No C 232/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 8. 87 
controls to those for proofing of wool and wool products and 
that these limits should be specified in the table. 
2.9. Standstill clause 
The Committee assumes that the standstill clause set out in 
Committee 3 Annex 2, heading B, will also apply to heading 
A, although the text does not so specify. The Committee 
thinks that the sediment analysis, and particularly sampling 
methods, is not sufficiently developed and concretely defined 
(e.g. the place, time, distance of the source, type of sediment 
etc.). Leaving the measurements of the concentration of the 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
1. General comments 
1.1. On 28 June 1984 the Council, acting on a 
Commission proposal, adopted Regulation (EEC) No 
1872/84 (2) on action by the Community relating to the 
environment. 
1.2. This Regulation opened the door for the Community 
to grant financial support in three priority areas: 
— demonstration projects for developing new cleaner 
technologies, 
— demonstration projects for developing new techniques 
and methods for measuring and monitoring the quality of 
the natural environment, and 
(») OJNoC 18,24. 1. 1987, p. 5. 
(2) OJ No L 176/1 et seq of 3 July 1984. drins in the aquatic environment, sediments, molluscs, 
shellfish and fish to interpretation by Member States could 
lead to discrepancies in the application of the Directive. 
2.10. Reference method of measurement 
The limits of determination for each substance in sediments 
and organisms should be defined on a separate basis and not 
applied jointly. Limits should not vary according to the 
number of other substances present. 
The Chairman 
the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
— projects providing an incentive and designed to 
contribute towards the maintenance or restoration of 
seriously threatened habitats of endangered species of 
particular importance to the Community, under 
Directive 79/409/EEC. 
1.3. The Commission reports points to a keen demand 
and initial assessments indicate that those projects which 
have been implemented will have a positive impact. 
Applications for aid have exceeded the funds available 
several times over. 
1.4. The Committee is pleased that the Commission has 
submitted a new proposal in the light of this experience. The 
proposal is designed to secure continuity and to promote and 
fund additional projects in the following new key areas: Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Regulation on action by 
the Community relating to the environment (!) 
(87/C 232/03) 
On 15 January 1987 the Council, acting under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, asked the Economic and Social Committee for an opinion on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Committee instructed its Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer 
Affairs to prepare the opinion. The Section adopted its opinion, based on the report by Mr Schmitz on 
1 June 1987. 
The Committee unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 247th plenary session (meeting of 1 
July 1987). 
31. 8. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 232/5 
— demonstration projects for developing techniques for 
recycling and reusing waste, 
— demonstration projects for developing techniques for 
locating and restoring sites contaminated by hazardous 
wastes and/or hazardous substances. 
1.5. The Committee is pleased that assistance for 
environmental demonstration projects is to focus on 
developing pollution-free or low-pollutant technologies, 
techniques for conserving energy and resources, etc. The 
'polluter-pays' principle must not be infringed here. 
1.6. The Commission welcomes the fact that natural and 
legal persons from the regions can submit applications for aid 
(Article 6). 
1.7. The Committee takes the view that in future there 
should be no time limits on the funding of Community 
environmental projects. It calls on the Council to take a 
decision to this effect. 
1.8. The Committee recognizes that by virtue of this 
Regulation, Community environmental policy will continue 
to enjoy a high priority even after the European Year of the 
Environment. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 
2.1.1. The Committee assumes that the demonstration 
projects proposed under Article 1 (1) (c) include schemes for 
the restoration of contaminated waters (and lakes and 
individual coast-lines in particular). 
2.1.2. The aid ceiling (Article 1 (3)) for measures listed 
under Article 1 (1) (a — d) should be raised by 10 percentage 
points in respect of areas which are classified as particularly 
disadvantaged' for regional fund purposes. This is designed 
to guarantee (a) regional promotion of investments, (b) the 
development of clean technologies. The Committee feels that 
this is necessary because additional sources of finance are 
generally hard to come by in such regions. 
2.1.3. The Committee welcomes the fact that Article 
1 (3) provides for up to 50 % funding for demonstration 
projects covering techniques for locating and restoring sites 
contaminated by hazardous wastes and/or hazardous 
substances. 
2.1.4. The Committee proposes that Article 1 be 
extended to allow advisory activities to be assisted under 
Article 1 (1) (a — f). 2.2. Article 2 
2.2.1. The Commission is urged to draw up criteria for 
determining 'Community interest'. 
2.2.2. In selecting projects of Community interest, 
preference should be given to transnational schemes. The 
scope for aiding joint projects with the Community's 
neighbours should also be examined. Given the differences in 
national legislation and support directives, steps to promote 
transnational schemes, including concerted action, should 
help to foster cooperation and align standards for upgrading 
the environment. 
2.2.3. Techniques to be developed in the Community 
should be designed for widespread use in all Member States. 
Priority should therefore be given to convenient techniques 
which are developed and implemented in small and 
medium-sized undertakings in particular. In addition 
techniques with the lowest possible follow-up costs should be 
developed. 
2.3. Article 3 
The Committee expects applications for financial assistance 
to be processed quickly. In addition, criteria for making the 
application procedure more transparent should be developed 
and submitted. In order to avoid dual funding the 
Commission should also ensure that in same projects do not 
receive EC aid in different Member States. 
2.4. Article 4 (3) 
In assessing individual projects, the Advisory Committee 
should be required to take account of the views of local and 
regional bodies, including local government authorities. 
2.5. Article 11 
Article 11 should provide for the report on the 
implementation of the Regulation to be submitted to the 
Economic and Social Committee as well as to the European 
Parliament and the Council. 
3. Conclusions 
3.1. The funds earmarked for Community environmental 
actions are inadequate. Assuming a sharp increase in projects 
eligible for support, the budgetary estimates should be 
No C 232/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 8. 87 
boosted in the medium term in view of the scale of the tasks 
and the targets set by the Commission in the 4th 
Environmental Action Programme. (COM of 8 October 
1986). 
3.2. Close links must be established with environmental 
organizations and groups in order to upgrade the innovatory 
aspect of environmental conservation projects. These bodies 
must inter alia be specifically informed about the funds 
available for assisting Community environmental actions. 3.3. The Committee welcomes the Commission report on 
measures taken to date. It nevertheless urges the Commission 
to ensure that the proposed measures and their results are 
given effective wide publicity. Support must be provided for 
swapping information between the Member States on 
environmental measures which have been assisted. This is the 
only way to ensure that the positive experiences gained from 
demonstration projects are utilized throughout the 
Community. 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Directive amending 
Directive 76/116/EEC in respect of fluid fertilizers (J) 
(87/C 232/04) 
On 14 January 1987 the Council decjded to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 6 May 1987, in the light of the report by Mr 
Bento Concalves. 
At its 247th plenary session (meeting of 1 July 1987) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the 
following opinion unanimously: 
The Committee endorsed the Commission proposal amending Directive 76/116/EEC, subject to the 
comments below. 
1. General comments 
The Committee would draw attention to the comments 
contained in its opinion of 27 September 1972 on Council 
Directive 76/116/EEC (2), especially as regards the 
prospects for protection of the environment and of public 
health, and the harmonization of Member States' legislation 
on fertilizers with a view to achieving fair conditions of 
competition on the market and guaranteeing the quality of 
fluid fertilizers through rigorous identification, the aim being 
to protect the consumer. 2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 (2) — referring to Article 4 (3) of Directive 
76/116/EEC 
This point should be clarified, given that the phrase 
'directions for their correct storage' can be interpreted in 
various ways. The phrase could perhaps be reworded 'precise 
directions for their storage'. 
Done at Brussels, 1 July 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
{») OJ No C 12, 16. 1. 1987, p. 3. 
(2) OJ No C 123, 27. 11. 1972, p. 34.