No C 307/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 11. 84 
of new types of cereal, and forestry), the effect of 
certain biotechnological factors on the food 
industry and their importance for the consumer 
be also included; 
that research also be carried out on the effects of new 
technologies, and particularly new media, on social 
communication structures and processes, so as to 
make possible a timely assessment of the risks and 
opportunities for social and cultural life; 
finally, that consideration be given to the problems 
and opportunities entailed in the more frequent 
introduction of new techniques: 
— as regards consumer interests, 
— above all, as regards alleviating the difficulties 
encountered by many groups of handicapped 
persons. 
HI. CONCLUSION 
1. The Committee once more stresses that measures to 
cope with the social effects of technological change must be viewed in the light of the abovementioned ideas on 
social policy in the Community. 
2. The Committee shares the views of the Standing 
Committee on Employment in pointing out the need for 
appropriate use of Community financial instruments to 
help create a Community innovation strategy capable of 
coping with the social consequences of technological 
change. 
3. In addition to the measures being taken to alleviate 
current and imminent changes caused by evolving science 
and new technology, the Committee would urge the 
Council to appoint a top level group, mandated to assess 
and advise on the long-term effects of technological 
change on the social structure of the Community. The 
Economic and Social Committee, as the representative of 
economic and social interest groups in the Community, 
can make an important - indeed essential -
contribution to the formulation of future measures and 
policies in this field - via the forthcoming conference on 
'Europe and the new technologies', and by further work 
on these issues. 
Done at Brussels, 26 September 1984. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Third Council Directive on summertime arrangements 
(84/C 307/04) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 179 of 7 July 1984, page 11. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 6 July 1984 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal (J). 
Procedure 
The Section for Transport and Communications, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion under the urgency procedure laid down 
in the Committee's Rules of Procedure (Article 47). The rapporteur was Mr Binnenbruck. 
(l) OJNoC 179, 7. 7. 1984, p. 11. 
19. 11. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 307/9 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
At its 219th plenary session (meeting of 26 September 1984) the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously. 
1. The Economic and Social Committee approves the 
Commission's efforts to harmonize summertime. It 
accordingly welcomes the Commission's proposal for a 
Third Directive laying down uniform dates from 1986 
onwards for the end of summertime in the Community. 
This would mean that both the beginning and the end of 
summertime would be harmonized in all the Member 
States, so that the costly problems in the transport, energy 
supply and communication sectors caused by different 
time change-overs and time differences would be largely 
eliminated. 
2. Although the Commission's new proposal fails to 
take full account of the special position of the island 
Member States and fails to fix the end of summertime in 
Done at Brussels, 26 September 1984. the month of November (J), it does extend the length of 
summertime on the continent. The Committee 
accordingly considers that the advantages to be gained 
from the alignment of island and continental summertime 
far outweigh the few disadvantages that may be suffered 
by the island Member States on account of the 
curtailment of their summertime. The Committee 
recommends that in the interests of the Community, the 
Council should bridge the remaining differences between 
individual Member States and accept the Commission's 
proposal for a Third Directive. 
(') See also the Committee's opinion on the Commission 
proposal for a First Council Directive on summertime 
arrangements (OJ No C 131, 12. 6. 1976, p. 12). 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 754/76 on 
the customs treatment applicable to goods returned to the customs territory of the 
Community 
(84/C 307/05) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 87 of 29 March 1984, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 3 April 1984 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. 
Procedure 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services was instructed to prepare the 
Committee's work on the matter. The Section adopted its opinion, based on the report by Mr 
Broicher, on 5 September 1984. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
At its 219th plenary session held on 26 and 27 September 1984 (meeting of 26 September) the 
Committee unanimously adopted the opinion set out below.