18.12.76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 299/19 
2.2. Article  4 
2.2.1.  The  Committee  refers  back  to its general 
comments,  and  proposes  that  the  following  new 
paragraph  be incorporated  in Article  4: 
'Where  a Member  State  finds  that  an aircraft 
entered  on the register  of another  Member  State 
does  not  conform  in respect  of noise,  it shall 
Done  at Brussels,  28 October  1976. inform  that  Member  State  of the  anomalies 
found.' 
2.3. Article  10 
2.3.1.  The  Committee  suggests  that  when  the 
Committee  set up by this  Article  is convened,  the 
Commission  should  consult  with  interested  groups, 
before  taking  its decision. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a four-year  period  programme  (1977  to 1980)  in the field 
of scientific  and  technical  education 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 187  of 10 August  1976,  page  6. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 2 August  1976,  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 
142nd  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 27 and  28 October  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  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Atomic  Energy  Community,  and  in 
particular  Article  7 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 2 August  1976  for an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its bureau  on 
28 September  1976,  instructing  the Section  for Energy and Nuclear  Questions  to draw  up an opinion  and  a 
report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  adopted  by the Section 
for Energy  and  Nuclear  Questions  at its 27th  meeting 
held on 13 October  1976, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
rapporteur,  Mr Bonety, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 142nd  plenary 
session  of 27 and  28 October  1976  (meeting  of 28 
October  1976), 
Whereas  it is necessary  to lay  down  a common 
research  and  development  policy,  in order  to attain 
the Community's  objectives; 
No C 299/20 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 18. 12. 76 
Whereas  the  training  of specialists  in the  fields 
covered  by  Community  R&D  programmes  is 
essential  to the  implementation  of  Community 
programmes, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 2.2. Concrete  measures  for  implementing  the 
programme 
2.2.1.  The  Committee  approves  the  fields  of 
application  as sketched  out  in the  Commission's 
proposal.  But  will  it be possible  to find  research 
workers  for Community  programmes  if the relevant 
further  training  courses  advocated  by  the 
Commission  are not held? 
1. General  comments 
1.1. Subject  to the  comments  set out  below,  the 
Committee  endorses  the objectives  of the programme 
proposed  by the Commission. 
1.2. In  view  of the  structure  of the  Commission 
document,  these  comments  are  grouped  under  the 
following  headings: 
1. Explanatory  memorandum; 
2. Concrete  measures  for  implementing  the 
programme; 
3. Means. 2.2.2.  The  Committee  also  supports  the  proposal 
that — within  the limits  specified  by the Commission 
— 'scientists  and  engineers  from  non-member 
countries  with  which  the Community  has relations  in 
the scientific  and technical  field'  should  be eligible  for 
grants.  The  Committee  takes  note  of the fact  that  the 
non-member  countries  in question  are  the  countries 
with  which  the  Community  cooperates  on scientific 
and technological  matters.  The  Committee  considers 
that the  matter  should  be regulated  by bilateral 
agreements  between  the  Community  and  the 
countries  concerned.  The  'cooperation'  in question  is 
a distinct  aspect.  It is financially  separate  from 
tchnological  and  scientific  assistance  provided  under 
the Convention  of Lome  (Title  III)  and  other 
agreements  with  developing  countries,  for  which  a 
special  budget  appropriation  has  been  made.  The 
Committee  would,  however,  stress  the  need  for 
coordination  of 'cooperation'  and  'assistance'. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Explanatory  memorandum 
2.1.1.  The  Committee  supports  the  Commission's 
proposal  that  the forthcoming  education  and  training 
programme  should  be  an  integral  part  of the 
Community's  R&D  policy.  The  Committee  believes 
that this  will  do much  to ensure  that  the programme 
fits in with  the Community's  overall  research  objec-
tives,  as presented  by the Commission  to the Council 
on 29 October  1975  in its study  on the objectives  and 
priorities  of a common  R&D  policy,  and  approved 
by the Council  on 25 May  1976. 
2.1.2.  The  Committee  endorses  the  programme's 
twin  aims  of promoting  the mobility  of scientists  and 
engineers,  and  encouraging  'further  training...  in 
specialized  fields  relevant  to  the  Community's 
sectoral  policies'. 
2.1.3.  The  Committee  welcomes  the  fact  that 
henceforward  the  programme  is no longer  to be 
concerned  solely  with  the  nuclear  field,  but  will 
embrace  all areas  of research.  This  is in line  with 
what  the Committee  has advocated  in the past. 2.2.3.  The  Committee  notes  the proposal  to devote 
roughly  22 % of the  programme's  funds  to further 
training  courses.  The  Commission  'envisages  a 
Community  contribution  of not  more  than  50 % of 
the total  cost  of the  further  training  courses'.  The 
Committee  considers,  however,  that  the usefulness  of 
courses  must  be clearly  shown  before  Community 
grants  are given. 
2.2.4.  The  Committee  approves  the creation  of an 
Advisory  Committee  on Programme  Management  to 
advise  the  Commission  on the  carrying-out  of the 
programme  and  on  the  use  of  available 
appropriations.  The  Advisory  Committee  should 
ensure  that  grants  are awarded,  not only  to scientists 
with  practical  experience  but also  to young  scientists 
who are embarking  on their  careers.  It is essential  to 
ensure  a wide  publicizing  of procedures  for  the 
award  of grants  for training  places  at universities  and 
comparable  technical  education  establishments.  The 
Committee  therefore  trusts  that  the Commission  will 
continue  with  its publicizing  activities  in this  field. 
Finally,  it is only  logical  that  grants  should  be 
awarded  essentially  on  the  basis  of applicants' 
attainments  and  paper  qualifications;  this  has  been 
the practice  in the past,  and  no criticisms  have  been 
18.12.  76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 299/21 
made.  Unsuccessful  applicants  should  be told  why 
their  applications  have  been  turned  down. 
2.3. Means 
2.3.1.  The  Committee  considers  justified  the 
proposed  number  of seven  people  for implementing 
the programme. 
2.3.2.  The  proposed  appropriation  of five  million 
units  of account  (u.a.)  is very  small,  so much  so that 
it will  have  to be increased  if the legitimate  objectives 
of the  programme  are  to be achieved.  It must  be 
remembered  that:  (a) in practice,  an appropriation  of 
five million  u.a.  means  a reduction  in the  already 
limited  number  of grants  and  courses  which  can  be 
financed;  (b)  the  proposed  modest  increase  (0-5 
million  u.a.)  over  the  previous  programme  will  be 
devoted  entirely  to grants  for scientists  and  engineers 
from  non-member  countries.  Finally,  there  can  be no 
question  of even  a small  reduction  in the proposed 
figure  in view  of the  fact  that  the  programme  will 
enable  scientists  and  engineers  to continue  their 
university  studies;  this  is especially  important  since 
unemployment  is only  too  prevalent  throughout  the 
Community,  in  certain  areas  of  science  and 
engineering. 
2.3.3.  The  programme  should  be inflation-proofed. 
It is essential  to ensure  that  future  inflation  does  not 
lead to a quantitative  cutback  in the  grants  and 
courses  financed  by the Community  in the vital  field 
of scientific  and technical  education. 
2.3.4.  The  Committee  notes  with  satisfaction  that 
facilities  may  be provided  for  research  workers, 
scientists  and  engineers  from  international  and 
Community-based  organizations,  and  even  from industry.  This  cooperation  is very  valuable,  and  the 
sponsoring  organizations  and  companies  are to meet 
the expenses  of the individuals  concerned.  Care  must, 
however,  be  taken  to ensure  that  the  research 
workers  and  scientists  in question  are  not  given 
preference  over  other  applicants  for  places  on 
courses. 
2.3.5.  The  Committee  reiterates  its concern  at the 
very small  size  of the  appropriation  for  the 
programme.  Investigations  should  be made  into  the 
possibility  of financial  contributions  being  provided 
by organizations,  foundations  and  even  industry;  this 
would  make  it possible  to increase  Community 
activity  in this  area. 
2.3.6.  In  view  of the  above,  the Committee  urges 
that the  programme  be  approved  and  that  the 
appropriation  be  increased  in order  to make  it 
possible  in practice  to: 
— continue  the  various  activities  of the  previous 
programme  (1973  to 1976),  i.e. to award  research 
grants  as well  as other  grants  allowing  the 
exchange  of students  and  holders  of diplomas  and 
doctorates  who  wish  to carry  out  scientific 
research  in a Community  country  other  than  their 
native  country, 
— part-finance  further  training  courses, 
— extend  the scope  of the programme  to include  all 
fields  in which  Community  research  programmes 
are being  carried  out. 
2.3.7.  A  final,  general  point.  The  Committee 
considers  that  it is essential  to achieve  a satisfactory 
balance  between  the various  fields  of knowledge.  The 
Committee,  therefore,  trusts  that  a  specific 
programme  will  be envisaged  for economics  and  the 
social  sciences. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 October  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI