9. 6. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 138/9 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation for a common measure to stimulate the 
improvement of public facilities in certain less-favoured areas of the Federal Republic of 
Germany 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 314 of 2 December 1980, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 3 December 1980 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 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 
185 th plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 February 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the request from the Council of the 
European Communities on 3 December 1980 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation for 
a common measure to stimulate the improvement of 
public facilities in certain less-favoured areas of the 
Federal Republic of Germany (•), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
9 December 1980 instructing the Section for 
Agriculture to do the preparatory work on the 
matter, 
Having regard to previous work on farm structures, 
in particular the opinions of 24 October 1979 (2) and 
2 July 1980, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section 
on 8 January 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Wick, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 185 th plenary 
session, held on 25 and 26 February 1981. General comments 
The proposed Regulation is to apply to certain less-
favoured areas within the meaning of Council 
Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain 
and hill farming and farming in certain less-favoured 
areas. 
Improving the inadequate public amenities and 
water engineering facilities in such areas is a suitable 
step to take to improve working conditions and 
production in agriculture. 
The Committee is aware of the economic and social 
difficulties of the agricultural sector in the less-
favoured areas of the Federal Republic of Germany 
and therefore welcomes the Commission's 
proposal. 
However, it thinks that the following provisions 
should be reconsidered. 
Demarcation of areas 
(1) OJ No C 314, 2. 12. 1980. 
(2) OJ No C 53, 3. 3. 1980. The proposal to exclude mountain areas from the 
common measure should be reconsidered, because 
No C 138/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 81 
the mountain areas in some regions are at least as 
badly off as adjoining areas receiving a 
compensatory allowance. 
The amount of aid granted from the Fund 
The Committee would point out that in its earlier 
opinions the ESC came out in favour of a maximum 
subsidy from the EAGGF for such programmes of 
40 %. 
Done at Brussels, on 25 February 1981. Settlement procedure 
The Commission's proposal gives cause to point out 
some provisions of the settlement procedure where 
simplification with the aim of greater efficiency 
would be possible. 
One of these is the procedure for submitting 
documents; in addition, intervening changes in 
intended plans could contribute towards a more 
efficient implementation. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE