmes and to set up a sub-committee for that 
purpose, 
Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Lauga, 
Having regard to the discussions of the Sub-Com­
mittee on Integrated Mediterranean Programmes at 
its meeting on 22 November 1983, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
24 November 1983 (212th plenary session of 23 and 
24 November 1983), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Economic and Social Committee has on 
several occasions expressed its concern at the grow­
ing imbalances between Community regions and, in 
particular, at the accumulated lack of development 
of those in the Mediterranean area. 
The Committee therefore welcomes the Commis­
sion's initiative regarding integrated Mediterranean 
programmes, to the extent that the first thing to do is 
to bring about a state of balance between the differ­
ent regions in the EEC in accordance with the 
objectives of the Treaty of Rome. 
However, the Committee will issue a detailed and 
comprehensive opinion as soon as possible on the 
content of and procedures provided for in the Com­
mission's proposals. 2. The Committee particularly agrees with the 
Commission that financial resources utilized for 
integrated Mediterranean programmes should 
ensure a more efficient use of the various Com­
munity and national financial schemes, thanks to 
the overall and multisectoral approach adopted. It 
feels that, as well as agriculture, which is still the 
main activity in most of the regions concerned, the 
programmes must at the same time cover all infras­
tructures and all the potential of the different econo­
mic and social sectors. In order to achieve this same 
objective of greater efficiency, it will therefore be 
necessary to employ all the resources offered by the 
different funds while at the same time ensuring that 
the measures thus implemented are closely 
coordinated at all times. 
3. The Committee would stress that, to be success­
ful, these programmes must be backed up by a mas­
sive campaign to make the professional organiza­
tions of the populations concerned really informed 
about and aware of them; it fully intends to play its 
part here. 
4. In addition, there must be close collaboration 
between the Commission, national authorities and 
local authorities in the regions concerned, so that the 
content of the programmes and the way in which 
they are implemented are tailored as closely as pos­
sible to the specific needs and requirements of each 
area. The structure for consultation and coordina­
tion planned by the Commission will have to take 
account of these requirements. Moreover, its activity 
will have to continue beyond the six years planned 
for putting the programmes into effect, so as to 
ensure that the results obtained are analyzed and 
followed up over the longer term. 
5. The Committee is aware that the Commission's 
proposals come at a difficult time for the economy 
and the budget. The greatest strictness will therefore 
have to be exercised when implementing the pro­
grammes. 
6. The success of this enterprise will largely 
depend on the Commission's future attitude 
towards regional development policy, as too will the 
No C 23/54 . Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 1. 84 
chances of achieving the internal balance which is 
vital to the Community's future. 
7. The Committee therefore calls upon the relevant 
Community authorities, and particularly the Euro­pean Council to be held in Athens in December 
1983, to shoulder their respective responsibilities 
and take the decisions necessary for the rapid imple­
mentation of this initiative to help the least-
favoured regions of the Community. 
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the draft Council recommendation on the reduction and reorganization of 
working time 
(84/C 23/19) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 290 of 26 October 1983, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 6 October 1983 the Council, acting under the optional consultation clause of the 
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community decided to ask the Economic 
and Social Committee for an opinion on the abovementioned matter. 
The Section for Social Questions was instructed to prepare the opinion, and Mr Ber-
etta was appointed as rapporteur. 
The Section opinion was adopted by 24 votes to 16, with six abstentions, at the meet­
ing of 10 November 1983. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The opinion of the Economic and Social Committee was adopted by 76 votes to 53, 
with 11 abstentions, during the discussions at its plenary session held on 23 and 
24 November 1983 (recorded vote). 
The full text of the opinion is as follows. 
1. The Committee considers that, by calling on the 
Council to issue a recommendation to the Member 
States, the Commission is making an important, 
however partial, contribution towards reducing and 
reorganizing working time. The Committee supports 
the draft recommendation, for the following rea­
sons. 2. The draft recommendation is consonant with a 
series of opinions issued by the Economic and 
Social Committee and the European Parliament, 
which has called for a significant reduction, capable 
of having a marked impact on the employment mar­
ket, in (i) daily, weekly and/or yearly working time 
and (ii) the total length of working careers.