No C 45/6 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 27. 2. 76 
ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the education  of the  children  of 
migrant  workers 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 213  of 17 September  1975,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 7 August  1975  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 
136th  plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 January  1976. 
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 Council  of the  European  Communities  on 7 
August  1975, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
23 September  1975,  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 101st  meeting,  held  on 15 
January  1976,  and  the  oral  report  made  by the 
rapporteur,  Dr Sloman, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 136th  plenary 
session  held  on 28 and  29 January  1976  (meeting  of 
29 January), 
Whereas  equality  of opportunity  in education  is a 
fundamental  principle  of our  society  so that  the children  of migrant  workers  should  enjoy  precisely 
the same  opportunities  as the children  of nationals; 
Whereas  the  children  of migrant  workers  should 
receive  additionally  education  and  training  which  are 
directed  to their  own  special  situation,  in particular 
their  need  to adapt  to the  language  and  culture  of 
their  host  country  and  to maintain  and  develop  their 
mother  language  and  culture; 
Whereas  the  Treaty  does  not  itself  provide  all the 
powers  necessary  to achieve  these  objectives  and 
recourse  is necessary  to the provisions  of Article  235; 
Whereas  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  has 
always,  in its past  opinions  and  studies,  shown  its 
concern  for  the  problems  of migrant  workers  and 
their  families  and  has  supported  all  Community 
efforts  towards  equality  of opportunity, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  no votes  against  and  two  abstentions: 
27. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 45/7 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The  legal  basis  for  the  Community's  social 
policy  is contained  in a number  of Articles  of the 
Treaty  of Rome,  of which  the  following  are  of 
particular  relevance  to the  problems  of migrant 
workers  and  their  families: 
— Articles  48 and  49,  providing  for  freedom  of 
movement  for Community  workers; 
— Article  50,  concerning  the  exchange  of young 
workers; 
— Article  51, dealing  with  social  security  for migrant 
workers. 
The freedom  of movement  of Community  workers 
depends  inevitably  on equality  of opportunity  for 
those  workers  and  for  their  families  within  the 
society  in which  they  settle,  and  a recognition  of their 
special  problems. 1.3. Article  12 of Regulation  (EEC)  No  1612/68 
stipulates  that  the Member  States  shall  encourage  all 
efforts  to enable  the children  of migrant  workers  to 
attend  general  education,  apprenticeship  and 
vocational  training  courses  under  the  best  possible 
conditions.  In its resolution  of 21  January  1974 
concerning  a social  action  programme,  on which  the 
Committee  delivered  an  opinion,  the  Council 
included  as one  of its priority  actions  the  need  to 
improve  the  conditions  for  the  free  movement  of 
workers.  Among  objectives  which  it specified  was  the 
following: 
'To improve  both  the  conditions  of  free 
movement  within  the  Community  of workers 
from  Member  States,  including  social  security  and 
the social  infrastructure  of the Member  States,  the 
latter  being  an essential  condition  for solving  the 
specific  problems  of  migrant  workers  and 
members  of  their  families,  with  particular 
reference  to problems  of reception,  housing, 
social  services,  training  and  education  of 
children.' 
1.2. The  Committee  has  dealt  with  the education 
of migrant  workers'  children  on several  occasions  in 
recent  years.  Apart  from  a number  of opinions  on the 
social  situation  and  on  social  trends  in  the 
Community,  mention  should  be made  of its opinion 
of 29  November  1973  on  the  social  action 
programme  (1), its opinion  on  education  in the 
European  Community  (2) and  its  opinion  of 30 
October  1975  on the action  programme  in favour  of 
migrant  workers  and  their  families  (3). The 
Committee  has  already  noted,  in its opinion  on 
education  in the European  Community,  that  although 
Regulation  (EEC)  No 1612/68  is by right  applicable 
only to nationals  of Member  States,  the social  action 
programme  is intended  for  all migrant  workers.  In 
the same  opinion  the  Committee  'acknowledges  the 
special  responsibility  of the  Community  to provide 
for the  needs  of migrants  and  their  families  from 
other  Member  States,  but it particularly  welcomes  the 
concern  of the  Commission  and  of the  Council  of 
Ministers  for all migrant  workers  whether  nationals 
of Member  States  or not'.  This  is important  in view 
of the  change  which  has  taken  place  over  the  past 
few years  in the  nationality  mix  of the  migrant 
labour  force  in the Community.  The  Committee  has 
pointed  out,  in a recent  opinion  on  the  action 
programme  in favour  of migrant  workers  and  their 
families,  that  migrant  workers  from  non-member 
countries  now  account  for  approximately  70 % of 
the total. 1.4. The  Commission,  in accordance  with  a 
request  by the Council,  forwarded  to the Council  on 
18 December  1974  an action  programme  in favour  of 
migrant  workers  and  their  families  (Doc.  COM(74) 
2250).  This  programme  envisaged  a number  of 
measures  concerning  the  education  of  migrant 
workers'  children,  including  the  following:  the 
development  in the Member  States  of reception  and 
crash  training  classes  to assist  the migrant  workers' 
children  to settle  into  their  new  linguistic  and 
educational  environment;  the  inclusion  of courses, 
during  normal  school  hours,  to enable  these  children 
to retain  their  original  culture  and  mother  tongue; 
the recruitment  of teachers  from  the country  of origin 
and suitable  training  for teachers  responsible  for the 
education  of migrant  workers'  children.  The  opinion 
of the Committee  on the action  programme  in favour 
of migrant  workers  and  their  families  was  delivered 
during  the 134th  plenary  session  on 30 October  1975. 
An entire  section  of this  opinion  (paragraphs  10.4.1 
to 10.4.4)  dealt  with  the  education  of migrant 
workers'  . children,  and  with  the  action  the 
Community  should  take  in this  area. 
1.5. In  March  1974,  the  Commission  had 
presented  to the Council  its proposals  for action  in 
the field  of education  in 'Education  in the European 
Community  (4). In  this  communication  the 
Commission  had  outlined  the  programme  of 
educational  cooperation  in three  broad  areas,  one  of 
(x) OJ No C 37, 1. 4. 1974,  p. 30. 
(2) OJ No C 255,  7. 11. 1975,  p. 9. 
(3) OJ No C 12, 17. 1. 1976,  p. 4. (4) OJ No C 58, 18. 5. 1974. 
No C 45/8 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 27. 2. 76 
these  being  the  education  of children  of migrant 
workers.  In a resolution  of the ministers  of education, 
meeting  within  the  Council  of 6 June  1974,  a 
programme  of cooperation  in the  field  of education 
was initiated,  and  seven  'priority  spheres  of action' 
were  identified.  The  first  of these  was  'better  facilities 
for the  education  and  training  of nationals  and  the 
children  of nationals  of other  Member  States  of the 
Communities  and  of non-member  countries'.  In April 
1975  the  Committee  adopted  an  opinion  on 
education  in the  European  Community  covering  the 
areas  referred  to by the  Commission  in its March 
1974  communication  and  the  priority  spheres  of 
action  identified  by the ministers  of education  in June 
1974. 
1.6. In  a document,  the Commission  submitted  to 
the Council  a proposal  for  a Directive  on  the 
education  of the  children  of migrant  workers,  and  it 
is this  proposal  on  which  the  Committee  now 
presents  its opinion.  In doing  so,  the  Committee 
confirms  the suggestions  made  by the Committee  on 
this subject  in its opinion  on the  migrant  workers 
i action  programme. 
2. General  comments 
2.1. In  its opinion  on education  in the  European 
Community,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
took  a decision  on the  education  of migrants  and 
their  families.  Of central  importance  is the principle 
of real  equality  of opportunities,  not  only  in respect 
of access  to the different  educational  systems  but also 
when  studies  are  over.  Reference  has  already  been 
made  to Regulation  (EEC)  No  1612/68  of 1968 
providing  for  the  abolition  of discrimination  based 
on nationality.  The  Committee  regards  it as 
absolutely  essential.  Urgent  steps  must  be taken  in all 
Member  States  to eliminate  all discrimination  against 
migrants.  The  education,  to which  the  children  of 
migrant  workers  have  a right,  should  be  in 
conformity  with  the  rules,  standards  and  general 
practice  of the  host  countries.  They  should  have  the 
same  access  to all forms  of education  and  training  as 
the children  of nationals,  including  nursery  and 
pre-school  facilities,  they  should  receive  equal 
treatment  in the  award  of study  grants  and  similar 
assistance  and  they  should  be admitted,  on the  same 
terms  as other  children,  to extra-curricula  activities. 
They  should  be subject  to exactly  the  same  laws  on 
compulsory  education  as indigenous  children.  In 
addition,  the education  authorities,  having  established 
what  teaching  aids,  books  and  other  materials  would be needed  to facilitate  the education  of the  migrant 
children,  should  do their  utmost  to see that  they  are 
provided. 
2.2. The  Committee  fully  recognizes  the size  of the 
problem.  The  various  estimates  which  have  appeared 
of the  number  of migrants'  children  of school  age 
have  pointed  to a total  figure  of some  1 300 000.  It 
must  not  be forgotten,  however,  that,  large  though 
this figure  may  be,  it still  does  not  include  those 
children  of pre-school  age  for  whom  education  will 
need  to be provided  at the appropriate  age.  Although 
it acknowledges  the difficulties  inherent  in compiling 
accurate  statistics,  in  view  of  the  constant 
fluctuations  within  the  migrant  communities,  the 
Committee  considers  it important  that  as much 
information  as possible  be assembled  and  then  kept 
up to date  on the  size  and  nationality  mix  of the 
migrant  populations  of the  member  countries.  The 
provision  of such  data  is a prerequisite  for  the  full 
understanding  and  evaluation  of the  problem  of 
educating  migrant  children,  especially  as the burdens 
on the  schooling  and  the  needs  for  the  supply  and 
training  of teachers  for  these  children  will  clearly 
vary  from  country  to country.  The  Committee  notes, 
for example,  that  in Denmark,  although  there  are 
relatively  few  migrants,  they  are  representative  of 
many  different  nationalities,  imposing  on a small 
country  a substantial  pedagogic  problem.  The 
Committee  notes  the  particular  problem  of migrant 
children  who  are  scattered  in small  numbers  over 
Member  States. 
2.3. The  process  of moving  to a completely  new 
country  is likely  in itself  to lead  to difficulties  within 
the family  which  in turn  can  create  social  and 
psychological  problems  for  the  children  involved. 
Such  difficulties  are exacerbated  in those  areas  where 
'ghetto'  situations  have  developed.  Later  in this 
opinion  the  Committee  will  offer  its views  on ways 
by which  the  educational  and  linguistic  difficulties 
encountered  by the  migrants  might  be eased.  At this 
point  it wishes  to draw  attention  to the  Council  of 
Europe  resolution  (70)  35 on the school  education  of 
the children  of migrant  workers,  adopted  on  27 
November  1970  by the  Council  of Europe,  which 
contains  various  recommendations,  including  one 
which  lays  down  that  the  children  of migrant 
workers  should  be educated  without  prejudicing  the 
teaching  of the  indigenous  children.  Second,  the 
Committee  supports  the  view  expressed  by  the 
Commission  in its action  programme  in favour  of 
migrant  workers  and  their  families  and  emphasizes 
again  in its opinion  on this  action  programme  that 
the current  situation  differs  from  that  which  obtained 
in earlier  years. 
27. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 45/9 
2.4. The  Committee  would  also  like  to make  a 
number  of specific  proposals  for action: 
— first,  it considers  that  the  situation  could  be 
significantly  improved  if the  migrant  families, 
especially  those  from  non-member  countries, 
could  receive  appropriate  preparation  for  their 
prospective  new  environment  before  emigrating; 
— second,  it is concerned  that  a large  proportion  of 
migrant  workers  live  in the  'poorer'  residential 
areas  of large  cities  and  some  smaller  towns. 
Urgent  steps  should  be  taken  to prevent  the 
development  of  the  'ghetto'  situation.  The 
Committee  is particularly  concerned  where  such 
situations  have  led  to the  creation  of schools 
which  provide  predominantly  or exclusively  for 
the education  of migrant  children.  Such  'special' 
schools  are  undesirable  because  they  make  the 
integration  of migrant  children  with  the  host 
community  so much  more  difficult.  However,  if 
such  schools  exist  and  as long  as such  schools 
have  to exist,  because  they  reflect  the  real 
situation  in certain  areas,  they  should  receive 
additional  help  such  as a reduction  in the number 
of pupils,  more  qualified  teachers,  and  more 
money.  Later  in this  opinion,  the  Committee 
indicates  its  full  support  for  reception  and 
acclimatization  courses  for migrant  children;  and 
it recognizes  that  such  special  courses  will 
necessarily  be exclusive  to those  children  for  a 
period  immediately  following  their  arrival  in the 
host country.  But  the  Committee  draws  a clear 
distinction  between  these  'special'  courses  which 
are necessary  and  'special'  schools  which  are 
undesirable  and  should  be phased  out  as quickly 
as possible; 
— third,  the  Committee  is particularly  anxious  that 
the facilities  which  exist  in the host  countries  for 
'pre-school'  nursery  education  be open  equally  to 
migrant  and  indigenous  children,  and  that  these 
facilities  be extended.  In its view,  equality  of 
opportunity  in education  for  the  children  of 
migrant  workers  depends  upon  substantial 
investment  in nursery  school  education; 
— fourth,  educational  planning  should  take  account 
of the  statistics  on  the  children  of migrant 
workers,  and  financial  provisions  should  be 
made  to cover  any  particular  educational  facilities 
which  have  to be  made  for  such  children, 
particularly  with  regard  to the supply  of specialist 
teachers; encouraged  to cooperate  on the  education  of the 
children  of migrant  workers.  And,  adequate 
arrangements  should  be  made  for  the 
documentation  and  recording  of the  scholastic 
progress  and  achievements  of the children; 
— sixth,  far  more  effort  should  be put  into  the 
problem  of mutual  recognition  of diplomas  and 
certificates,  taking  account  of the  views  of the 
Committee  in its opinion  of 1974  on the  draft 
Council  resolution  on guidelines  for  the  mutual 
recognition  of diplomas  (*) and  more  recently  in 
its opinion  on  education  in  the  European 
Community  and  on the  migrant  workers'  action 
programme; 
— seventh,  a positive  effort  should  be  made  to 
encourage  the  parents  of migrant  children  to 
participate  in the  counselling  and  educational 
processes  of the  host  country.  The  Committee 
believes  that  the contacts  thus  made  will  be to the 
mutual  benefit  of the  teacher  and  social  workers 
on the  one  hand  and  the  children  on the  other. 
They  should  have  the  same  rights  of 
representation  and  participation  as parents  who 
are nationals  of the host  country; 
— eighth,  arrangements  should  be made  for  the 
exchange  of experience  and  information  on the 
use of educational  aids  and  methods.  In this 
respect,  the  Committee  proposed,  in its recent 
opinion  on education,  and  again  in its opinion  on 
the migrant  workers'  action  programme,  that 
there  should  be  an  urgent  and  practical 
programme  of research  and  of pilot  schemes  to 
include  such  matters  as the practical  difficulties  of 
a bilingual  and  bicultural  curriculum,  the 
psychological  problems  involved,  including  those 
related  to non-attendance,  the  recruitment  and 
training  of  specialized  teachers  and  the 
availability  of grants  and  other  forms  of help. 
3. Specific  comments  on the Commission's  proposal 
for a Council  Directive 
3.1. Article  1 
3.1.1.  The  Committee  has  already  made  clear  its 
adherence  to the  underlying  aims  and  objectives  of 
— fifth,  the  education  authorities  of both  host 
countries  and  countries  of origin  should  be H OJ  No C 116,  30. 9. 1974,  p. 38. 
No C 45/10 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 27. 2. 76 
this Article.  'There  is the problem  of the children  of 
migrants  whose  educational  programme  should 
enable  them  to adapt  to the language  and  culture  of 
their  host  country,  and  at the same  time,  to maintain 
their  native  culture  and  language.  They  should  be so 
educated,  that  it is that  they  have  the option  either  to 
settle  into  the new  environment  of their  parents  or to 
return  to  their  own  country  with  appropriate 
recognition  of the  education  they  have  received' 
(opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on 
education  in  the  European  Community).  The 
Committee  therefore  also  welcomes  the statement  of 
the same  principle  embodied  in the  declaration 
adopted  at Helsinki  in August  1975  following  the 
conference  on security  and  cooperation  in Europe  as 
one of the aims  in view:  'to ensure  that  the children 
of migrant  workers  established  in the  host  country 
have  access  to the  education  usually  given  there, 
under  the  same  conditions  as the  children  of that 
country  and,  furthermore,  to permit  them  to receive 
supplementary  education  in their  own  language, 
national  culture,  history  and  geography'. 
3.1.2.  The  Committee  welcomes  the fact  that  the 
definition  of children  of migrant  workers  includes 
children  of nationals  both  of another  Member  State 
and of a non-member  state.  It goes  without  saying 
that the  provisions  of the  Directive  are  fully 
applicable  in the case  of unemployed  persons. 
3.1.3.  The  Committee  considers  that  the  migrant 
children  should  be enabled  not only  to maintain  their 
linguistic  and  cultural  links  with  their  country  of 
origin  but also  to develop  them.  It therefore  proposes 
that the  first  paragraph  of Article  1 should  be 
amended  to read:  '.. . links  are  maintained  and 
developed  between  the children.  ..'. 
3.2. Article  2 
3.2.1.  The  Committee  fully  endorses  the  need  to 
provide  reception  and  acclimatization  courses  for the 
children  of migrant  workers,  whether  they  are likely 
to settle  permanently  or to remain  for only  a short 
period.  It recognizes  that  in many  Member  States 
such  courses  are already  being  provided,  and  that  the 
experience  already  gained  can  be of value  to other 
Member  States. 
3.2.2.  The  Committee  regards  it as particularly 
important  that,  by means  of an accelerated  course  in 
the language  of the  host  country,  these  children 
should  be able  to establish  early  communication  and 
contact  with  the children  of the host  community.  The 
Committee  wishes  to underline  the need  to follow  up 
such  'crash'  courses  with  systematic  and 
well-founded  instruction  in the language  of the host country,  especially  for  children  who  come  from  a 
quite  different  cultural  background. 
3.2.3.  The  Committee  hopes  that  the  reception 
arrangements  may  be seen  as a two-way  process:  the 
hosts  must  themselves  make  every  effort  to become 
familiar  with  the  background  and  family 
circumstances  of the migrant  children. 
3.2.4.  This,  and  subsequent  Articles,  are 
mandatory.  But  in at least  some  of the  Member 
States,  the United  Kingdom  for example,  education  is 
the responsibility  not  of the  State  but  of the  local 
authority,  and  the  State  has  no jurisdiction  over  the 
curricula  of either  schools  or institutions  of higher 
education.  The  Committee  hopes  that  in such  cases 
the authorities  concerned,  or  the  individual 
institutions  where  these  are autonomous,  will  do all 
they can to implement  the Article. 
3.3. Article  3 
3.3.1.  In  its comments  on Article  1 the Committee 
has confirmed  its support  for the principle  that  the 
educational  programme  for  the  children  of migrant 
workers  should  include  tuition  in the  language, 
civilization  and  culture  of the country  of origin.  This 
is especially  important  for  the  children  of migrant 
workers  who  wish  to return,  or have  the option  of 
returning,  to their  own  country.  But  it must  be 
recognized  that  a bicultural  programme  of this  kind 
will require  considerable  effort  on the part  of migrant 
children,  in  particular  those  whose  social 
environment  is not satisfactory. 
3.3.2.  The  Committee  wishes  to point  out that  the 
implementation  of this  Article  will  create  serious 
problems  for Member  States  where  the total  number 
of migrant  children  is very  small  and  a wide  range  of 
nationalities  is involved.  In a given  locality,  for 
example,  where  there  is a small  number  of migrant 
children  representing  several  different  nationalities,  it 
will clearly  be impracticable  for the host  country  to 
apply  all of these  measures. 
The Article  therefore  needs  to be so worded  as to 
allow  flexibility  of interpretation.  It is hoped  that, 
when  confronted  with  such  difficulties,  a Member 
State  will  seek  solutions  which  take  account  of its 
particular  circumstances  while  retaining  the spirit  of 
the Directive. 
3.3.3.  The  Committee  considers  it important  that 
tuition  in the language,  civilization  and  the culture  of 
the country  of origin  should  take  place  within  school 
27. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 
hours,  particularly  in view  of the social  background 
of many  migrant  families  and  often  the poor  housing 
conditions  in which  they  live.  In any  case,  outside 
school  hours,  migrant  children  should  be encouraged 
to engage  in those  leisure  activities  which  constitute 
so important  a part  of the process  of assimilation  into 
the new  environment. 
3.3.4.  The  Committee  recognizes  that  many 
migrant  children  will  still  have  language  difficulties 
after  being  placed  in classes  for  native  children. 
Remedial  courses  will  be needed  for  these  children 
and such  courses  should  be provided  free  of charge. 
3.3.5.  The  Committee  also  suggests  that  the 
courses  which  are  provided  for  migrant  children  in 
their  own  language  and  culture  should  be available 
also to the  indigenous  children.  But  the  Committee 
recognizes  the  practical  problems  of  providing 
courses  in a 'second'  language  at the primary  school 
level  in those  countries  where  foreign  languages  are 
not normally  included  in the  curriculum  before  the 
secondary  level  of education. 
3.4. Article  4 
3.4.1.  The  Committee  attaches  very  great 
importance  to the need  for adequate  training  of the 
teachers  who  will  be responsible  for  courses  for 
migrant  children,  and  in particular  for courses  in the 
language  of the  host  country,  which  must  include 
Done  at Brussels,  29 January  1976. No C 45/11 
specialist  training  in teaching  the  language  as a 
foreign  language.  It also  recognizes  that  for 
instruction  in the language  and  culture  of the country 
of origin  of migrant  children  it may  be necessary  to 
make  use  of teachers  from  the  migrants'  own 
countries  But  it is concerned  that  in some  of these 
countries  there  is already  a shortage  of qualified 
teachers,  whereas  in some  host  countries  there  is a 
surplus  of teachers.  To  ensure  continuity  in the 
education  of migrant  children,  there  is therefore  a 
need  for the closest  liaison  between  the host  country 
and the  country  of origin  and  cooperation  must  be 
built  up between  the  host  country  teachers  and  the 
foreign  teachers. 
3.4.2.  The  Committee  stresses  that  teachers  from 
the migrants'  own  country,  should  be employed 
under  the  same  conditions  of service  as indigenous 
teachers  in the  host  country.  They  must  clearly  be 
responsible  to the authorities  of the host  country. 
3.5. Article  5 
3.5.1.  Reference  has already  been  made  to the very 
special  difficulties  which  some  Member  States  will 
face in carrying  out  the  Directive.  The  Committee 
therefore  stresses  the  need  on the  one  hand  to act 
expeditiously  and  effectively  to alleviate  a serious  and 
urgent  problem,  but  on the other  hand  to recognize 
that the problems  which  are posed  by the children  of 
migrants  call  for  very  different  solutions  among 
individual  Member  States. 
The Chairman  of 
the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Regulation  on common  measures  to improve  the 
conditions  under  which  agricultural  products  are marketed  and  processed 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 218  of 24 September  1975,  page  4. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 10 September  1975  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43 and  198  of the Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community.