No C 16/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 75 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a programme of tech­
nological research in the textile sector 
The text referred to the Committee was published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 133 of 29 October 1974, pages 7 and 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 30 September 1974, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee drew up its Opinion at its 125th plenary session, 
held in Brussels on 28 November 1974. 
The Opinion is published below: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the referral on 1 October 1974 by 
the Council of the European Communities of the 
proposal for a Council Decision establishing a 
programme of technological research in the textile 
sector; 
Having regard to Article 198 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community; 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
8 October 1974, instructing the Section for Industry, 
Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up an 
Opinion and a report on the matter; 
Having regard to the Opinion adopted by the Section 
for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at its 
meeting on 6 November 1974; 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
Rapporteur, Mr de Precigout; 
Having regard to the discussions at its 125th plenary 
session of 28 November 1974, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
with no dissenting votes and 11 abstentions: 
The Economic and Social Committee approves the 
proposal, subject to the following comments: 1. General comments 
1.1. Textile manufacturing occupies an important 
position in the economy of the Community. In 1972 
3-6 million metric tons of cotton, wool, linen and 
chemical fibres were processed by the industry. 
1.2. The textile industry employs just over 2-5 
million people, or four million if we include those 
working in the clothing industry. These figures 
represent 5 % and 8 % respectively of the total 
industrial labour force of the Community. 
1.3. In 1972 trade within the enlarged Community 
in manufactured textiles and clothing was worth 
7 400 million units of account, i.e. nearly 10 % of 
intra-Community trade. The sector's net exports were 
worth 1 000 million units of account — exports to 
non-member countries amounted to 4 600 million 
units of account —^ whilst imports from non-member 
countries came to 3 600 million units of account, 
i.e. 6-8 % and 5-2 % respectively of total Community 
trade with non-member countries. 
1.4. Even though substantial structural changes 
have been carried through in recent years, there are 
still a large number of medium-sized undertakings in 
the textile industry. As a result, a number of research 
projects are carried out on a collective basis in each 
of the Community countries. 
1.5. It is most desirable that alignment and 
coordination of this research be encouraged. The 
23.1. 75 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 16/11 
experience of individual firms could then be utilized 
by all, and cooperation would eliminate duplication 
of effort and enable benefit to be derived from the 
complementary nature of research work in the 
various Member States. 
1.6. Any stimulus provided by the Community is 
bound to encourage and speed up the process of 
strengthening Europe's research capacity in the textile 
sector. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. From the technological point of view the 
Commission's proposal gives rise to the following 
comments: 
2.1.1. Thermal treatment of man-made fibres 
2.1.1.1. The Commission proposes research into 
production methods which ensure that textiles react 
predictably during dyeing and finishing. The aim is to 
develop techniques which firms can apply to their 
particular raw materials, and which ensure that 
irreversible defects do not occur during production. 
No matter how consistent chemical fibres are, they 
are still subject to variation (between suppliers, 
between consignments from a given supplier and, 
more infrequently, within individual consignments). 
It must be possible to detect possible causes of 
irregularities, such as streakiness in dyeing. Thus, the 
aim is to optimize the use of materials and improve 
quality by tailoring processes (duration of treatment, 
temperature and so on) to the particular 
characteristics of the batch being handled, and thus 
preventing the production of unsaleable and 
low-grade articles. 
2.1.1.2. The economic advantage is clear — 
avoidance of wastage of materials which are 
utilizable provided that the correct treatment is 
known and applied. 
2.1.2. Processing in solvents 
2.1.2.1. Several studies are proposed in this 
connection. All have the same aim, namely to 
encourage the use of solvents instead of water in 
dyeing. 2.1.2.2. The reasons for using solvents and the 
advantages they offer are both technical and 
economic: 
— Solvents are preferable as far as accessibility is 
concerned. They enable the reaction to take place 
faster and thus give shorter dyeing times and 
commensurate savings in energy. 
— An additional, very substantial saving in energy is 
achieved during drying owing to the difference in 
vapour tension, where, again, the advantage lies 
with solvents. Drying is faster and, therefore, 
more economical in terms of heat requirement. 
— A third saving of energy is achieved in the 
recycling of solvents. Only a small energy input is 
needed to distil solvents for re-use — such a 
process in unthinkable in the case of water. 
— From the environmental point of view, solvents 
cause less pollution since distillation yields very 
concentrated, very-low-volume condensates which 
lend themselves easily to pyrolysis. In contrast, 
although water used for dyeing can be 
neutralized, elimination of residual colouring is a 
very costly matter. 
— Finally, preliminary tests show that solvent dyeing 
is less harmful to textile fibres than dyeing in 
water. 
2.1.3. Fire-proofing by radio-chemical grafting 
2.1.3.1. The safety advantage of fire-proofing is 
clear. There are several chemical methods of 
fire-proofing. The purpose of the project is to 
determine whether methods using radio-elements 
would be more advantageous. 
2.1.3.2. The economic advantage is that exports 
would conform to the domestic safety standards of 
certain foreign countries, more particularly the USA. 
2.2. The Committee takes it for granted that 
research — shared amongst the most appropriate 
research organizations — will also cover the possible 
effects of the processes studied on workers' health. 
2.3. The introduction to the proposal indicates 
that the Community's financial contribution is to 
amount to only one-third of the total. But there is no 
No C 16/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 75 
statement to this effect in the actual proposal for a 
Council Decision. 
2.4. The Committee recommends that it be made 
clear in the Decision that the Community's 
contribution will be conditional on Member State 
undertakings and collective research bodies paying 
two-thirds of the research costs. 
3. With the above reservations, the Committee 
approves the proposal for a Decision because: 
— it sets an example of Community industrial 
cooperation in an important sector, — savings will be achieved by pooling the resources 
of the research institutes in the various Member 
States, 
— advantages can be expected in the fields of 
consumer protection, energy conservation and the 
balance of payments. 
Done at Brussels, 28 November 1974. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Henri CANONGE 
k 
ANNEX 
to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
The following amendment, tabled in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Rules of 
Procedure, was rejected during the discussion. 
Substitute the following text for section 1.6: 
'Given the continuing absence of a coherent common industrial policy, it would be 
inappropriate to make Community funds available for specific research activities. If it is 
nevertheless decided to provide funds for this purpose, it is essential that the research aims 
should be fixed in consultation with the parties concerned (workers and employers) and 
that allowance should be made for the social repercussions in the industry, for the impact 
on the environment and consumers, and for the interests of the developing countries which 
produce textiles.' 
Result of the vote 
for: 42 
against: 53 
abstentions: 7. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on waste disposal 
The text referred to the Committee was published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 142 of 16 November 1974 pages 6 and 7. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 26 September 1974, the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee under Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community.