15.3.75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 62/9 
In view  of this  state  of affairs  and  the  major  risks  which  the  use  of nuclear  energy  involves  for 
the general  public  (including  future  generations),  adequate  solutions  must  first  and  foremost  be 
found  for  the  safety  and  environmental  problems.  Research  in these  areas  is therefore  of the 
greatest  importance. 
Result  of the  vote 
for: 35 
against:  47 
abstentions:  7. 
Opinion  on the Mediterranean  policy  of the Community 
The Opinion  of the Committee  does  not relate  to any  particular  text. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its 126th  plenary  session  held  on 19 December  1974  the  Committee,  acting  on a 
proposal  from  its Bureau,  decided  to deliver  an Opinion  on the abovementioned  subject 
on its own  initiative. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 127th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 29 and  30 January  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the fourth  paragraph  of Article  20 
of its Rules  of Procedure; 
Having  regard  to its decision  on 19 December  1974 
— following  a proposal  from  the  Bureau  — to 
deliver  an Opinion  on the  Mediterranean  policy  of 
the Community; 
Having  regard  to the  study  on  the  agricultural 
aspects  of  the  Mediterranean  policy  of  the 
Community; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for External  Relations  at its meeting  on 14 January 
1975; 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mrs  Baduel  Glorioso; Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 127th  plenary 
session  of 29 and  30 January  1975,  meeting  of 30 
January  1975; 
Whereas  there  have  been  bilateral  agreements 
between  the EEC  and  countries  of the Mediterranean 
basin  since  1961; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  and  proposals  of the 
European  Parliament; 
Whereas  in 1972  the Commission  submitted  proposals 
on an overall  EEC  policy  in the Mediterranean  basin; 
Whereas  decisions  taken  by the October  1972  Paris 
Summit  conference  and  the Council  of the European 
Communities  confirm  the need  for such  a policy; 
Having  regard  to the  communication  from  the 
Commission  to the  Council,  of 23 January  1974, 
No C 62/10 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 15.3.  75 
on relations  between  the  Community  and  the 
energy-producing  countries; 
Whereas  the  events  of  recent  months  make  it 
desirable  for  the  Community  to  have  a 
Mediterranean  policy  of its own,  so as to ensure  that 
the individual  Member  States  do not  pursue  separate 
policies, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously,  with  one  abstention: 
1. So  far,  the  Community's  Mediterranean  policy 
has involved  the  piecemeal  conclusion  of a number  of 
bilateral  agreements  which  have  varied  greatly  in 
form  and  content. 
2. The  Committee  is pleased  that  the  Community 
has realized  the  need  for  a more  energetic,  more 
systematic  and  more  comprehensive  approach  in its 
relations  with  the  Mediterranean  countries. 
3. The  Committee  approves,  in particular,  the 
Community's  intention  to situate  within  an overall 
approach  past  and  future  bilateral  agreements  with 
Mediterranean  basin  countries,  i.e.  in principle  all 
countries  with  a Mediterranean  coastline  which  wish 
to have  special  relations  with  the  Community.  Such 
an approach,  which  does  not  entail  en  bloc 
negotiations  but  should  be regarded  as a frame  of 
reference  for bilateral  agreements,  must  seek  to forge 
cooperation  links  between  equal  partners  in the  light 
of the  wishes,  interests  and  needs  of the  various 
parties  concerned  and  with  due  regard  to the  nature 
and level  of economic  development  of the  two  regions 
in question. 
4. The  Committee  trusts  that  the  Community 
institutions  will  consider  Portugal  as a country  which 
must  come  within  the  purview  of such  an overall 
approach. 
5. A  Mediterranean  policy,  which  'is  more 
systematic  and  coherent  than  that  pursued  so far,  has 
become  imperative  not  only  because  of growing 
economic  interdependence,  the  amount  of  trade 
involved  and  the  proximity  of the  Mediterranean 
countries,  but  also  because  of  historical, 
geographical,  cultural  and  human  factors. 
6. However,  although  the  Mediterranean  countries 
have  various  features  in common,  there  are  also 
considerable  differences  between  them.  The 
Community  will,  therefore,  have  to  work  out 
regional  or ad hoc  bilateral  arrangements  which  are 
consistent  with  an overall  approach  and  which  take 
account  of the  aspirations,  specific  needs  and  level  of 
development  of the  various  countries  concerned  as well  as the  kind  of links  which  these  countries  are 
capable  of forming  with  the Community. 
7. In  the  context  of this  approach,  which  takes 
into consideration  the  wide  range  of  situations 
existing  in the  countries  covered  by the  Community's 
Mediterranean  policy,  the  Committee,  referring  in 
particular  to the  Commission  communication  to the 
Council  on development  aid  ('Fresco'  of Community 
action  tomorrow),  considers  that  the  Community's 
Mediterranean  policy  must  be selective  and  make  a 
distinction  between  the  following  groups  of countries 
in the Mediterranean  region: 
— medium-income  developing  countries  with 
economies  dependent  on  commodity  exports 
(Morocco,  Syria,  Tunisia,  Jordan); 
— medium-income  developing  countries  in  the 
process  of  becoming  industrialized  (Egypt, 
Algeria); 
— high-income  developing  countries  in the  process 
of becoming  industrialized  (Lebanon); 
— countries  which  can  become  members  of the 
Community,  if they  fulfil  the requirements  set out 
in the  Treaty  of Rome  (Greece,  Turkey,  Spain, 
Portugal); 
— countries  which  occupy  a special  position  on 
account  of their  level  of development  or their 
political  situation  (Yugoslavia,  Israel,  Malta, 
Cyprus); 
— Mediterranean  countries  which  at the  present 
time  do not  wish  to establish  special  links  with 
the Community  (Albania,  Libya). 
8. To  achieve  real  cooperation,  we must  take  into 
account,  in  framing  and  implementing  the 
Mediterranean  policy,  the  need  for  consistency 
between  this  policy,  the  Community's  internal 
policies  and  other  aspects  of EEC  external  relations. 
9. Above  all,  the  Mediterranean  policy  cannot  be 
divorced  from  the  Community's  obligations  vis-a-vis 
other  regions  of the  world,  and  in particular  its 
policy  towards  the  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific 
countries,  which  finds  its  complement  in  the 
Mediterranean  policy.  Furthermore,  the  Mediterra-
nean  policy  must  not  have  an adverse  effect  on EEC 
policy  towards  the  Arab  countries. 
10. Since  some  of  the  products  of  the 
Mediterranean  countries  compete  directly  with 
Community  products,  it is necessary  to be careful 
about  the  possible  repercussions  of the  agreements 
on the  economy  and  employment  within  the  Com-
munity. 
11. The  Committee  considers  that  there  could  be a » 
conflict  in  the  agricultural  sphere  between  the 
15. 3. 75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 62/11 
principles  underlying  the common  agricultural  policy 
and the attainment  of free  trade  areas,  on which  the 
commercial  side  of Community  policy  in  the 
Mediterranean  basin  is based,  should  such  areas 
include  agricultural  products. 
Consequently  the  Committee  considers  that  the 
agreements  which  will  be concluded  in pursuance  of 
the overall  approach  must  respect  the  following 
principles: 
— the  future  agreements  must  cover  a substantial 
proportion  of trade  in farm  products  and  allow 
for the wishes  of the Community's  partners,  while 
respecting  the interests  of Community  producers, 
the common  market  organizations  and 
Community  preferences; 
— establishment,  if  necesssary,  of  effective 
machinery  providing  protection  against  market 
disturbances; 
— preservation  of the  existing  balance  of trade 
between  the  Community  and  the  non-member 
countries  of the Mediterranean  basin; 
— regular  reviews,  gradual  introduction  of any 
measures  taken; 
— provision  for the adoption  of measures  to offset 
the disadvantages  which  could  ensue  from  the 
application  of the agreements  in certain  regions  or-
sectors  of production. 
12. The  Committee  considers  that  the burdens  and 
advantages  stemming  from  the Mediterranean  policy 
must,  as is the  case  with  other  policies,  be shared 
equitably  not  only  between  the  Member  States  but 
also between  the  various  occupational  groups  and 
economic  sectors  of the  Community.  At all events, 
any burdens  which  derive  from  such  agreements  must 
not fall  solely  upon  the groups  directly  involved,  they 
must  be shared  by the  Community's  population  at 
large. 
13. The  Committee  is of the  opinion  that  the 
cooperation  agreements  to be concluded  between  the 
Community  and  its Mediterranean  partners  must 
cover  not  only  the  movement  of goods  but  also 
capital  flows,  financial  and  technical  aid,  industrial 
cooperation,  technology,  employment  and  protection 
of the environment. 
