No C 61/24 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 10. 3. 77 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for a Council  Regulation  laying  down  special  measures  in 
respect  of the Beneventano  variety  of tobacco 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 21 of 28 January  1977,  page  2. 
On 20 January  1977,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  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 
145th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 January  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 1.0. The  Committee  approves  the  Commission's 
proposal. 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an opinion  made 
by the  Council  of the  European  Communities  on 
20 January  1977, 1.1. The  Committee  agrees  with  the Commission 
that the  quantity  of Beneventano  tobacco  held  by 
the intervention  agency  has  reached  alarming  levels 
in recent  years,  such  as to cause  a net loss  for the 
Guarantee  Section  of the  EAGGF.  The  situation 
therefore  justifies  use being  made  of Article  13 of the 
basic  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  727/70  of 
21 April  1970  ('). Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to its decision  of 26 January  1977  to 
appoint  a rapporteur-general  under  Article  18 of the 
Rules  of Procedure,  in view  of the  urgency  of the 
matter, 1.2. The  Committee  thinks  that  the Commission's 
proposals  are  good  ones  and  likely  to achieve  the 
desired  objectives,  since  they  aim  to  (i)  stop 
Beneventano  tobacco  being  cultivated  when  there  is 
no consumer  demand  for  it and  (ii)  encourage 
growers  to switch  to other  crops. Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur-General,  Mr Caprio, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 145th  plenary 
session  of 26 and  27 January  1977  (meeting  of 
26 January  1977), 1.3. The  Committee  is particularly  glad  that  the 
measures  proposed  by the  Commission  will  reduce 
the charges  on the Guarantee  Section  of the EAGGF, 
safeguard  the  incomes  of the  tobacco  growers 
concerned  and  protect  jobs  in the tobacco  processing 
industry  in the  area  affected,  especially  those  in 
cooperatives. 
by a large  majority  with  two  abstentions: M OJ  No L 94, 28. 4. 1970. 
10. 3. 77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 61/25 
2.1. Finally,  the Committee,  while  recognizing  the 
practical  difficulties  faced  by the  Commission  and 
the need  to adopt  the proposed  Regulation  in good 
time  for the sowing  of the 1977  tobacco  crop,  regrets that the Council  has  consulted  it at extremely  short 
notice  and  not  given  it enough  time  for  such  an 
important  matter. 
Done  at Brussels,  26 January  1977. 
The Chairman  of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the draft  Commission  recommendation  on vocational  preparation  for young 
people  who  are  unemployed  or threatened  by unemployment 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  not  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of 
the European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 24 September  1976,  the Commission  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  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 
145th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 September  1977. 
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  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made 
by the  Commission  of the  European  Communities 
on 24 September  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau 
on 29 June  1976,  instructing  the Section  for Social 
Questions  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Social  Questions  at  its  meeting  held  on 
13 January  1977, Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Carroll, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 145th  plenary 
session  held  on 26 and  27 January  1977,  sitting  of 
26 January  1977, 
Whereas  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  has 
always  emphasized  that  vocational  preparation  is 
useful  and  necessary  for  social,  economic  and 
technical  development  in Europe; 
Whereas  vocational  preparation  is important  for all 
young  people,  of both  sexes,  especially  those  who 
have  left  school  at the minimum  school-leaving  age 
without  an educational  qualification;  and  who  live