No C 332/66 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 90 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the setting-up of a model scheme for 
information on rural development initiatives and agricultural markets (MIRIAM) (*) 
(90/C 332/19) 
On 26 June 1990 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Com­
mittee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 6 September 1990 (Rapporteur: Mr Serra 
Caracciolo). 
At its 279th plenary session (meeting of 19 September 1990) the Economic and Social 
Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 
1. General observations 
1.1. The Committee welcomes the setting-up of a 
network of information centers for the general purpose 
of facilitating rural development and the more specific 
purpose of promoting know-how—and hence the more 
effective exploitation of agricultural markets. Particular 
attention will have to be paid to make sure that each 
centre performs its function as an information clearing­
house interlinked with Euro-information centres, 
BC-Net, etc. There should be no duplication of work 
and all synergistic combinations should be encouraged. 
1.2. The Committee has no hesitation in endorsing 
the aim of reinforcing the agricultural information sys­
tem. However, the number of centres envisaged in the 
proposal still seems to fall far short of what is needed 
in the light of today's increased requirements. 
1.2.1. It must also be remembered that the proposed 
pooling of data will enable occupational organizations 
already active in this sector to use resources in order 
to set up and/or develop their own service structures. 
1.3. At first glance, 90 000 ECU seems insufficient 
to get a centre off the ground, especially as a single 
full-time worker at central unit level costs 100 000 
ECU a year. The arrangements for completing funding 
should also be spelt out more clearly. 
1.3.1. The Committee notes that the financial 
resources of the Social Fund may also be used to this 
end. 
1.4. The types of information which the centres will 
be expected to provide to users, though not complete 
(e.g. data on national and regional laws and measures, 
on environmental policy and on international markets 
are not included), are extensive and will undoubtedly 
be of great assistance to farmers. 
1.5. The Committee believes that the details (staff, 
structure, etc.) of the centres should be spelt out more clearly and a more detailed description given of the 
feature of the 'host organizations' with a view to greater 
transparency so as to facilitate access by occupational 
organizations, or their service units, already active in 
the field of agricultural training. 
1.6. The Committee considers it vitally important to 
ensure that the centres are as autonomous as possible 
vis-a-vis industrial and commercial operators, particu­
larly in respect of certain production and market infor­
mation. Harmonious cooperation and coordination 
with industrial and commercial sectors is nevertheless 
essential if farming is to be carried out efficiently. 
1.7. The Committee is pleased that the Commission 
will also be sending it the annual 'evaluative report'. 
This is what the Committee wants and has been repeat­
edly calling for. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Second indent of Article 2 
The Committee proposes that the second indent of 
Article 2 be worded as follows: 
'the provision of information on agricultural mar­
kets and on the quality standards applicable dom­
estically and in other countries.' 
2.2. Article 4 
(!) OJ No C 158, 28. 6. 1990, p. 8. The Committee proposes that the words 'shall 
31. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 332/67 
endeavour' be replaced by the word 'undertakes'. It 
also proposes that the words 'promoting and financing 
Done at Brussels, 19 September 1990. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The Committee adopted on 29 February 1990 an 
Opinion I1) on the Commission's proposal that farmers 
participating in the set-aside scheme should under cer­
tain conditions be allowed to produce cereals for non­
food use. 
1.2. The proposal was attached to a report which 
Council had requested on the 'Use of Agricultural Com­
modities in the Non-food Sector' (COM(89) 597 final). 
Given the very short time available, the Committee in 
its Opinion concentrated on the detailed proposals, 
giving notice that it wished to state its view on the 
more general aspects of the report in an additional 
Opinion. The Opinion was to be drawn up in the 
Opinion on increasing the use of agricultural and for­
estry resources in the non-food industrial and energy 
sectors: prospects opened up by research and techno­
logical innovation, which was adopted on 29 March 
1990 (2). 
(!) OJ No C 112, 7. 5. 1990, p. 13. 
(2) OJ No C 124, 21. 5. 1990, p. 13. all necessary publicity' be added at the end of the 
sentence. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
1.3. In the event the above mentioned Opinion went 
far beyond research and technology, covering also many 
of the specific and general aspects raised in the Com­
mission's report. It is therefore only necessary to issue 
a brief additional Opinion, principally conforming the 
conclusions of the earlier Opinion. 
2. General 
2.1. The search for non-food uses of agricultural 
commodities in the Community stems from the inexor­
able increases in yields per hectare and per animal 
which far outweigh the rise in effective demand for 
food. Unless therefore the upward trend in yields is 
stemmed, or other new markets for farm produce can 
be found, progressively less land will be required to 
supply the Community's demand for food and to pro­
vide for normal export needs. The Commission has 
estimated that 11-13 million hectares, or some 10 per 
cent of the Community's total farming area will have 
to be taken out of production to eradicate surplus 
output. This is bound to lead to rural depopulation. Additional Opinion on the use of agricultural commodities in the non-food sector 
(90/C 332/20) 
On 27 February 1990 the Economic and Social Committee, acting under the third paragraph 
of Article 20 of its Rules of Procedure, decided to draw up an additional Opinion on the use 
of agricultural commodities in the non-food sector (report from the Commission to the 
Council). 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Com­
mittee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 6 September 1990. The Rapporteur 
was Mr Strauss. 
At its 279th plenary session (meeting of 19 September 1990), the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following additional Opinion with no votes against and 3 abstentions.