No C 105/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 4. 79 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation providing for an aid for degerming maize 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 172 of 19 July 1978, page 15. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 14 July 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 47 ot 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 162nd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 18 and 19 October 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 47 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 14 July 1978 for an opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
11 July 1978 instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
draw up an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Agriculture at its meeting held on 7 September 1978, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in 
particular Article 18 thereof, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the 
rapporteur-general, Mr Masprone, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 162nd plenary 
session held on 18 and 19 October 1978 (meeting of 
19 October), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee agrees with the Commission proposal 
subject to the following comments. 1. When the latest farm price proposals were being 
adopted in May 1978, the Commission notified the 
Council of its intention to examine the question of aid 
for the degermination of maize. The proposal now under 
discussion to some extent stems from this statement of 
intent. 
2. The Committee notes that the proposed aid scheme 
for the degermination of maize is limited to a period of 
three years running from 1 January 1979 and that the 
object of the scheme is to overcome a specific economic 
problem currently facing the Community: a strong 
demand for maize germ oil but a shortage of supplies of 
the raw material, i.e. the maize germs from which the oil 
is extracted. This shortage is particularly prevalent in 
certain regions of the Community. 
3. The Committee approves the level of aid proposed. 
It considers that the amount laid down (a), takes account 
of the objectives pursued (b), is based on the actual cost 
of degermination, and (c), takes into consideration the 
effect of aid already given to other industrial sectors 
where degermination is carried out (starch, maize groats 
for brewing). 
4. The Committee nevertheless feels that the proposal 
should lay down the qualitative criteria which maize 
germs will have to satisfy in order to be eligible for aid. 
26. 4. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 105/11 
5. The Committee is of the view that the Commission 
will have to draw up a report on the impact ot the new 
scheme - and particularly its impact on the overall 
vegetable oil market of the Community which is part of 
the wider common policy on fats and oils. This report 
should be presented in sufficient time to enable the 
Council to decide not later than 31 December 1981, and 
Done at Brussels, 19 October 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 2 August 1978 for an 
opinion (1), 
Having regard to Council Directive 75/130/EEC of 
17 February 1975 (2), and in particular the second 
paragraph of Article 7 thereof, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Committee 
on 26 October 1972 (3), 
(') OJ No C 185, 3. 8. 1978, p. 3. 
(2) OJ No L 48, 22. 2. 1975, p. 31. 
(3) OJ No C 131, 13. 12. 1972, p. 21. by a qualified majority, whether to continue or amend 
the system of aid for the degermination of maize. 
The Economic and Social Committee hopes that the 
report will be submitted to it in good time so that it can 
draw up an opinion. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman on 
22 August 1978 instructing the Section for Transport 
and Communications to draw up an opinion on the 
matter (Articles 46 and 47 of the Rules of Procedure), 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section for 
Transport and Communications at its 122nd meeting 
held on 15 November 1978, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Renaud (Article 29 of the Rules of 
Procedure), 
Having regard to the discussions at its 163 rd plenary 
session held on 29 and 30 November 1978 (meeting of 
29 November), 
Whereas Article 7 of the abovementioned Directive of 
17 February 1975 stipulates that the Directive is only to Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 75/130/EEC on the 
establishment of common rules for certain types of combined road/rail carriage of goods 
between Member States 
(Doc. COM(78) final) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 185 of 3 August 1978, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 2 August 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 75 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 163 rd 
plenary session held in Brussels on 29 and 30 November 1978.