No C 341/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12. 83 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION: 
unanimously: 
The Committee approves the Commission proposal. 
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fran<?ois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to the power take-offs of wheeled agricultural and forestry 
tractors and their protection 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 164 of 23 June 1983, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 7 June 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 
210th plenary session held in Brussels on 28 and 29 September 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, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 7 June 1983 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on 
the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to the power take-offs of wheeled agricul­
tural and forestry tractors and their protection, Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman, 
instructing the Section for Industry, Commerce, 
Crafts and Services to draw up an opinion and 
report on the matter (decision of 12 July 1983), 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at 
its meeting on 7 September 1983, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the rappor­
teur, Mr Masprone, 
Having regard to the discussions on 28 September 
1983 during the 210th plenary session held on 28 
and 29 September 1983, 
19. 12.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/3 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a unanimous vote: 
The Committee approves the Commission's pro­
posal subject to the following comments: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee is pleased to note that in the 
third recital the Commission stresses the need to 
apply the principles of accident prevention in the 
design and construction of agricultural plant and 
machinery too. This meets the wish expressed by the 
Committee in its opinion of 6 July 1983 on another 
draft Directive on the roll-over protection structures 
of'vineyard'tractors (')• 
2. Specific comments 
Article 1.2 
2.1. The Committee draws the Commission's 
attention to the need to lay down ad hoc rules for 
(') OJ No C 286, 26. 10. 1983, p. 2. the power take-offs and their protective guards on 
certain types of tractor (e.g. vineyard, stilt, etc.) on 
account of the particular characteristics of these 
tractors. 
2.2. Consequently the Committee calls on the 
Commission to redraft Article 1.2 to take into 
account this need, either by excluding these tractors 
from the scope of the Directive, or by amending 
Tables 5 and 6 in Annex I, or by limiting its applica­
tion to the 'standard' tractors defined in Directives 
77/536/EEC and 79/622/EEC. 
Article 4.1 
The Committee calls for the removal of the deadline 
of 1 October 1984. Instead it would like to see the 
Member States given 18 months in which to comply 
with the Directive starting from the time the Direc­
tive is adopted by the Council. 
Annexes 
The Committee has also made several technical 
comments which are contained in the section's 
report (CES 649/83). 
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the communication from the Commission to the Council on a transport 
infrastructure experimental programme 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 23 December 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198, first paragraph, 
second sentence 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 
210th plenary session held in Brussels on 28 and 29 September 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: