No C 227/26 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 10. 9. 79 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the  approximation  of the  laws  of the 
Member  States  relating  to safety  requirements  for power  cranes  for building  work 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 25 of 29 January  1979,  page  9. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 19 December  1978  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 168th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 May  1979. 
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  100 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  made  by the  Council  on 
19 December  1978  for an opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
18 December  1978  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up an opinion  on 
the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  at its meeting 
held  on 25 April  1979, 
Having  regard  to the report  submitted  by the rapporteur, 
Mr Marvier, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 168th  plenary 
session  held  on 22 and  23 May  1979  (meeting  of 22 May 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the  Commission's 
proposal  and  in particular  the definition  of tower  cranes 
for building  work  as given  in Article  1 (2). 2. Flowever,  the Committee  thinks  that  the definition 
of those  types  of crane  not covered  by the Directive  could 
be improved,  in particular  'power-driven  mobile  jib 
cranes  which  may  be fitted  with  a tower  attachment'. 
The Committee  accepts  the  exclusion  of this  type  of 
crane  provided  that  it really  applies  to standard  mobile 
cranes  on which  the  tower  attachment  and  jib are  not 
part of the permanent  equipment  and  provided  that  these 
cranes  are not  used  intensively.  On the  other  hand,  for 
reasons  of competition  and  safety,  this  Directive  should 
apply  to mobile  cranes  with  a tower  attachment: 
— if the tower  and  jib are part  of the basic  equipment  of 
this mobile  crane  or if the tower  and  the  jib are the 
only  accessory  equipment  which  has  been  sold  with 
this crane, 
— if the equipment  consisting  of the tower  and  the jib is 
intended  for intensive  work,  i.e. a rate  of work  equal 
to or exceeding  five  lowering  operations  per hour. 
In this  connection  it would  like  the  Commission  to 
submit  supplementary  Directives  in this  field  as soon  as 
possible. 
3. Since  the Directive  makes  fairly  radical  changes  to 
the structure,  operating  mechanisms  and  cabins  of tower 
cranes,  and  as a consequence  production  plans  and 
procedures  will  have  to be adapted,  the Directive  should 
not be implemented  after  it is adopted  until  a reasonable 
period  has  elapsed,  two  years  at least,  and  should  not 
apply  to cranes  put  into  service  before  this  period. 
10. 9. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 227/27 
4. Subject  to these  reservations  and  the  safety 
problems  raised,  the  Committee  is in favour  of total 
harmonization  in this  field. 
5. The  Committee  draws  the Commission's  attention 
firstly  to the  need  to revise  the  translation  of certain 
technical  terms  so as to avoid  difficulties  in the 
implementation  of the  Directive,  and  secondly  to a 
Done  at Brussels,  22 May  1979. number  of technical  comments  which  are contained  in its 
report. 
6. The  Committee  would  point  out  the  need  to 
supplement  this  Directive  by another  Directive  on the 
rules  for  design  proposed  in Chapter  IV  of the 
explanatory  memorandum  and  would  urge  that  this  be 
drawn  up and  put  forward  for  discussion  as soon  as 
possible. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a second  five-year  programme  (1980  to 1984)  on radioactive 
waste  management  and  storage  (indirect  action) 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 80 of 27 March  1979,  page  9. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 March  1979  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  7 of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Atomic  Energy  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 168th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 May  1979. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Atomic  Energy  Community,  and  in particular  Article  7 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  on 
14 March  1979  for an opinion, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
3 April  1979  instructing  the  Section  for  Energy  and 
Nuclear  Questions  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  Committee's  opinion  of 29 May 
1975  approving  the memorandum  from  the Commission 
to the Council  concerning  the programme  on radioactive 
waste,  management  and  storage  (J), 
(') OJ  No C 263,  11. 11. 1975,  p. 46. Having  regard  to the Committee's  opinions  of 27 April 
1978  on (a),  the communication  from  the Commission 
to the Council  entitled  'The  fast-breeder  option  in the 
Community  context  —  Justification,  achievements, 
problems  and  action  perspective'  (b),  'The  points  for a 
Community  strategy  on the  reprocessing  of irradiated 
nuclear  fuels'  and  (c),  the communication  from  the 
Commission  to the  Council  on a Community  plan  of 
action  in the field  of radioactive  wastes  (2) (3) (4), 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Energy  and  Nuclear  Questions  at its 48th  meeting  held 
on 27 April  1979, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by the 
rapporteur,  Mr von  der Decken, 
(2) OJ  No C 269,  13.  11. 1978,  p. 12. 
(3) OJ  No C 269,  13.  11. 1978,  p. 15. 
(4) OJ  No C 269,  13.  11. 1978,  p. 18.