14. Cooperation  in the  oil  and  commodities 
sectors  should  also  be a feature  of the Community's 
Mediterranean  policy,  not  only  with  a view  to 
safeguarding  Community  supplies,  but  also  on 
account  of the importance  of oil and  commodities  to 
the economic  and  social  development  of  the 
Mediterranean  producer  countries. 15. As  regards  the  aims  and  instruments  of the 
economic  cooperation  to be established  between  the 
Community  and  its  Mediterranean  partners,  the 
Committee  has  given  special  attention  to  the 
following  questions: 
15.1.  Industrial  and  technological  cooperation. 
This  should  allow  a  harmonious,  balanced 
development  of the two  regions,  inter  alia  by taking 
into account  the  medium-  and  long-term 
development  plans  of the countries  in question.  Such 
cooperation  should  not  rule  out  a systematic  and 
progressive  reorientation  of  certain  economic 
activities  in  the  Community.  The  Committee 
considers  that  appropriate  solutions  will,  however, 
have  to be found  for  the  economic  and  social 
problems  which  such  a repatterning  is bound  to 
entail. 
15.2.  Financial  cooperation.  An  overall  approach 
to the  Mediterranean  countries  would  have  little 
effect  unless  consideration  were  given  to creating  an 
appropriate  financial  instrument  into  which  all the 
participating  countries  would  channel  resources.  Its 
object  would  be to finance  pilot  projects,  research 
programmes  and  major  development  programmes  — 
including  integrated  programmes  involving  the EEC 
and the Mediterranean  countries. 
15.3.  Expansion  of  trade.  This  should  be 
promoted,  with  the utmost  respect  for GATT  rules, 
by tariff  and  quota  measures  and  by commercial 
cooperation  measures  designed  to encourage  the 
distribution  and  marketing  of  the  products 
concerned. 
15.4.  Cooperation  to  improve  the  living  and 
working  conditions  of workers  from  countries  of the 
Mediterranean  basin  employed  in  the  Community. 
From  among  the  subjects  deserving  priority 
treatment,  the Committee  has  singled  out  security  of 
employment,  reception  facilities,  housing,  social 
security,  culture  and  education. 
15.5.  Cooperation  in  order  to  preserve  the 
resources  of the Mediterranean. 
16. In  this  Opinion  the Committee  has  laid  stress 
on the  economic  and  social  aspects  of  the 
Mediterranean  policy.  It would  point  out,  however, 
that the  major  current  issues  in the  Mediterranean 
region  are  essentially  of a political  and  military 
nature.  The  Community's  Mediterranean  policy  — 
whatever  its nature  — is liable  to be rendered 
ineffective  by any  delay  in finding  an equitable, 
peaceful  solution  to the issues  in question. 
No C 62/12 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 15. 3. 75 
17. The  Committee  also  considers  that  the  success 
of the  Community's  Mediterranean  policy  will  hinge 
on how  the  Community  envisages  the  world  role  it is 
to play  and  on what  means  it has  at its disposal. 
Furthermore,  the  Community's  capacity  for  action  in 
the field  of external  relations  is determined  by 
progress  towards  economic  and  monetary  integration 
and this  will  be increasingly  the case  in the future. Done  at Brussels,  30 January  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
ANNEX 
to the Opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  amendment  was  rejected  during  the discussion: 
1. Insert  at the end  of paragraph  4: 
'It is to be hoped  that  the  Community  will  then  enter  into  negotiations  with  this  country, 
which  is a potential  member  of the Community,  to establish  new  relations  with  it, encouraging 
the democratic  development  and  the economic  and  social  advance  which  began  after  the fall 
of the fascist  regime.  Such  relations  should  enable  the isolation  of Portugal  from  the rest  of 
Western  Europe  to be ended. 
Similarly,  a favourable  response  should  be made  to the desire  of Greece  to draw  progressively 
and rapidly  closer  to the  Community.  This  is another  European  State  which  is a potential 
member  of the Community,  but its Association  Agreement  with  the Community  was  "frozen"' 
during  the period  of dictatorship'. 
Reasons 
The reasons  which  prevented  a rapprochement  between  the  EEC  and  the  two  countries  no 
longer  apply,  now  that  they  do not have  fascist  governments. 
2. Result  of the vote 
for: 18 
against:  40 
abstentions:  18. 
Opinion  on the  developing  countries  in the GATT  negotiations 
The Opinion  of the  Committee  does  not  relate  to any  particular  text. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its 110th  plenary  session  held  on 28 and  29 March  1973  the  Committee,  acting  on a 
proposal  from  its Bureau,  decided  to deliver  an Opinion  on the  abovementioned  subject 
on its own  initiative.