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COM (83) 452 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 174 
  
 
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Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
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COMMISSION O F THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC83) 452 final  
Brussels, 15 July 1983
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
concerning the programme of measures to promote  
the use of fibre flax, for the 1982/83 and  
1983/84 marketing years
C0M(83) 452 final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. Article l(3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1423/82 concerning the  
measures to promote the use of fibre flax for the marketing years from
'1982/83 to 1986/87 provides that the Commission is to forward to the
'  Council the programme of measures it plans to take,  
l ·  ·  >  '  ‘  · ·  . .  -  :  -
‘This Communication confainS the programme of those measures for the first  
two marketing years of the five covered by Regulation (EEC) No 1423/82.
2. The programme covers both information campaigns and the search for new  
outlets, the..latter being limited, however, on account of the research 
measures for the flax, industry covered by the second programme of research  
and development into textiles and clothing.
In the case- of information·, campaigns,  it is proposed allocating the major  
portion· of the funds available to the Community market in view of the  
genuine possibility of increasing the use of flax on that market.
'Tile prospect of expanding markets for flax on one or two of the main  
lion-member country markets will also be examined.
In the case of the Community market,  it has been considered appropriate to  
set aside half of the available‘funds for the clothing industry where flax  
already has a firm foothold and may yet secure a larger share. The other  
half will be for sectors where flax should be able to recover some of the  
markets it has lost and where the less-refined materials can be disposed  
of which the clothing industry is unable to absorb or absorbs to an  
inadequate degree.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL  
concerning the programme of measures to promote the use of fibre flax  
___________ for the 1982/83 and 1983/84 marketing years _______________
1.
 The Council decided, by Regulation (EEC) No 2511/80 (l), that measures  
would be taken to encourage the use of fibre flax for the 1980/81 and  
1981/82 marketing years. These measures, consisting of information  
campaigns and the search for new outlets and improved products, will end  
in December 1983·
Having noted the favourable effect of these measures, the Council decided  
by Regulation (EEC) No 1423/82 (2) that the same measures would be applied  
for a further five marketing years. This Regulation states that the  
measures are to be adopted by the Commission which is to forward to the  
Council the programme of measures which it plans to take. It also states  
that the measures are to be fully financed by withholding a portion of the  
flat-rate aid granted in respect of areas under flax in the Community.
This communication contains the programme which the Commission plans to  
implement for the 1982/83 and 1983/84 marketing years.
Taking into consideration, firstly, the amount of aid withheld for the two  
marketing years in question and, secondly, the area under flax in 1982 and  
that estimated as being under flax in 1983» the amount available works out:
for 1982/83 at: 21.80 ECU/ha x 50.800 ha = 1.107-440 ECU
for 1983/84 at: 23-08 ECU/ha x 53-100 ha = 1.225.548 ECU
totalling: 2.332.988 ECU, or, rounded up: 2.350 million ECU.
2. The Commission believes that the effectiveness of the measures depends  
largely on their continuity, on the premise that a message must be  
repeated sufficiently often if it is to attain its full effect.
It has been observed, moreover, that internationally and within the  
Community 1  he success of a fairly wide-ranging measure concentrating on a  
specific theme or sector far outstrips that obtained with a multitude of  
dispersed and general measures.
(1) OJ No L 256, 1.10.1980, p. 6.
(2) OJ No L 162, 12.06.1982, p. 19-

-  2 -
3. In view of this, the broad lines of the programme of measures planned  
would be the following.
Duration of the programme
In order to ensure the necessaiy continuity, the Commission envisages a  
programme covering the first two marketing years of the five in  
question. It intends, in addition, to present at the appropriate time a  
single programme for the three remaining marketing years. The latter  
would take account of development noted meanwhile both in respect of  
production and consumption.
Information campaigns
Having observed the considerable potential for flax in the clothing  
industry, the Commission feels that information campaigns must focus on  
this exceedingly interesting and attractive industry.
It would be worth intensifying and expanding campaigns undertaken in the  
past (for example, men's and children's clothing, leisurewear, sportswear,  
rainwear, etc.).
Although it seems advisable to ensure that the campaign has an adequate  
geographical spread, the holding of a large-scale demonstration at a  
well-chosen spot would be extremely profitable. The feeling is that to  
hold such a demonstration annually at the same spot would appreciably  
increase its impact.
There is reason to believe that after the implementation during the next  
two marketing years of a well thought out programme concentrating on  
clothing, the intrinsic qualities of flax should in future enable it to  
secure a firm position in the industry. Subsequent information campaigns  
could therefore concentrate more on other sectors such as household linen  
and furnishings, where flax should be capable of recovering certain  
markets, particularly with the younger generation.
With this in view and in preparation for a wide-ranging programme of  
measures in areas other th ’lothing during the three final marketing  
years covered by Regulation 1C) No 1423/83, the Commission proposes to  
undertake now certain measures in those areas within the context of its  
programme for the first two marketing years.
Since Regulation (EEC) No 1423/82 allows measures to be taken elsewhere  
than in the Community, the Commission proposes certains steps to examine  
the prospect of extending outlets for flax on one or two markets in the

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main non-member countries where it already available (the United States,  
Japan). If successful, the campaign on those markets could be stepped up  
ind extended to other markets where appropriate.
The Commission also proposes to conduct information campaigns in areas  
where research carried out over the previous marketing years has disclosed  
genuine possibilities for developing the use of flax.
The search for new outlets
Given the number and quality of the offers received and the research  
measures yet to be carried out in the flax industry under the second  
programme for research and development into textiles and clothing  
(1981-1983), the Commission proposes limiting the amount set aside for  
research to 130.000 ECU (5% of the total).
Included among those measures is a study of the comparative merits of the  
various flax products in relation to consumer requirements, which could be  
worthy of particular attention.
4.  In view of the foregoing, it is proposed allocating 130.000 ECU to  
measures relating to the search for new outlets and new products and
2.200.000 ECU to various information campaigns, including 1.900.000 ECU 
for the Community market.
Half of the 1.900.000 ECU should be reserved for the clothing industry.
The measures should be spread over a two-year period commencing at the end  
of 1983.
5· As in the past, the Commission will take steps, when implementing its  
programme, to avoid duplication, and indeed inconsistency with measures  
undertaken by those in the industry. With this in mind, close  
consultations with the circles concerned will obviously be needed.
6. The allocation of funds described above is for guidance only and the
Commission reserves the right to revise it on the basis of needs arising  
when the detailed programme is being drawn up and, secondly, of the number  
and value of the proposals submitted in relation to the search for new  
outlets and improved products and for the market in non-member countries.  
The Council will be informed of any major changes to the programme.