No C 189/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7. 8 
Opinion on the implementation of the Second Lome Convention 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 93 of 16 April 1980, page 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 2 May 1980 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 
188th plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 May 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Council 
on 2 May 1980 to consult the Committee on the 
recommendation for a Council Regulation on the 
Conclusion of the Second ACP-EEC Convention 
of Lome and on the aforesaid Convention, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 28 April 1980 to instruct the Section for External 
Relations to prepare the Committee's work on the 
implementation of the Second Lome Convention, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in 
particular Article 20 (3) thereof, 
Having regard to its earlier opinions on the Conven­
tion of Lome, its implementation and the prospects 
for the future (!) and on the various aspects of coop­
eration between industrialized and developing 
countries, 
Having regard to its opinion of 30 October 1980 on 
the recommendation for a Council Regulation on 
the Conclusion of the Second ACP-EEC Conven­
tion of Lome (2), 
(>) OJ No C 116, 30. 9. 1974; OJ No C 35, 16. 2. 1976; OJ 
NoC 114,7.5. 1979. 
(2) OJ NoC 331, 17. 12. 1980. Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section 
for External Relations on 12 May 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report by the rapporteur, 
MrClavel, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 188th plenary 
session, held on 26 and 27 May 1981, meeting of 
27 May 1981, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
with no votes against and three abstentions: 
1.1. As the Second ACP-EEC Lome Convention 
enters into force, it is the Committee's duty to give 
its views on the best way of ensuring that this Con­
vention is implemented in such a way as to streng­
then cooperation between the EEC and the ACP 
States in their mutual interest and further more bal­
anced development in the ACP States. 
1.2. The Committee observes that the impact of 
the First Lome Convention did not entirely live up 
to expectations. While an improvement on the pre­
vious one in certain respects, the new Convention 
cannot provide a blanket solution to the problems 
of the ACP States, especially those contending with 
a steadily deteriorating economic and social situa­
tion. It is unfortunate that virtually no provision was 
made for involvement of the social and economic 
interest groups in either the implementation of the 
First Convention or the preparation and framing of 
the Second Convention. 
30. 7. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 189/23 
1.3. The Committe regards the form of cooperation 
embodied in the Lome Convention as an achieve­
ment that must be consolidated; its aims and opera­
tional details need to be clarified, as acknowledged 
by the governments of the ACP States. The develop­
ment pact between the Community and 60 LDCs 
can make a constructive contribution to the North-
South Dialogue and to the establishment of a new 
international economic and social order. 
1.4. The Committee would also stress that the 
Lome provisions must not impede cooperation 
between the EEC and other LDCs. Though some of 
them come high on the list of industrialized coun­
tries donating aid, all Member States must see that 
the 0-7% of GNP target for official development 
assistance is attained as soon as possible and try to 
harmonize their bilateral operations in this field 
more effectively. 
1.5. The Committee is certain that the Convention, 
however clear its terms, will not produce tangible 
results unless the EEC and the ACP States unite in 
sincere and close cooperation to achieve develop­
ment. 
1.6. For true effectiveness, the Community must 
coordinate its development aid policy closely with 
its economic, social and agricultural policies and 
activities. The ACP States should also make the best 
possible use of any funds provided by the EEC. A 
major drive to inform and alert the general public 
should be mounted in both the EEC and the ACP 
States so as to ensure that the Convention has its 
full intended impact and is not just a vehicle for 
financial aid. 
2. Trade cooperation 
2.1. The Committee would recall that it emphas­
ized the main guidelines it wished to be retained in 
the new Convention in its opinion of 12 July 1978 
entitled 'Implementation of the Lome Convention 
— The road towards a new Convention' (1). These 
were: 
— free access to the Community market, a wider 
range of goods from developing countries and 
the removal of non-tariff barriers; 
0) OJ No C 114, 7. 5. 1979. — continued non-reciprocity of advantages agreed 
by the EEC; 
— a more balanced trade structure, with products 
manufactured in the ACP States accounting for 
a larger proportion of total trade; 
— regular consultation between EEC and ACP 
States on sensitive products; 
— expansion of the various partners' home and 
regional markets; 
— trade promotion schemes. 
2.2. The Committee notes that markets have not 
been opened up after the signing of the First Lome 
Convention*(as much as the partners had reasonably 
hoped). It also points out that the new Convention 
is liable to lead to further progress, and stresses that 
the Community must help achieve this by its trade 
policy. While these States expect much from 
increased trade with the EEC, they must also step 
up trade among themselves and with non-Member 
States. The ACP States should use the trade advan­
tages non-member countries enjoy as a result of the 
Community's waiver of reverse preferences as a bar­
gaining counter for obtaining corresponding trade 
concessions. 
2.3. Better coordination is necessary between all 
chapters of the Convention — trade, industrial, 
regional and agricultural policy — if trade between 
the EEC and ACP States, between ACP States and 
between ACP and non-Member States is to be 
diversified and grow more steadily and quickly. 
2.4. It would be particularly advisable for the 
developing countries to base their production and 
trade not only on the export of raw materials but on 
the needs of their home market and the export of 
manufactures. 
2.5. In the few cases where free access for ACP 
products could cause difficulties for the EEC, all 
available Community instruments should be 
employed to make necessary adjustments within the 
Community. It is generally important to step up a 
No C 189/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7. 81 
two-way flow of information and consultation, 
especially on sensitive products. The Committee 
calls on both partners to do everything possible to 
limit recourse to safeguard clauses or protectionist 
practices, which would be detrimental to both of 
them. 
2.6. The Committee would point out that it would 
be in the ACP States' interests to practise import 
policies conducive to the emergence of local indus­
tries viable in the long term, possibly in the shape of 
selective removal of certain customs duties and 
non-tariff barriers. 
2.7. In the case of some ACP States, the trade is 
complicated by the monetary situation (currency or 
tariff disparities, non-convertibility, price discrepan­
cies, etc.). This encourages a large volume of trade 
that is conducted across unclearly demarcated bor­
ders and never registered, with repercussions on 
these countries' economies and their inhabitants' 
standard of living. The Committee advocates a 
detailed study of such factors in order to work out 
solutions that tackle the very roots of the problem. 
2.8. The new Convention gives greater scope for 
trade promotion as such operations are now no lon­
ger focussed solely on exports to the EEC but 
encompass both the upstream and downstream 
stages of production and cover domestic or regional 
markets as well as external markets as a whole. The 
Committee stresses the need for practical measures 
in this field. 
2.9. The Committee recommends that the partners 
undertake a careful scrutiny of the potential conse­
quences of enlargement of the EEC for their rela­
tions and implementation of the Convention. 
3. Stabex 
3.1. The Committee takes note of the improve­
ments to the Stabex scheme under the Second Lome 
Convention, which take account of a number of its 
proposals: a broader list of products and better 
terms of intervention. The extended Stabex is bound 
to require adjustments at management level and any 
plans for further expansion will depend on the enlarged scheme operating satisfactorily. The Com­
mittee hopes that the list of eligible products 
(Article 26) will include some with widely fluctuat­
ing export earnings which are of vital interest to 
particular ACP States. As provided for in the Con­
vention, the scheme should be extended to trade 
among the ACP States. 
3.2. The Committee is concerned about the use 
made of Stabex transfers and hopes that Arti­
cles 23 (2) and 41 (3) of the Convention will be 
enforced. It would also like to have details of the 
Commission's findings on the impact of the Stabex 
on the ACP States' economies. 
3.3. Some ACP States, in the hope of boosting 
their export earnings, are processing raw materials 
covered by Stabex. Great care must be taken, when 
applying the scheme, to ensure that these States do 
not suffer in comparison with others not making this 
effort. 
3.4. Largely on account of chronic inflation and 
the effects of fluctuating world market prices for 
some Stabex products, the Committee fears that the 
funds earmarked for such transfers will prove inade­
quate. It wonders what reductions will have to be 
made and what criteria will be applied for this pur­
pose. 
3.5. The Committee wonders if and when the 
experience gained from Stabex will make it possible 
to envisage extending the scheme to cover all LDCs. 
It hopes that the Community, in liaison with the 
ACP countries, will continue its efforts to convince 
the major developed countries to work together 
towards this end. 
3.6. The Committee, while appreciating Stabex's 
benefits, feels it can only go a limited way towards 
mitigating the severe disadvantages of fluctuating 
world prices and stocks to ACP countries. In addi­
tion, it has observed that the Stabex has not come 
into play when the real effects of a drop in unit 
prices have been concealed by increased produc­
tion. It stresses that the EEC should continuously 
encourage all countries to seek a stabilization of 
world prices and thereby prevent a deterioration in 
terms of trade. This would also apply to products 
covered by Minex. 
30. 7. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 189/25 
4. Minex 
4.1. The Committee feels that it is in the interests 
of both the Community and the ACP States to 
maintain, or better still to increase, the latter's min­
ing production and exporting capacity and hopes 
that Minex will make the contribution expected of it 
here. Experience gained from Stabex should be 
turned to good account in all sectors. 
5. Investments 
5.1. The Committee stresses the need for a suitable 
geographical distribution of both public and private 
capital aid throughout ACP States. This would put 
an end to the existence of large, poverty-stricken 
areas, from which there are labour movements to 
more prosperous parts. 
5.2. In general it is easier to site businesses near 
capital cities or large towns equipped with well-
developed facilities than in remote areas — this 
should be remembered when allocating funds. Fur­
ther, contracts should include clauses ensuring close 
coordination between industrial projects and infra­
structure such as roads, electricity and telecommuni­
cations. 
5.3. It feels there should be a good balance 
between concentrated investment in heavy industry 
(in mines, etc.) and more modest investment 
schemes producing rapid, spin-off results. 
5.4. The Committee recognizes that in many cases 
the loan amortization time should be longer than in 
developed countries. Aid for running expenses 
should be included in the investment for the years 
before profits are yielded. Whenever necessary, the 
financing plan for each scheme should cover, in 
addition to the basic capital, the initial, follow-up 
and maintenance costs until the investments have 
borne fruit. 
5.5. The Committee again expresses its regret at 
the lack of a legal framework for protecting invest­
ments in the ACP States and refers to its opinion of 
11 December 1980 (i). 
C1) OJ NoC 353, 31. 12. 1980. This opinion stresses that non-trade risks are liable 
to discourage investors — especially small and 
medium-sized firms — or encourage them to invest 
only where money can be withdrawn rapidly. 
It states that, to ensure the necessary continuity and 
expansion of investment in developing countries, 
the EEC and ACP States should negotiate codes of 
conduct with clauses on the promotion and mutual 
protection of investments, the observance of certain 
rules in the social sphere and the conditions for set­
tling disputes and compensation for expropriation, 
Similarly, it suggests that the EEC should work for a 
system of guarantees for investments, especially 
those involving several countries at a time, and 
endeavour to harmonize national guarantee systems. 
6. Industrial cooperation 
6.1. The Committee hopes that significant indus­
trial development, meeting the individual ACP 
States' needs, will result from the Convention's 
wider field of action and the more precise objectives 
in industrial cooperation. 
6.2. Here the Committee attaches particular 
importance to training schemes, industrial informa­
tion and promotion drives, transfers of technology, 
assistance with local processing of raw materials 
and the promotion of small and medium-sized 
industrial businesses. The setting-up of joint ACP/ 
EEC firms in the ACP States would seem a further 
way of furthering these countries' industrial 
development. 
6.3. The Centre for Industrial Development (CID) 
6.3.1. The Committee is pleased to note that the 
stimulus given to the CID's role and resources 
under the Second Lome Convention should now 
make it fully operational. Its main task will be to 
help promote constructive industrial projects meet­
ing ACP needs, set up joint undertakings and 
No C 189/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7. 81 
encourage suitable industrial training and informa­
tion schemes. Given the CID's difficulties in getting 
off the ground, the Committee feels strongly that it 
must now have a chance to make its true impact but 
its 25 million units of account budget would seem 
too small. The Committee regrets that this appropri­
ation, instead of being a separate entry, figures 
under the funds earmarked in the Convention for 
regional cooperation (Article 81 (5) of the Conven­
tion). 
6.3.2. The CID's requirements will be considera­
ble, especially when it comes to helping set up small 
and medium-sized enterprises in the ACP States: 
supplying 'models' for feasibility studies; informa­
tion campaigns to arouse interest and identify firms 
likely to start up in an ACP State; briefing on avail­
able technical and financial assistance; liaison with 
the industrial cooperation offices already set up; 
encouraging the setting-up of new offices, etc. 
6.3.3. For the CID to play its part fully, it must be 
able to work with: 
— qualified firms, people and bodies within the 
Community capable of providing experience 
advice, training facilities, investments, technol­
ogy, marketing know-how, etc.; 
— similar bodies which exist or are to be set up in 
the ACP States and are suitable for circulating 
information, stimulating firms and promoting 
development; 
— and in close cooperation with the EEC dele­
gates in the ACP States. Their, views on the 
selection of projects are useful in avoiding 
spending money on unnecessary studies or 
non-essential projects, and in ensuring that pro­
jects meet the development needs of the States 
concerned. 
6.3.4. This distribution of tasks should make it 
possible for the Centre to avoid being submerged in 
selection work, while retaining control over projects. 
Only if this is done will it become a really opera­
tional body. 6.3.5. The Committee regrets that, despite the 
Committee's recommendations on the matter, the 
CID Advisory Council does not comprise a delegate 
of the ACP/EEC trade union or employers' organi­
zations; a way must be found to associate these 
organizations actively with the Advisory Council's 
work. 
6.4. Cooperation in the energy field 
6.4.1. Developing countries urgently require 
research, action and investment in the field of 
energy. Energy is vital to their industrialization and 
must not be allowed to hinder development because 
of its present price or unavailability. 
6.4.2. The Committee would emphasize that 
energy cooperation measures must be highly prac­
tical and able to be put into effect immediately on 
the scale most necessary. Priority should be given to 
small and medium-sized projects linked to econo­
mic and social action in rural areas. 
6.5. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 
6.5.1. The Committee had stressed the particular 
importance which it attached to keeping in being 
and retaining the dynamism of small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) in the ACP States, particu­
larly in industries such as building, engineering, 
electricity, the agro-food industry, domestic hollow-
ware and joinery. But it seems that the Lome Con­
vention could do more to help smaller firms. 
6.5.2. The Committee is therefore pleased to note 
that the Second Lome Convention has given over a 
special chapter to technical assistance for, and the 
financing of, SMEs. It is convinced that giving 
priority tq this type of firm will help ACP develop­
ment to take firm root, provided that such action 
forms part and parcel of a broad economic pro­
gramme and particular attention is given to rural 
development. 
6.5.3. Although the Committee is pleased that 
smaller firms have been given an important role as a 
development tool worthy of EEC support, it feels 
30. 7. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 189/27 
that any measures to promote such firms in the ACP 
countries must take into account the specific possi­
bilities and needs of the country concerned if they 
are to be effective. This implies variation of the 
measures to suit the particular characteristics of 
each country: natural resources, available skills, 
degree of industrialization, communications, possi­
ble markets, etc. 
6.5.4. It should be stressed that in the agricultural 
sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 
are not only conducive to the introduction of the 
technical facilities and services necessary for pro­
duction and marketing but can also engage in the 
manufacture of highly specialized agricultural and 
food products alongside cooperatives and producer 
groupings. 
6.5.5. On the basis of the resources available and 
the present activities (farming, crafts, industry, 
trade) with which the development of SMEs could 
be started or continued, it will in general be found 
that farming, fishing and manufacturing industries 
can form the first element of the economic fabric 
conducive to the development of such firms in 
industrial, commercial or service activities. 
6.5.6. It is first and foremost up to the ACP coun­
tries themselves to determine the priorities and 
promote a climate conducive to the development of 
SMEs. This will entail investigations regarding 
natural resources and the kinds of production that 
will accord with the economic possibilities and the 
needs of the local market on the one hand or exter­
nal demand on the other. Since the development of 
SMEs should have a lasting favourable effect on 
employment, it is important that the recruitment 
possibilities and the training requirements should be 
examined beforehand. 
6.5.7. If SMEs are to be successfully developed 
and contribute to the well-being of the population, 
it is necessary that, while taking account of the 
sociological characteristics of each State, one should 
bear in mind the organization of social relation­
ships, relations between workers and employers, 
between economic circles and the public authorities, 
as well as the setting-up of adequate workers' and 
employers' organizations. 
6.5.8. The ACP States that wish to include the 
development of small and medium-sized enterprises 
in their overall economic policy will have to intro­
duce measures aimed at limiting their financial risks by setting up guarantee funds or providing the 
necessary financial resources in the form of loans, 
subsidies, premiums, etc. Local authorities should 
coordinate permission granted to foreign investment 
with incentives granted to local SMEs in order to 
protect the latter's competitive strength. 
6.6. Industrial training 
6.6.1. The Committee feels strongly that a consi­
derable effort must still be made to upgrade voca­
tional skills in the ACP States to meet the needs of 
industrial and SME development. It hopes that 
training facilities tailored to the individual require­
ments of the ACP countries will be arranged for sen­
ior executives, middle-management, technicians and 
skilled workers. The Committee feels this training 
should take place in the ACP States, and if possible 
on a regional level, so that trainees can be employed 
there afterwards. 
6.6.2. In the Committee's view, the main purpose 
of an industrial training drive must be to get more 
out of investments by handing over responsibility 
for follow-up of projects and the operation, upkeep 
and repair of plant and equipment to ACP nation­
als. 
6.6.3. The Committee feels that Community 
economic and social interest groups should be able 
to make their contribution to this training. 
6.6.4. Lastly, it hopes that decisions on all Com­
munity funded projects will specify the share of 
resources to be earmarked for the training of mana­
gers, technicians and skilled workers and the length 
of their contracts so that the benefits of such train­
ing are not lost. The EDF and EIB, in their efforts 
to ensure effectiveness, should bear this factor in 
mind. 
6.7. Supplementary financing 
6.7.1. A joint declaration appended to the Conven­
tion endorsed the principle of supplementary 
financing for industrial cooperation. A detailed 
NoC 189/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.7.81 
study of this matter is to be carried out within nine 
months of the Convention being signed. The Com­
mittee hopes that the findings of this study will soon 
be available and put into practice and that the 
special measures envisaged in this field for aiding 
the LDCs will be followed up. 
7. Agricultural cooperation 
7.1. The Second Lome Convention is the first 
EEC/ACP Convention to include a special chapter 
on agricultural cooperation which, in its principles, 
the aims it pursues and the measures it recommends, 
is in keeping with the Committee's wishes. Agricul­
tural development must be an absolute priority as 
many ACP States have become heavily dependent 
on food imports and a large proportion of their 
inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and need to 
find employment locally rather than migrate to 
towns, where there may be none. 
7.2. Implementation of the agricultural chapter of 
the Convention should give fresh stimulus to ACP/ 
EEC cooperation as, despite the fact that 40 % of 
EDF resources has gone to rural development, the 
food shortage in most ACP States has grown stead­
ily worse. 
7.3. Priority aims 
7.3.1. The Committee is in favour of giving priority 
to the following aims: 
— diversification of agricultural output to end 
dependence on imports, 
— local processing of farm products by expanding 
agro-food industries, 
— rational use of forestry resources, 
— modernization of fishery methods and equip­
ment, 
— water management to help combat the all-
important problem of drought and its repercus­
sions, 
— construction of the technical and social infra­
structure and facilities essential for rural 
development. These areas of action should be allocated a larger 
share of EDF resources and the assistance required 
to improve project standards and efficiency. 
7.3.2. The Committee feels that these aims can 
only be obtained if they span a long period and 
form an integral part of a sound national agricul­
tural policy. Farmers will not be encouraged to 
increase their production, unless they obtain good 
prices; in the case of food products, these will 
depend on the agricultural policy pursued while 
smooth operation of the Stabex or, better still, sta­
bilization of world prices (see point 3.6), will deter­
mine the prices of exports. 
7.3.3. The agricultural chapter also provides for 
security of food supplies. Here the Committee 
recommends: 
— enlisting the instruments of the CAP to ensure 
stable food supplies for the ACP States, as 
advocated in the EEC declaration appended to 
the Convention; 
— coordinating food aid more satisfactorily with 
rural development projects. 
7.4. Ways and means 
7.4.1. The most suitable ways of achieving these 
priority aims would seem to be: 
— the promotion of family farming concerns, 
— the basic and advanced vocational training of 
farmers and their families, 
— appropriate arrangements for supplying tech­
nical know-how and socio-economic assistance, 
— the promotion of applied technology in agricul­
ture, 
— encouragement and coordination of rural infra­
structure schemes, 
— gradual introduction of a more balanced and 
effective contractual economy, 
30. 7.81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 189/29 
closer cooperation between producers and the 
different kinds of groupings. 8. Technical and financial cooperation 
8.1. Financial resources 
7.5. Incentives to form associations 
7.5.1. The Committee feels that the aims laid down 
in the Convention for the agricultural and rural sec­
tor would be easier to attain if farmers were encour­
aged to combine to form autonomous and represen­
tative organizations in order to 'increase the popula­
tions' capacity for self-development' (Article 83 (f)) 
by, for example, increasing farmers' productivity, 
taking greater responsibility for processing and 
exploiting agricultural products, the joint purchase 
of production inputs (seeds, fertilizers, sprays, etc.) 
and the setting-up of cooperatives for the use of 
farm equipment. 8.1.1. It is unfortunate that insufficient attention 
has been paid to the effects of currency deprecia­
tion, the energy crisis, the increase in the number of 
ACP States, their demographic growth, etc., and to 
the worsening situation with which they have to 
contend as a result. 
In the course of the period covered by the Second 
Lome Convention, it must be hoped that additional 
funds will be found from a variety of sources to 
ensure more effective implementation of the Con­
vention's aims. The fullest possible use must be 
made of the various openings provided for. 
7.5.2. The Committee is convinced that agricul­
tural and rural development is greatly enhanced by 
free associations or cooperatives having such objec­
tives. It would therefore like such bodies to be 
encouraged in the ACP States and the EEC to con­
tinue to emphasize the need for such professional 
organizations to spread in those countries. 
7.5.3. In addition, the Community and the ACP 
States should take care to involve public develop­
ment bodies, local communities and vocational 
organizations in rural areas in the implementation 
of agricultural and rural projects or programmes car­
ried out under the new Convention. These develop­
ment agents should be afforded financial and tech­
nical cooperation, wherever possible, as provided 
for under Article 94 which sets out the list of benefi­
ciaries. Such a course of action would also make it 
possible to achieve optimum decentralization of the 
implementation of the projects and programmes. 
7.6. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and 
Rural Cooperation 
7.6.1. The Committee welcomes the setting-up of 
the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural 
Cooperation. This Centre should preferably concern 
itself with liaison and coordination and with organ­
izing exchanges of information and meetings. Every 
effort must be made to get it off the ground in the 
near future and to endow it with the requisite equip­
ment, funds and staff. The Committee is ready to 
give its backing to the Centre's work. 8.1.2. On expiry of the First Lome Convention, not 
all programmable resources had been committed. 
The Committee draws the attention of the EEC and 
the ACP States to this serious state of affairs and the 
need for both sets of partners to streamline proce­
dures to make them more effective, speedy and 
operational, accelerate project programming and 
selection, with emphasis on high standards and 
expedite payment. 
8.1.3. In view of past experience, the criticisms 
which have been made and the need for efficiency, 
the Committee recommends that: 
projects submitted for financing correspond to 
real needs, are well prepared and genuinely 
feasible; 
consultants and experts be chosen with care and 
with adequate technical, sociological and cul­
tural training to equip them for the specific con­
ditions of the areas they will be working in; 
the technology used be adapted to local condi­
tions and to what users require and can handle; 
revenue-producing projects should be given 
priority, along with the economic and social 
infrastructure back-up needed; 
— project supervision and follow-up be ensured at 
local level and that experts be available to 
No C 189/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7.81 
advise on difficulties during the running-in 
period. 
8.1.4. Lastly, no matter how extensive the 
resources deployed for the purpose of implementing 
the Second Lome Convention, but especially if such 
resources fall short of what is needed to do every­
thing that should be done, the Committee feels it 
must stress that the practical impact of the Conven­
tion will largely depend on (a) the care taken on 
both sides in choosing and planning projects, 
(b) coordinating projects closely with the required 
infrastructure and (c) selecting and training the staff 
to be responsible for carrying them through from 
start to finish. 
8.2. Regional and inter-regional cooperation 
8.2.1. The Committee approves the increased 
importance accorded in the new Convention to 
regional and inter-regional cooperation, whereby 
several ACP States or a group of ACP States and 
non-ACP neighbouring States are involved in the 
same project. This trend should be facilitated by the 
efforts at inter-State cooperation already undertaken 
by the ACP countries. 
8.2.2. The Committee considers that the Com­
munity and the ACP States concerned should, when 
this is possible, prepare integrated development pro­
jects within the framework of national and regional 
programmes (between ACP States) covering several 
of the types of action provided for in the different 
chapters of the Convention. 
8.2.3. This could be done, for example, in the case 
of trade promotion measures (provided for in Chap­
ter III of Title 1 on trade cooperation) which could 
be linked to projects for the creation of agro-indus­
trial units (see Title VI). Technical assistance could 
perhaps be provided in this case. 
8.2.4. This combination of projects would make it 
possible to avoid scattering financial aid too widely 
and could make it possible to meet more fully the 
economic and trade policy objectives of a whole 
region or a whole micro-region. 
8.3. The importance of micro-projects 
8.3.1. Micro-projects represent an irreplaceable 
source of development aid for the areas in greatest 
need and the areas where the effects would be the 
most immediate. They are of particular importance in the rural and agricultural sector where the rural 
population can itself be responsible for the projects 
and enjoy direct benefit from the results. 
8.3.2. Furthermore, this type of project makes it 
possible for local communities and associations of 
people in developed countries who wish to make a 
concrete contribution towards a development pro­
ject to play an active role. These projects thus make 
possible the establishment of important bonds of 
solidarity for the future of the least-developed coun­
tries. The community and the ACP States can and 
must play a considerable role in this type of scheme 
which enables responsibility for development to be 
taken on a personal level. 
8.3.3. The Committee therefore approves the sup­
port which the new Convention gives to these 
micro-projects. It trusts that the EEC's economic 
and social interest groups will play their part in this 
effort as certain groups have already started to do. 
9. General provisions concerning those ACP States 
which are the least developed, landlocked or 
island States 
9.1. The Committee approves the fact that the new 
Convention makes a clear distinction between the 
least developed, landlocked or island ACP States 
and the rest, that it has referred in each of its chap­
ters to the measures needed to help the former and 
that it has clearly expressed its political will in this 
area by recapitulating all the specific articles in a 
special chapter. 
9.2. In order to benefit fully from these provisions, 
the states concerned will have to list their priorities 
and will have to take particular care in drawing up 
their development objectives. Unless these countries 
make a reasonable attempt to forecast their own 
requirements, the Community will not be able to 
meet their specific needs. 
