No C 346/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 82 
approves these dates, although it would prefer an earlier 
deadline. 
4. The Committee takes note that the technical 
provisions of the Annexes conform to the standards of the 
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1982. 
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 235 and 
198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 6 July 1982 for an opinion on 
the proposal for a five-year research and development 
programme in the field of applied metrology and 
reference materials (non-nuclear indirect action) (1983 to 
1987) (>), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman on 
19 August 1982 instructing the Section for Energy and 
Nuclear Questions to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the Community programme for this 
area for 1979 to 1982 (2), and the relevant ESC 
opinion (3), 
Having regard to the 1981 assessment report concerning 
the applied metrology and reference materials 
programme (4), 
(») OJ No C 187, 22. 7. 1982, p. 8. 
(2) OJNoL 258, 13. 10. 1979. 
(3) OJNo C 128, 21. 5. 1979. 
(4) EUR 7811. UN Economic Commission for Europe (the 04 series of 
amendments to regulation 15). The Committee feels that 
they can be approved as the best possible solution, given 
the present state of technical knowledge. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the 
above-named Section at its 75th meeting held on 
5 November 1982, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr von der Decken, 
Having regard to the discussions on 24 November 1982 
during the 202nd plenary session held on 24 and 
25 November 1982, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Economic and Social Committee has on several 
occasions endorsed R&D programmes in this area. It 
would like once again to stress the importance of 
reference materials and methods as well as applied 
metrology in many areas of economic and social activity. 
Progressive harmonization is of vital importance for 
industry, commerce, public health, environmental 
protection, agriculture, and so on. Divergence in 
measuring methods and results can create considerable 
obstacles to trade, for example, and can jeopardize the 
correct implementation of Community guidelines. Opinion on the proposal for a five-year research and development programme in the field of 
applied metrology and reference materials (non-nuclear indirect action) (1983 to 1987) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 187 of 22 July 1982, page 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 6 July 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and Social 
Committee in accordance with Articles 235 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 
202nd plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 November 1982. 
31. 12. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 346/5 
2. The Community has already completed three 
research programmes in this field (1973 to 1975; 1976 to 
1978 (2 • 7 million EUA) and 1979 to 1982 (10-3 million 
EUA)). The Commission is now proposing a fourth 
programme, to run for five years, with a budget of 34 • 7 
million ECU. The Economic and Social Committee 
believes that the proposed expansion is both justified and 
necessary, because of the results obtained to date, and the 
importance and scale of the problems. It therefore 
endorses the programme submitted by the 
Commission. 
Specific comments 
3. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the 
Commission's explicit aim not to replace or compete with 
the national and other international activities in this field, 
but to back up and collaborate with other bodies on the 
problems which are of particular importance in the 
Community context. 
4. The Economic and Social Committee notes with 
satisfaction that the results of programmes on reference 
materials, more especially inorganic reference materials, 
are now firmly established. More complex problems may 
arise with regard to organic reference materials, which will need further work in the future. Practically-oriented 
work will therefore be very important here. 
5. In its opinion (J) on the last R&D programme 
(1979 to 1982) in this area, the Economic and Social 
Committee drew attention to the need for a 
comprehensive information programme: 'It believes that 
it is essential to back up the valuable research work being 
done with a comprehensive information programme on 
the materials available, so that the maximum practical 
benefit may be derived from the Community's work.' The 
Economic and Social Committee regrets that far too little 
progress has been made in this area with the result that the 
services and opportunities set up with Community money 
could be utilized. The Economic and Social Committee 
once again stresses the need for an information 
programme of this type, and asks the Commission to 
investigate whether the situation could be remedied by 
increasing the support - drastically pruned two years 
ago - which the programme receives from the JRC. 
6. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the 
Commission's intention, via the ACPM, to review and if 
necessary adapt the programme after three years. It is very 
important to ensure that users' views are taken into 
account when this is done. 
(•) OJNo C 128, 21. 5. 1979. 
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1982. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations (EEC) No 3164/76 
and (EEC) No 2964/79 on the Community quota for the carriage of goods by road between 
Member States 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 247 of 21 September 1982, page 4. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 24 September 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community.