No G 263/14 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17.11.  75 
Result  of the vote 
For: 40;  against:  44;  abstentions:  11. 
Point  3.5.1. 
Delete. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 28; against:  61; abstentions:  4. 
Opinion  on the updating  of the Social  Action  Programme 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
In accordance  with  Article  20 (3)  of its Rules  of Procedure,  the  Bureau  of the 
Committee  decided  on 18 December  1974  to draw  up an additional  opinion  on the 
abovementioned  subject. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 130th  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 28 and  29 May  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  of 29 November  1973 
on the  draft  Social  Action  Programme  proposed  by 
the Commission; 
Having  regard  to the  Council  resolution  of 21 
January  1974  on the Social  Action  Programme; 
Having  regard  to Article  20 (3)  of its Rules  of 
Procedure; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
18 December  1974  instructing  the Section  for Social 
Questions  to draw  up an additional  Report  on the 
matter; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  at its meeting  on 15 
May  1975  and  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Laval; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 29 
May  1975  (130th  plenary  session  of 28 and  29 May 
1975); Whereas  the crisis  situation  in which  the Community 
at present  finds  itself  makes  it imperative  to adapt 
the Social  Action  Programme  to  the  new 
requirements  and  to define  new  priorities; 
Whereas  this  crisis  is liable  to  have  lasting 
repercussions  on  employment,  vocational  training 
and education, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by 70 votes  to 7, and  with  14 abstentions: 
1. General  comments 
Preliminary  remark 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  is pleased  to 
report  that  its work  on the  updating  of the  Social 
Action  Programme  and  that  on the  restructuring  of 
the economies  were  closely  coordinated  in order  to 
allow  parallel  examination  of the different  aspects  of 
these  two  important  questions. 
17. 11. 75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 263/15 
1.1. Since  the Council  resolution  of 21 January 
1974  adopting  the  Social  Action  Programme,  the 
economic  and  social  situation  has  seriously 
deteriorated  in most  Member  States,  and  is affecting 
more  and  more  sections  of the working  population, 
including  self-employed  traders,  craftsmen  and 
farmers. 1.7. Similarly,  all the  delegations  attending  the 
conference  on future  European  social  policy,  which 
was held  in Brussels  on 16 December  1974,  felt that 
it was  of prime  importance  to combat  inflation  and 
maintain  employment  levels  and  standards  of living, 
particularly  for such  categories  as migrant  workers, 
young  people,  women  and elderly  workers. 
1.2. Inflation  is now  running  at particularly 
disturbing  levels;  the  disequilibrium  in blances  of 
payments  has grown  worse,  and  unemployment  has 
risen  alarmingly. 
1.3. As  far as the employment  situation  in general 
is concerned,  Member  States  are experiencing  — in 
addition  to structural  unemployment  due  inter  alia 
to regional  and  sectoral  imbalances  and  to the 
qualitative  mismatch  between  employment  supply 
and demand  — exceptionally  high  rates  of cyclical 
unemployment,  though  the position  varies  from  one 
country  to another,  since  the crisis  has not affected 
them  all at the same  time  or with  the same  degree  of 
intensity.  Furthermore  this  cyclical  unemployment  is 
constantly  rising  in most  Member  States.  Urgent 
specific  action  in keeping  with  the gravity  of the 
situation  is called  for on the part  of each  Member 
State  and more  particularly  the Community. 
1.4. The  worsening  of the crisis  means  that  the 
Social  Action  Programme,  as adopted  in January 
1974,  is getting  more  and  more  out of step  with  the 
real situation.  This  is because  the policies  embodied 
in the Programme  were  evolved  by the Commission 
in a period  of economic  growth  and  expansion,  but 
are being  implemented  at a time  of economic 
recession  and rising  unemployment. 
1.5. It  has  therefore  become  imperative  to adapt 
the policies  embodied  in  the  Social  Action 
Programme  to the  requirements  of the  present 
situation,  and  also  to fix new  priorities  in respect  of 
both aims  and  means.  The  situation  calls  both  for 
faster  implementation  of steps  already  planned  and 
the devising  of new  measures  for the benefit  of all 
sections  of the working  population. 
1.6. It  was  against  the  background  of this  new 
economic  and social  situation  that  the Heads  of State 
or of Government,  meeting  at the Paris  Summit  of 
9 and  10 December  1974,  declared  that  vigorous  and 
coordinated  action  needed  to  be  taken  at 
Community  level  to deal  with  the  problem  of 
employment,  and  reaffirmed  the importance  they 
attached  to implementation  of the measures  listed  in 
the Social  Action  Programme. 1.8. Finally,  at its sixth  session  on 14 February 
1975,  the Standing  Committee  on Employment  made 
a special  study  of measures  to counter  the 
employment  crisis;  it examined  the role  that  could 
be assigned  in this connection  to the Social  Fund  and 
attempted  to identify  the  sectors,  regions  and 
categories  of persons  throughout  the  Community 
that were  the hardest  hit by the crisis. 
1.9. It  was  with  reference  to this  situation  that  the 
Committee  examined  the  state  of progress  of the 
Social  Action  Programme  and  decided  that  the 
emphasis  should  be placed  on certain  urgent  and 
priority  measures. 
1.10.  Irrespective  of the comments  and  proposals 
made  both  in its Opinion  of 29 November  1973  on 
the draft  Social  Action  Programme,  and  in the 
Opinions  already  produced  or in preparation  on the 
various  specific  measures  adopted  or proposed  under 
the Programme,  the Committee  is broadly  satisfied 
with the following  steps  taken  by the Council  on 
10 June  and  17 December  1974  in implementation  of 
the Programme: 
— the two  Decisions  and  the  Regulation  on 
assistance  from  the  European  Social  Fund 
(Article  4) for migrant  workers  and  handicapped 
persons; 
— the resolution  establishing  the initial  Community 
action  programme  for  the  vocational 
rehabilitation  of handicapped  persons; 
— the two  Decisions  on the  setting  up of an 
Advisory  Committee  on  Safety  and  Health 
Protection  at Work,  and  on the extension  of the 
responsibilities  of the  Mines  Safety  and  Health 
Commission  to all mineral-extracting  industries; 
— the Directive  on the approximation  of the laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to the application  of 
No C 263/16 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 17.11.  75 
the principle  of equal  pay  for men  and  women, 
as outlined  in Article  119  of the EEC  Treaty; 
— the  Directive  on the approximation  of the laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to  collective 
redundancies; 
— the  Regulation  establishing  a European  Vocational 
Training  Centre; 
— the  Regulation  setting  up a European  Foundation 
. for  the  Improvement  of Living  and  Working 
Conditions. 
1.11.  In  addition,  the Commission  has  submitted 
to the Council  the following  proposals: 
— the  action  programme  in favour  of migrant 
workers  and  their  families; 
— the  Council  Directive  on the  harmonization  of 
the legislation  of Member  States  on the retention 
of the rights  and  advantages  of employees  in the 
case of mergers,  takeovers  and  amalgamations; 
— the  Council  recommendation  to the  Member 
States  on the  application  of the  principle  of the 
40-hour  week  and  4 weeks'  annual  paid  holiday; 
— the  memorandum  and  draft  Directive  on measures 
to achieve  equality  between  men  and  women  at 
work; 
— the  programme  of pilot  schemes  and  studies  to 
combat  poverty; 
— the  Communication  from  the Commission  to the 
Council  on work  in the field  of employment. 
1.12.  The  Committee  trusts  that  the Council  will 
very soon  take  a decision  on the above  proposals,  on 
which  Committee  Opinions  have  been  delivered  or 
are currently  being  drafted;  it also  hopes  that  the 
Commission  will  complete  its preparatory  work  on 
other  measures  as soon  as  possible,  according 
priority  to those  measures  that  will  afford  protection 
to the groups  worst  affected  by accelerating  inflation 
and the deterioration  in the labour  market  situation. 
1.13.  The  Committee  regrets  that,  despite  these 
positive  measures  in the social  field,  there  has  been 
no significant  development  in the position  of social policy  within  the  general  framework  of common 
policies. 
1.14.  It  is noteworthy  in this  connection  that  the 
Committee,  in its Opinion  on the  Social  Action 
Programme,  not  only  expected  Community  social 
policy  to be closely  interlocked  with  policies  in other 
sectors,  but  also  advocated  that  the  goals  of the 
Social  Action  Programme  be considered  as guidelines 
for all Community  decisions.  Social  policy  must 
dovetail  with  the  other  Community  policies,  and 
more  especially  regional  and  economic  policy.  These 
other  policies  must  take  full  account  of the  social 
aspect  and  not  treat  it as something  incidental  or of 
secondary  importance. 
1.15.  The  present  situation  and  the  close 
interrelation  between  its economic  and  social  aspects, 
whether  in respect  of the  new  problems  that  have 
arisen,  or the remedies  that  need  to be applied,  lend 
a special  importance  and  significance  to the  above 
remarks. 
1.16.  In  this  connection  one  only  has  to consider 
the potential  impact  on  employment,  vocational 
training,  education,  etc.,  of the  policies  pursued  in 
the 'restructuring  of  the  economies',  and  the 
guidelines  laid  down  in the  definition  of a type  of 
economic  growth  that  is in keeping  with  the  new 
situation  and  in particular  the social  requirements  of 
our time. 
1.17.  As  far as the present  situation  is concerned, 
the imbalances  in the  employment  situation  that 
were  already  manifest  in the period  of growth  and 
expansion  have  become  much  more  pronounced. 
1.18.  It  should  also  be noted  that  certain  job 
vacancies  remain  unfilled  even  in a time  of crisis, 
that some  jobs  are  still  shunned  by  indigenous 
workers,  particularly  young  people,  and  that  labour 
shortages  persist. 
1.19.  These  increasing  disequilibria,  and  in 
particular  the  widening  gulf  between  school 
education,  vocational  training  and  university 
education  on the one  hand,  and  actual  job openings 
on the other,  call for measures  to: 
— make  it possible  to match  job-seekers  and 
vacancies  more  successfully,  inter  alia  by means 
of measures  in the  field  of high-quality,  multi-
skill vocational  training  and  improvement  of 
working  conditions; 
17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/17 
— bring  education  and  vocational  training  more 
into line  with  the  needs  of the  economy  and 
society; 
— create  jobs  which  are  in keeping  with  the 
characteristics  of the  available  manpower  and 
which  are especially  desirable  from  the point  of 
view  of medium-term  economic  and  social 
development. 
1.20.  In  implementing  all these  measures  account 
will have  to be taken  of the new  type  of growth  to 
be defined,  and  the adaptability  made  necessary  by 
increasingly  rapid  economic  and  technological 
change.  With  this  in view,  guarantees  must  be 
provided,  particularly  in the area  of social  protection 
which  ensure  that  the  indispensable  occupational 
mobility  can  be practised  under  conditions  in which 
acquired  rights  are safeguarded  (for  example  in the 
case of bankruptcies). 
1.21.  In  this  context  the Committee  would  stress 
the importance  of labour  market  analyses,  forecasts 
and research,  which  should  take  due  account  of the 
economic  situation  and  its foreseeable  and  desirable 
development.  Funds  should  be made  available  at 
Community  level  for this purpose. 
1.22.  Such  work  on  medium-  and  long-term 
employment  trends  in the  EEC  countries  and  in 
Western  Europe  as a whole  should  be based  on the 
most  comprehensive  and  up-to-date  economic  data, 
and make  it possible  to lay down  under  optimum 
conditions  the  principles  that  should  govern 
education  (type  and  length),  vocational  training  and 
guidance,  as well  as retraining.  Work  of this  nature 
would  be of particular  benefit  to certain  groups  of 
the population,  especially  young  people.  Figures 
given  by the Commission  indicate  that  the  rate  of 
unemployment  amongst  young  people  is rising  in all 
the countries  of the Community. 
1.23.  In  view  of the  problems  involved  in these 
labour-market  analyses  and  forecasts,  a sectoral 
approach  should  be adopted  and  efforts  initially 
concentrated  on sectors  and  regions  experiencing  the 
greatest  difficulties.  The  data  obtained  should  then 
be assembled  and  completed  to obtain  an overall 
picture  and  be used  as a tool  for achieving  full  and 
better  employment  — a sine  qua  non  of an effective 
social  policy  — at Community,  national  and  regional 
level.  To this  end,  forecasts  and analyses  should  take 
into account  the guidelines  laid  down  in the various Community  policies  still  to be worked  out  or to be 
developed  further  (agricultural  policy,  regional 
policy,  industrial  policy,  etc.). 
1.24.  The  energy  problem,  the new  attitudes  of oil 
and raw-material  producing  countries,  their  potential 
repercussions  as regards  the international  division  of 
labour,  the bilateral  and  multilateral  agreements,  the 
Lome  convention  —  particularly  the  provisions 
concerning  industrial  cooperation  — and  a whole 
host of other  factors  all indicate  that  a certain 
reconfiguration  of  economic  activity  in  the 
Community  is to be  expected.  From  now  on 
therefore,  a close  watch  needs  to be kept  on these 
trends  and  their  possible  impact  on the employment 
prospects  of wage-earners  and  the situation  of self-
employed  workers  in the Community. 
1.25.  Indeed,  a study  should  be made  of this  long-
term  employment  outlook,  since  not  only  the  new 
generation  of European  workers  but  also  large 
numbers  of people  who  have  already  lost  or are 
going  to lose  their  jobs  are affected. 
1.26.  At  all events,  the Committee  is in favour  of 
a socio-economic  policy  which  takes  more  and  more 
account  of the interests  of developing  countries. 
1.27.  The  Committee  considers  that  the 'medium-
term  institute'  which,  as Mr  Ortoli  announced  to 
the European  Parliament  in  Strasbourg  on 
18 February,  is to be set up in the  near  future, 
should  have  the  task  of ensuring  the  necessary 
liaison  between  economic  and  social  forecasts, 
especially  with  regard  to the  adaptation  of the 
educational  system  to the new  economic  objectives. 
The Committee  is interested  in this  new  step  by the 
Commission  but,  in the  absence  of more  detailed 
information  on the precise  role  to be assigned  to the 
institute,  would  refer  to its specific  comments  on the 
possible  creation  of a European  institute  for socio-
economic  forecasting. 
1.28.  The  Committee  would  also  point  out that  it 
has always  attached  importance  to the definition  and 
implementation  of a common  policy  of full  and 
better  employment,  conceived  within  the framework 
of economic  policies  in keeping  with  the interests  of 
the people  of the Community,  and,  in the short-term, 
to taking  measures  to absorb  unemployment. 
No C 263/18 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 17.11.75 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. As  far as the immediate  future  is concerned, 
and more  specifically  as regards  updating  the Social 
Action  Programme,  the Committee,  bearing  in mind 
its Opinion  on the  Programme,  the  decisions  taken 
up to now,  and  the  current  economic  and  social 
situation,  holds  the view  that  urgent  priority  action 
must  be taken  in the  field  of employment  and 
working  conditions. 
2.2. The  Committee  considers  that  the  measures 
to deal  with  this  situation,  be they  at Community, 
national  or enterprise  level,  must  be adopted  and 
implemented  in  close  cooperation  with 
representatives  of the  various  economic  and  social 
interest  groups  concerned. 
2.3. Priority  action  must  be  undertaken  or 
expanded  in the following  areas  in particular: 
(a) the  protection  and  increase  of the  purchasing 
power  of wages,  the  earnings  of the  self-
employed  and  social  benefits,  including 
retirement  and  pension  benefits,  inter  alia  by 
coordinating  the  efforts  of Member  States  to 
shield  such  income  from  inflation; 
(b) income  guarantees  for  workers  undergoing 
retraining  or looking  for a job. 
These  guarantees  must  be backed  up by measures 
to encourage  retraining  and  to limit  the  social 
costs  involved  in occupational  mobility. 
Incomes  should  be  guaranteed  not  only  for 
human  and  social  reasons,  but also  on economic 
grounds,  since  such  measures  prevent  a further 
slow-down  in economic  activity  and  encourage 
recovery. 
The guarantee  systems  already  established  in 
several  Member  States  should  be coordinated 
within  the  framework  of an extended  system  of 
social  security; 
(c) financial  measures  in aid  of the  ever-increasing 
number  of workers  on short  time,  to provide 
them  with  a certain  level  of income  and  to avoid 
disturbance  of the  labour  market  in specific 
regions,  industries  or occupations; 
(d) expansion  of the  role  of the  Social  Fund  in the 
campaign  against  unemployment.  Fund  action 
should  be geared  inter  alia  to the  following 
objectives: — reinforcement  of  measures  to  combat 
structural  unemployment  in less-developed 
regions; 
— financing  of readaptation  and  retraining 
schemes  throughout  the  Community, 
particularly  in sectors  where  the  situation  is 
critical; 
— financial  assistance  for  the  building  and 
equipping  of vocational  training  centres; 
— suitable  application  of  the  aid  already 
provided  for in respect  of part  of the cost  of 
allowances  paid  to newly-engaged  workers  by 
undertakings  establishing  themselves  in less-
developed  regions  (Article  1, subparagraph 
A 24 of Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2397/ 
71 of 8 November  1971); 
(e) adoption  of specific  measures  to assist  certain 
categories  of  workers  who  are  particularly 
vulnerable  in the  present  crisis  (young  people, 
women,  unskilled  adult  workers,  migrant 
workers,  elderly  workers).  These  measures  should 
be aimed  at improving  the  supply  and  demand 
position  on the labour  market: 
— by strengthening  public  employment  services 
and 
— implementing  vocational  guidance  and  basic 
and advanced  vocational  training 
programmes; 
(f) greater  flexibility  in the  retirement  age,  and 
adjustment  to labour  market  conditions  and 
personal  preference; 
(g) improvement  in each  Member  State  of the 
legislation  concerning  all  rights  relating  to 
retirement; 
(h) creation  of jobs  in line  with  the  new  type  of 
economic  growth  (e.g.  in health  services,  social 
welfare,  protection  of the environment); 
(i) coordination  between  social  and  regional  policies 
with  the  aim  of creating  new  jobs  in the  areas 
where  manpower  is available.  Where  a certain 
degree  of  mobility  between  regions  is 
unavoidable  the requisite  measures  must  be taken 
to keep  down  social  costs. 
2.4. The  Committee  would  point  out  that,  in 
addition  to the  priority  action  mentioned  above,  a 
17.11.75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 263/19 
very special  effort  should  be made  in the  following 
areas: 
(a) expansion  and  improvement  of social  and  health 
services  and  subsidized  housing  for,  inter  alia, 
migrant  workers  and  their  families; 
(b) improvement  of working  conditions  (upgrading 
of manual  jobs,  working  hours,  hygiene,  safety, 
accident  prevention,  etc.); 
(c) supervision  of  the  activities  of  temporary 
employment  agencies  and  suppliers  of contract 
labour,  especially  during  periods  of labour-
market  disequilibrium; 
(d) greater  involvement  of  representatives  of 
economic  and  social  interest  groups  in 
Community  decisions  on economic  and  social 
policy.  This  is necessary  to ensure  that  these 
groups  are not confronted  with  the consequences 
of decisions  in which  they  have  not  had  a 
sufficient  say.  Without  prejudice  to the  specific 
powers  of  the  Standing  Committee  on 
Employment,  whose  reactivation  it welcomes,  the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  would  draw 
attention  to the  specific  function  assigned  to it 
under  the  Treaty  in respect  of all sectors  of 
economic  and  social  policy; 
(e) cooperation  between  national  employment 
services.  Such  cooperation  must  be intensified  and 
systematized  as a matter  of urgency  with  a view 
to providing  job-seekers  with  a better  service, 
and improving  the  guidance,  training  and 
distribution  of workers.  In this  connection  the 
Committee  would  stress  that  it  attaches 
importance  to the  introduction  of a European 
international  vacancy  clearance  system  (SEDOC). 
It also  considers  that  supplementary  measures 
should  be adopted  to bring  about  a practical 
improvement  in cooperation  and  exchange  of 
information  between  national  employment 
services; 2.5. The  Committee  takes  the  view  that  the 
updating  of the  Social  Action  Programme  must  be 
geared  mainly  to the implementation  of the measures 
outlined  above.  To this  end,  appropriate  financial 
and institutional  resources  must  be rapidly  deployed. 
These  may  be resources  which  are specific  to social 
policy  (Social  Fund),  or resources  which  come  under 
other  Community  policies  but  further  social  policy 
or are related  to it (Regional  Fund). 
2.6. In  the Committee's  view,  it is also  important 
to diversify  action  on employment  according  to the 
specific  requirements  of certain  sections  of the 
population  or certain  economic  sectors.  Priority  must 
be given  to action  which  is likely  to yield  rapid  and 
significant  results.  The  interaction  between  the 
various  aspects  of social  policy  and  the  need  for 
consistency  in this  policy  should,  however,  be borne 
in mind  and  care  should  be  taken  to avoid 
sacrificing  future  development  because  of immediate 
or short-term  concerns  stemming  from  the  present 
crisis. 
2.7. Any  economic  policy  that  fails  to preserve  the 
purchasing  power  of workers  who  are  in full-time 
employment  or guarantee  workers  who  are  wholly 
unemployed  or on short  time  a suitable  income 
would  have  not  only  social  but  also  economic 
consequences.  The  development  of pay  and  the 
protection  of  jobs  must  not  therefore  be 
systematically  treated  as being  mutually  exclusive.  At 
all events  the  two  sides  of industry's  freedom  of 
bargaining  must  be preserved. 
2.8. As  regards  the  Council  resolution  of. 
21 January  1974  on the  increased  involvement  of 
management  and  labour  in the economic  and  social 
decisions  of the Community,  and  of workers  in the 
life of undertakings,  the Committee  would  stress  that 
such  involvement  is not  to be conceived  as being 
confined  to measures  of social  protection. 
(f) harmonization  of  labour  force  statistics  to 
improve  the transparency  of the  labour  market; 
recognition  and  application  by the Community  of 
the standards  laid  down  by the  International 
Labour  Organization;  a minimum  of guidance 
concerning  the flight  from  the land; 
(g) labour  market  analyses  and forecasts. 2.9. The  complete  intertwining  of economic  and 
social  aspects,  particularly  in  the  field  of 
employment,  could  therefore  provide  an opportunity 
to set  an example  in carrying  out  intentions  to 
consult  and  cooperate  with  industry  and  all other 
economic  and  social  interests.  In this  connection 
three  proposals  could  be made  to the  Commission 
No C 263/20 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17.11.  75 
and the Council: 
(a) the  convening  of a European  economic  and 
social  conference  bringing  all interested  parties 
face to face  with  the  European  Commission  and 
Government  Ministers  responsible  for  economic, 
financial  and  social  affairs.  The  Economic  and 
Social  Committee  should  also  be associated  with 
such  a conference.  The  object  of  such  a 
conference  would  be to study  the  short-  and 
medium-term  economic  and  social  outlook  for 
the Community  and  propose  priority  action  to be 
taken  by the Community  bodies  in the immediate 
future; 
(b) in keeping  with  the  views  expressed  at the 
conference  on future  European  social  policy,  held 
on 16 December  1974,  and  at the sixth  session  of 
the Standing  Committee  on Employment,  held  on 
17 February  1975,  and  in the light  of the  present 
social  situation,  which  is characterized  by a grave 
deterioration  of  the  labour  market,  the 
Committee  would  state  its  support  of  the 
principle  of joint  sectoral  meetings  between 
labour  and  management  and  other  economic  and social  groups.  The  practical  details  of  this 
consultation  should  be decided  jointly  by the 
parties  concerned,  in keeping  with  the  autonomy 
of the two  sides  of industry; 
(c) the  establishment  of a European  institute  for 
socio-economic  forecasting  to  ensure  liaison 
between  economic  and  social  forecasts.  Backed 
up by the  research  and  analyses  carried  out  by 
the Member  States,  this  institute,  besides 
providing  valuable  information  concerning 
employment,  vocational  training  and  regional 
policy,  could  play  a part  in connection  with  the 
new prospects  for cooperation  opened  up by the 
Lome  convention. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 May  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
ANNEX 
to the Opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  amendments  were  rejected  during  the discussion: 
Point  1 
From  'and  that  on' amend  to read: 
'and that  on economic  policies,  including  the development  of the  internal  market  on the 
one hand  and  the social  problems  on the other  have  been  closely  coordinated.  As for the 
immediate  future,  the policy  on the restructuring  of the  economies  must  take  these  points 
into account'. 
Reason 
The draft  Opinion  raises  these  problems  itself  in item  1.23,  the last  sentence  of which  reads: 
'To this  end,  forecasts  and  analyses  should  take  into  account  the guidelines  laid  down  in the 
various  Community  policies  ...'. 
Item  1.24  goes  on. to refer  in this  connection  to the 'energy  problem',  the 'new  attitudes  of oil 
and raw  material  producing  countries',  the  'bilateral  and  multilateral  agreements'  and  the 
'Lome  convention'. 
17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/21 
We have  here  a set of policies  which  from  the social  point  of view  should  be geared  to 'full 
and better  employment  — a sine  qua  non  of an effective  social  policy',  as stated  in item  1.23. 
Consequently,  the same  line  of thought  must  be followed  in the general  comments  and  specific 
comments  for the sake  of logical  consistency.  This  is the chief  reason  for the amendment  to 
item 1 on page  1. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 9; against:  51; abstentions:  14. 
Point  1.19,  first  indent 
After  'job-seekers  and vacancies'  insert  '...,  including  those  in agriculture,'. 
Reasons 
This amendment  is justified  by the need  to bring  the problems  of the self-employed,  especially 
farmers,  progressively  into  the Commission's  social  programmes,  and  thereby  overcome  a legal 
situation  and  practice  which  are damaging  to the rights  of this  socio-economic  category. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 14; against:  43; abstentions:  19. 
Point  2.2. 
Insert  at the end  of point  2.2: 
'Multinationals,  by their  activities  and  their  very  existence,  can  have  a considerable 
influence  on employment,  working  conditions,  the social  protection  of workers  and  the 
role of workers'  and  employers'  organizations  in industrial  relations.  Community  super-
vision  of the activities  of multinationals  should  therefore  be introduced'. 
Reasons 
Given  the importance  of the matter,  it would  be illogical  to disregard  it in an Opinion  on 
the Updating  of the Social  Action  Programme. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 22; against:  36; abstentions:  20. 
Item 2.3. 
Insert  between  points  (a) and  (b) the following  paragraph,  which  thus  becomes  point  (b): 
(b) 'immediate  harmonization  of legislation  pertaining  to the length  of the working  week, 
allowing  introduction  of the 40-hour  week  without  loss  of pay  and  standardization  of 
4 weeks  of paid  annual  leave  in all economic  sectors'. 
No C 263/22  Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17.11.75 
Reasons 
Regional  imbalances,  sectoral  disturbances  and  the crisis  in general  make  it necessary  to apply 
rigorously  a harmonized  40-hour  working  week. 
Immediate  harmonization,  which  necessitates  emergency  action,  should  meet  with  the approval 
of all the members  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee.  In the current  economic  situation, 
it could  be a way  of relieving  tension  on the labour  market. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 7; against:  54; abstentions:  13. 
Item 2.4 (b) 
Add to the passage  in parentheses  ', the cost  of labour  mobility,  and particularly  of the exodus 
from  the country  and  certain  regions'. 
Reasons 
This amendment  is justified  by the need  to bring  the problems  of the self-employed,  especially 
farmers,  progressively  into  the Commission's  social  programmes,  and  thereby  overcome  a legal 
situation  and  practice  which  are damaging  to the rights  of this  socio-economic  category. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 9; against:  27; abstentions:  30. 
Point  2.9. 
Delete  point  (a). 
Reasons 
In previous  Opinions,  the  Committee  has  warned  against  the  proliferation  of bodies  at 
Community  level  alongside  the organs  provided  for by the Treaty.  These  organs  should  rather 
be strengthened  and  made  more  effective.  Thus,  the Economic  and  Social  Committee  is the 
permanent  forum  for the various  categories  of economic  and social  life.  It has delivered  several 
Opinions  which  have  a bearing  on the questions  referred  to. Securing  their  acceptance  by the 
Community's  normal  institutions,  viz.  the  Commission,  the  Council  and  the  European 
Parliament,  is what  matters,  rather  than  the convening  of a conference  outside  the Community 
framework  which  would  not have  the time  needed  to perform  the work  in question.  In short, 
the proposal  made  in point  (a) would  not only  detract  from  the function  of the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  but also  weaken  the Community  institutions  as a whole. 
Result  of the vote 
For: 36; against:  52; abstentions:  8. 
Point  2.9 (a) 
Amend  Point  2.9 (a) as follows: 
The first  sentence  'the  convening...  affairs'  becomes  the first  paragraph. 
17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/23 
The second  paragraph  should  read  as follows: 
'This  should  be grounded  on a wide-ranging  debate  at all levels  in the  national  and 
Community  authorities,  especially  within  all the economic  and  social  bodies  which  fulfil 
a role  similar  to that  of the Economic  and Social  Committee  of the European  Communities'. 
The present  second  sentence:  'The  object  of such  a conference..becomes  the  third 
paragraph. 
Result  of the  vote 
For: 14; against:  39; abstentions:  28. 
II. In accordance  with  an amendment  adopted,  the following  passages  contained  in the Opinion 
of the Section  for Social  Questions  were  modified. 
Point  2.9. 
The complete  intertwining  of economic  and  social  aspects,  particularly  in the  field  of 
employment,  could  therefore  provide  an opportunity  to set  an example  in carrying  out 
interventions  to consult  and  cooperate  with  industry  and  its representatives.  In this  connection 
three  proposals  could  be made  to the Commission  and  the Council: 
Point  2.9  (a) 
(a) the convening  of an European  economic  and  social  conference  bringing  the two  sides  of 
industry  face-to-face  with  Government  ministers  responsible  for  economic  and  social 
affairs. 
Point  2.9  (b) 
(b) in keeping  with  the  views  expressed  at the conference  on future  European  social  policy, 
held on 16 December  1974,  and  at the  sixth  session  of the  Standing  Committee  on 
Employment,  held  on 17 February  1975,  and  in the light  of the  present  social  situation, 
which  is characterized  by a grave  deterioration  of the labour  market,  the Section  would  state 
its support  of the principle  of joint  sectoral  meetings  between  labour  and  management. 
Result  of the  vote 
For: 40; against:  38; abstentions:  11. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Decision  concerning  a programme  of pilot 
schemes  and  studies  to combat  poverty 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 101  of 3 May  1975,  page  10. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 29 April  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community.