30.11.77 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 287/5 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the control  of potato  ring  rot 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 175  of 23 July  1977,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 21 June  1977,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  47 and  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 
151st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 September  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Articles  47 and  198  thereof, 
Having  regard  to  the  Council's  request  for  an 
opinion  on 21 June  1977, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
21 June  1977,  instructing  the  Section  for  Agriculture 
to prepare  its work  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to Article  47 of its Rules  of Procedure, 
Having  regard  to its earlier  work  on the  matter,  and 
in particular  the  opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a 
Council  Directive  on protective  measures  against  the 
introduction  into  the  Member  States  of organisms 
harmful  to plants  or plant  products, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  of the  Section  for 
Agriculture, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by Mr  Emo 
Capodilista,  deputizing  for the rapporteur,  Mr Wick, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 151st  plenary 
session,  held  on 28 and  29 September  1977  (meeting 
of 29 September), HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  recognizes  that  by virtue  of 
the provisions  contained  in Directive  77/93/EEC 
(Article  5 (1) and  Annex  IV,  Part  A, No 23),  special 
rules  are  needed  to control  potato  ring  rot.  It has 
already  adopted  an opinion  on Directive  77/93/EEC. 
1.2. The  Committee  considers  that  only 
Community  control  measures  can  prevent  the disease 
from  spreading  beyond  the  identified  centres  of 
infection. 
1.3. Nevertheless,  in view  of the  fact  that  potato 
ring rot has  been  a rare  occurrence  up to now,  the 
Committee,  without  wishing  to cast  doubt  on the 
harmfulness  of the  disease,  feels  that  the  Directive  in 
question  should  be less  'perfectionist'  and  should 
contain  only  those  provisions  that  are  really 
necessary. 
In this  connection,  the  Committee  considers  that 
concrete  investigations  are  needed  in order  to be 
able to identify  those  areas  of the  Community  where 
infection  has broken  out. 
1.4. The  Committee  calls  upon  the  Commission  to 
make  sure  that  the Directive  is not  used  in individual 
No C 287/6 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 30.11.  77 
Member  States  to justify  the  retention  of import 
restrictions  on potatoes  or to justify  the  creation  of 
new import  barriers. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  2(1) 
Member  States  should  be able  to arrange  the  timing 
of their  periodic  surveys  in such  a way  as to avoid  a 
level  of expenditure  on staff  and  other  costs  which 
cannot  be justified,  given  the  previous  incidence  of 
potato  ring  rot.  The  Committee  feels  that  the  survey 
method  to be adopted,  especially  with  regard  to the 
intervals  between  individual  surveys,  should  reflect 
actual  conditions. 
2.2. Article  4 (2) 
Article  4 (2) is very  wide  in scope  and  has  no parallel 
in comparable  EEC  rules.  It should  be deleted. 
2.3. First  indent  of Article  5 (3) 
To avoid  misunderstandings,  the  Committee 
proposes  that  the  words  'for  potatoes'  be inserted 
immediately  after  the word  'packing-material'. 
The term  'containers'  should  also  be defined  more 
clearly. 2.4. Article  5 (5) 
The Committee  would  like  to see  the  English  word 
'cutting'  translated  into  all the  languages  since  it is 
not a recognized  international  term  and  all Member 
States  have  in their  own  languages  a commonly  used 
equivalent. 
2.5. Article  8 
The Committee  feels  that  the  Commission  should  be 
immediately  notified  of any  additional  or stricter 
measures  taken  by the  Member  States.  The  following 
sentence  should,  therefore,  be added  to Article  8: 
'The  Member  State  shall  immediately  inform  the 
other  Member  States  and  the  Commission  of the 
measures  taken,  and  indicate  the  reasons 
therefor'. 
2.6. Article  9 
The Committee  would  point  out  that  this  Article  is 
already  included  (as  Article  15)  in  Directive 
77/93/EEC.  Repetition  would  seem  pointless  and 
Article  9 should  be dropped. 
In this  connection  the  Committee  would  underline 
once  more  its belief  that  the  rules  must  not  be used 
to preserve  existing  import  restrictions  or create  new 
trade  barriers. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 September  1977. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  amendments,  were  rejected  during  the discussions: 
Paragraph  2.2. 
Delete. 
Voting: 
For:  9, against:  27, abstentions:  11. 
30. 11. 77 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 287/7 
Paragraph  2.6. 
Delete  the second  sentence  of the  first  subparagraph. 
Voting: 
For:  9, against:  25, abstentions:  14. 
Opinions  on the 
— proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on the  granting  of financial  aids  to demonstration 
projects  in the field  of energy-saving 
and the 
— proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  on the  granting  of financial  support  for  projects 
to exploit  alternative  energy  sources 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 138  of 11  June  1977,  page  5. 
On 7 June  1977,  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 
151st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 September  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community  and,  in particular, 
Article  198  thereof, THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 151st  plenary 
session,  held  on 28 and  29 September  1977  (meeting 
of 29 September), 
Having  regard  to the  request  for  an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on 7 June 
1977, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
21 June  1977,  instructing  the  Section  for  Energy  and 
Nuclear  Questions  to draw  up  an  opinion  and  a 
report  on the  matter, Whereas  by bringing  about  improvements  in energy 
consumption  patterns  (elimination  of waste)  and  in 
the balance  of payments,  as well  as by playing  a 
useful  role  in the  creation  of jobs,  the  Commission's 
recommendations  on the  rational  utilization  of energy 
can help  to reflate  the economy; 
Whereas  the  proposed  measures  must  form  part  of a 
comprehensive,  consistent  energy  policy; 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section  at 
its 34th  meeting,  held  on 9 September  1977, Whereas  these  measures  must  be  backed  up  by 
research  and  development  leading  to the  proper 
exploitation  of  all  available  Community  energy 
resources, Having  regard  to  the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Croese,