10. Social aspects of the Convention 
10.1. The Second Lome Convention cannot be 
considered solely as an economic achievement. It 
also has a social side which should be highlighted 
during its application. 
30. 7.81 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 189/31 
10.2. The Committee notes with satisfaction that 
Annex XV to the new Convention contains provi­
sions concerning migrant workers. For the purpose 
of implementing this Annex, it would seem desira­
ble for the partners to discuss how these provisions 
could be supplemented, bearing in mind, in parti­
cular, the proposals it made in its opinion of July 
1978 on the Lome Convention (points 3.7.2 and 
3.7.3). 
Workers from the countries concerned and their 
families must be guaranteed the same rights as 
nationals of the EEC or ACP States in which they 
are employed. 
10.3. Similarly, the Committee is in favour of 
encouraging the recruitment of European managers 
and technicians to assist in the development of the 
ACP States, provided that their contracts ensure 
satisfactory security and freedom of movement. 
10.4. The Committee regrets that the Convention 
makes no mention of the minimum standards to be 
respected in respect of terms of employment. Here it 
reiterates its opinion on the development coopera­
tion policy and the economic and social conse­
quences of applying certain international standards 
governing working conditions (1). 
In particular it advocates talks between the EEC 
and ACP States with a view to concluding a 'social 
agreement' supplementing the Convention. This 
agreement would, for instance, incorporate: 
— an undertaking on both sides to ratify and 
implement a number of ILO Convention setting 
out standards designed to give workers greater 
social protection, 
;— an obligation for Community firms investing in 
an ACP State to comply with a number of pro­
visions concerning employment, vocational 
training, safety and health and the prevention of 
pollution or deterioration of the environment. 
10.5. The Committee considers that the Lome 
Convention should be complemented by an active 
policy in the Community on restructuring and jobs, 
(») OJ NoC 230, 8. 9. 1980. so as to avoid any sectoral or regional difficulties 
which might arise. 
10.6. Finally, the Committee would draw attention 
to the importance of vocational training. This 
should not be left for firms to deal with on their own 
but should be considered as a component of an 
overall economic and social policy involving the 
professional organizations of both workers and 
employers (including farmers). 
11. Involvement of economic and social interest 
groups in implementation of the Second Lome 
Convention 
11.1. The consultation of labour and employers 
organizations in the ACP and EEC States in con­
nection with both the framing and implementation 
of the Lome Convention is a matter of constant con­
cern to the Committee. It is therefore disappointed 
that these organizations were not associated with the 
preparation of the Second Convention. 
11.2. The Committee is pleased to note that the 
ACP/EEC declaration supplementing 
Article 168(6) provides for ad hoc meetings under 
the aegis of the Council and recognizes the import­
ance of establishing a constructive dialogue between 
ACP and EEC economic and social interest groups. 
Accordingly, in contrast to the situation under the 
First Convention, the Committee recommends that 
periodic meetings of this kind be organized by the 
Council so that a joint examination can be made of 
problems connected with implementation of the 
Convention, especially in such fields as industrial 
and rural development, promotion of SMEs, the 
operation and work of the CID and DAC, mircro-
projects, training bottlenecks and the social impact 
of the Convention in general. 
11.3. In view of the keen interest displayed by the 
ACP/EEC Consultative Assembly and Joint Com­
mittee in regular discussions between the partners' 
economic and social interest groups, the Committee 
welcomes the fact that Article 175 (7) places this 
procedure on a institutional footing. 
It hopes that meetings of this kind will continue and 
that the help of the Joint Committee and these 
groups' representatives will be enlisted in ensuring 
proper preparation and smooth organization. In 
No C 189/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 7. 81 
particular, a solution will have to be found to the 
financial problems involved. 
11.4. Discussions like these can foster greater 
understanding between the partners and allow their populations to know each other better. In this way, 
quite apart from its detailed provisions, the Second 
Lome Convention could come into its own as a 
mutual commitment by the peoples of the ACP and 
EEC States to development. 
Done at Brussels, 27 May 1981. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE