No C 97/30 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities . 16. 8. 74 
— Delete  paragraphs  5 (from  the second  subparagraph  onwards)  and  6. 
— Replace  by the  following  text: 
'Given  that  such  musts  have  to be defined  mainly  according  to how  they  are  used,  the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  therefore  suggests  waiting  until  the  Community  rules  for 
liqueur  wines  and  aromatized  wines  have  been  adopted,  in order  to determine  whether  a 
new definition  of an intermediary  product  is needed'. 
Reasons: 
While  this  amendment  comes  to the  same  conclusions  as the  draft  opinion  (see  last  sub-
paragraph  of paragraph  6), it: 
1. deletes  the passages  which  prejudge  the future  regulation  on aromatized  wines  and  liqueur 
wines  (first  and  second  subparagraphs  of paragraph  6); 
2. avoids  a premature  stand  being  taken  in what  is still  a much  debated  matter. 
It is in fact  possible  to put  forward  a series  of counter  arguments  to those  which  are  now  in 
the draft  opinion,  and  which  should  be deleted  from  the opinion  and  included  in the record  of 
the proceedings.  Among  these  counter  arguments  are: 
— In favour  of the Commission's  proposal: 
— By creating  artificial  technical  barriers  for economic  and  not technical  reasons,  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  816/70  has  prevented  normal  competition  and  a possible  lowering  of the 
prices  of popular  aperitifs; 
— Outlet  for (surplus)  production  of Community  alcohol; 
— Sales  possibilities  for products  containing  less  alcohol; 
— Possibility  of using  wines  with  a low  alcohol  content. 
— Against  the Commission's  proposal: 
— Difficylty  of finding  products  with  a low  alcohol  content  which  are  stable  without  the 
use of a stabilizing  agent; 
— Need  to support  table  wines  with  a high  alcohol  content. 
Outcome  of the voting: 
Votes  in favour:  16. 
Votes  against:  34. 
Abstentions:  13. 
CONSULTATION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on a Recommendation  for a Council  Decision  setting  up a Committee  for Youth 
Questions  and  a Recommendation  for a Council  Decision  setting  up a Youth  Advisory 
Committee 
A. REQUEST  FOR  AN  OPINION 
At its 247th  meeting  held  on 18 and  19 June  1973,  the Council  decided  to exercise  its 
option  of consulting  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on the  above  draft 
Recommendations. 
The request  for an Opinion  was  sent  by the President  of the Council  to the Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee  on 21 June  1973. 
16. 8. 74 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 97/31 
B. TEXT  WHICH  WAS  THE  SUBJECT  OF  THE  CONSULTATION 
The text  which  was  the  subject  of the  consultation  has  not  been  published  in the 
Official  Journal  of the European  Communities. 
C. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
At its 118th  plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 26,  27 and  28 February  1974,  the 
Committee  adopted  its Opinion  on the  text  referred  to under  B by a majority,  with 
three  dissenting  votes  out  of all members  present  or represented. 
The text  of the  Opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  letter  of 21 June  1973  by 
which  the  President  of the  Council  of the  European 
Communities  requested  the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  to  deliver  an  Opinion  on  the 
'Recommendation  for  a Council  Decision  setting  up 
a Committee  for  Youth  Questions'  and  on  the 
'Recommendation  for  a Council  Decision  setting  up 
a Youth  Advisory  Committee'; 
Having  regard  to the  Bureau's  decision  of 25 June 
1973,  in pursuance  of Article  22 of the  Rules  of 
Procedure,  instructing  the  Section  for  Social 
Questions  to prepare  an Opinion  on this  subject; 
Having  regard  to  Article  198  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  at its  meeting  on 
14 February  1974; 
Having  regard  to the  report  presented  by Mr  van 
Rens,  the rapporteur; 
Having  regard  to its discussions  at its 118th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26, 27 and  28 February  1974; 
Whereas  young  people  have  numerous  reservations 
about  certain  aspects  of building  Europe; 
Whereas  there  is a need  to associate  young  people 
with  European  integration,  particularly  by providing 
continuous  and  exhaustive  information; 
Whereas  the  committee  of  competent  officials 
should  be given  more  the character  of a Community 
body  and  more  explicit  terms  of reference; 
Whereas  it is incumbent  on the  Commission  to seek 
to set  up machinery  through  which  young  people 
can genuinely  play  a larger  role  in Community 
matters; Whereas  the  time  is not  yet  ripe  for  setting  up a 
youth  advisory  committee, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION: 
I. GENERAL  COMMENTS 
1. It  is the Community's  task  not  only  to improve 
cooperation  between  the  Member  States,  but  also  to 
ensure  that  their  policies  are  compatible  with  each 
other  and  to further  integration  of these  policies.  To 
judge  by  the  Commission's  general  approach  to 
youth  policy,  the  purpose  is  to  increase 
intergovernmental  cooperation  and  to formulate  and 
put into  practice  a Community  policy  in this  area. 
The Committee  is afraid  that  here,  as in other  cases, 
the Commission  is showing  a tendency  to set  up 
more  and  more  intergovernmental  committees,  a 
tendency  which  prompts  the  fundamental  question 
as to whether  it is Community  or intergovernmental 
policies  that  the Commission  wants. 
2. The  Committee  is completely  in agreement 
with  Point  16 of the  Hague  Communique,  which 
stated  that  all  creative  activities  and  actions 
conducive  to European  growth  decided  upon  at the 
conference  would  be assured  of a greater  future  if 
the younger  generation  were  closely  associated  with 
them,  that  this  aim  had  been  adopted  by  the 
governments  and  that  the  Communities  would  take 
steps  to achieve  it. Nevertheless,  the Committee  feels 
that if young  people  are to be effectively  involved  in 
European  integration  an effort  must  be made  — 
especially  in education  — by the  Member  States 
themselves,  in the  light  of directions  and  advice 
from  Community  bodies. 
3. The  Committee  considers  that  attainment  of 
the objectives  set  out  in Point  16 of the  Hague 
Communique  requires  the  introduction  of  new 
machinery. 
It doubts,  however,  whether  the  Commission's 
proposals  for  the  setting-up  of a committee  for 
youth  questions  and  a youth  advisory  committee 
will provide  machinery  capable  of meeting  these 
aims. 
No C 97/32 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 8. 74 
4. In  this  connection  the  Committee  regrets  that 
after  the 1970  Symposium  the  Commission  did  not 
deem  it necessary  to exercise  its right  to consult 
certain  interested  bodies;  it could  have  taken  the 
opportunity  to sound  out  youth  organizations  on 
what  needs  to  be  done  to  keep  them  better 
informed,  and  to involve  them  more  closely  in the 
work  of European  integration.  In this  way  it could 
have  found  out  how  far  youth  organizations  are 
interested  in forming  part  of an  institutionalized 
body  with  purely  advisory  functions,  and  on what 
terms  they  would  be prepared  to join  such  a body. 
5. It  should  be  remembered  that  youth 
organizations  are  very  critical  of the  way  in which 
Community  policies  are  being  implemented  at 
present;  it is pointless,  therefore,  to imagine  that  the 
representatives  of the younger  generation  will  accept 
any limitation  as to the range  of subjects  which  they 
can discuss.  The  right  to take  up matters  on their 
own initiative  is  regarded  by  representative 
European  youth  organizations  as  an  absolute 
precondition.  The  Committee  considers,  however, 
that such  a right  to take  up matters  should  apply  to 
problems  which  concern  young  people,  and  to the 
broad  issues  of Community  policy. 
6. The  Committee  considers  that  the  younger 
generation  must  be kept  better  informed  about  and 
more  closely  involved  in Community  policy-making. 
In its view,  it is part  of the  Commission's  role  to 
take steps  to increase  cooperation  between  Member 
States,  but  also  to make  proposals  on  how  the 
various  policies  can be aligned. 
7. The  Committee  doubts  whether  a sufficiently 
thorough  examination  of the current  situation  in the 
Community  and  in the Member  States  has  preceded 
the Commission  proposals  for  Council  decisions 
setting  up a committee  for  youth  questions  and  a 
youth  advisory  committee.  In the  Committee's  view 
efforts  to associate  young  people  in the work  of the 
Community  can  only  be successful  if the aspirations 
and wishes  of those  involved  are known. 
8. The  Committee  therefore  considers  that  the 
youth  organizations  at European  level  should  agree 
to become  involved  in  work  for  European 
unification." 
II. SPECIFIC  COMMENTS 
RECOMMENDATION  FOR  A COUNCIL  DECISION 
SETTING  UP  A  COMMITTEE  FOR  YOUTH 
QUESTIONS 
1. According  to the  Commission  document,  a 
committee  of  officials  should  determine  youth 
policy.  This  seems  to  be  confirmed  by  the Commission's  definition  of such  a Committee's 
tasks,  viz.  kthe  committee  would  act as a forum  for 
the discussion  of ideas,  encourage  action,  formulate 
guidelines  and  examine,  in the  initial  stage,  the 
initiatives  already  taken  before  formulating  new 
measures'. 
2. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  thinks, 
however,  that  this  body  should  not  be allowed  to 
determine  policy  in this  field,  but  should  only 
discuss  ideas  and  help  in that  way  to increase  the 
Commission's  efforts  towards  involving  the  younger 
generation  in the  building  of the  Community.  The 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  is, however,  afraid 
that since  government  officials  would  far outnumber 
Commission  representatives  on  the  planned 
committee,  the  approach  would  be national  rather 
than  European. 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  therefore 
considers  that  the  Commission  should  be  more 
strongly  represented  on  the  committee  tor  youth 
questions  and  provide  both  its chairman  and  the 
secretariat. 
If this  were  done,  such  a committee  could  be a 
useful  part  of the  machinery  for  involving  young 
people  more  closely  in the  process  of Community 
integration. 
3. Here  we  have  a basic  problem,  since,  as the 
Commission  sees  it, the  proposed  committee's  task 
would  be to 'concert,  in a general  manner,  measures 
involving  the  interest  of young  people  to be taken 
at Community  and  national  levels,  as between  the 
Member  States  on the  one  hand,  and  between  the 
Member  States  and  the Commission  on the other'. 
4. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  considers 
that the  proposed  committee's  terms  of reference 
should  be made  more  explicit.  Such  a Committee 
must  not  be an alibi  or an excuse  for doing  nothing 
further  of a concrete  nature  to involve  young  people 
in building  the Community.  Under  no circumstances 
should  the  role  of the  Community  institutions  in 
this field  be eroded;  the  Commission  must  retain 
responsibility  for  final  proposals,  without  the 
proposed  committee  for  youth  questions  being  able 
to block  them. 
B. RECOMMENDATION  FOR  A COUNCIL  DECISION 
SETTING  UP  A YOUTH  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE 
1. The  Commission  considers  that  consultation  of 
young  people  through  a representative  committee 
which  could  formulate  its  views  in  complete 
independence  would  be an important  step  towards 
16. 8. 74 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 97/33 
involving  youth  in  the  work  of  building  the 
Community.  It  envisages  this  committee  as 
submitting  opinions  not  only  on measures  provided 
for in the  Treaties,  but  also  on  other  measures 
calculated  to involve  young  people  in this  work. 
2. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  points 
out that  the  essential  aim  of the  Member  States,  the 
Commission  and  those  concerned  is to provide  the 
young  citizens  of Europe  with  better  information 
about  Community  matters  —  and  eventually 
inculcate  a better  understanding  of them;  it doubts 
whether  the  simple  fact  of  having  a few 
representatives  on a purely  consultative  body  will 
make  it any  easier  for  youth  organizations  to 
acquaint  their  members  with  the  results  of the 
Community's  work. 
3. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  would 
like to stress  how  little  financial  support  European 
youth  organizations  at  present  receive  for 
publicizing  developments  in  the  Community,  in 
comparison  with  the  funds  available  to governments 
and certain  bilateral  organizations. 
4. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  feels  that 
it is not  part  of the  Commission's  task  to appoint 
national  representatives  directly  to a Community 
body;  such  a procedure  would  be liable  to partially 
undo  the  efforts  of  some  European  youth 
organizations  which  are  working  at Community 
level  for  European  integration  under  difficult 
conditions. 
5. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  considers 
that there  is a need  first  of all to improve  the supply 
of information  on the  European  Communities;  to 
this end,  the information  services  of the  Commission 
should  be expanded.  A special  department  should  be 
set up within  the  Commission  information  services, 
with  adequate  means  at its disposal  for  providing 
young  people  and  their  organizations  with 
continuous  and  objective  information  on 
Community  activities  and  initiatives.  This 
department,  assisted  by youth  movements  and  the 
teaching  profession,  must  work  out  a strategy  for 
putting  over  information;  at present  documents 
describing  the  work  of the  Community  are  mostly 
unsuitable,  if not  incomprehensible,  for  people 
without  sufficient  knowledge  of economic  and  legal 
language. 
6. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  therefore 
takes  the  view  that  the  Commission  should 
fundamentally  alter  its  proposal.  Before  any 
institutionalized  bodies  are  set  up,  it is absolutely 
essential  that  the following  measures  be taken: (a) reorganization  and  development  of  the European 
Youth  Fund.  The  Committee  requests  that  the 
requisite  financial  resources  be made  available  to 
the Communities  for  this  Fund,  which  gives 
financial  support  to  documentation,  the 
organization  of meetings,  seminars  and  youth 
exchange  schemes,  as well  as subsidies  in the 
administrative  field,  with  the  object  of fostering 
Community  activity  within  youth  organizations. 
Such  action  must  make  it possible  to reach  a 
greater  number  of  young  people,  to further 
achievement  of the  Community's  fundamental 
aims,  and  to promote  cooperation. 
(b) establishment  of  a centre  for  youth  participation 
in the  Community,  under  the  auspices  of the 
Commission;  this  would  provide  a tool  enabling 
young  Europeans  and  non-governmental  youth 
organizations  to participate  in the  building  of 
Europe.  The  centre,  in which  the  Commission 
and youth  organizations  would  be  equally 
represented,  should  aim  to promote  action  in the 
fields  of community  development,  continuing 
educational  and  cultural  development. 
(c) provision  of  financial  resources  to  allow  two 
meetings  with  youth  organizations  to be held 
each  year  for  an  exchange  of views  on  the 
problems  concerning  them,  as long  as these 
organizations  remain  within  the  terms  of 
reference  given  them  by the Community. 
7. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  strongly 
emphasizes  that  young  people  need  these  facilities 
and that  youth  organizations  have  explicitly  asked 
for them. 
8. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  considers 
that,  in view  of the  fact  that  a great  deal  of work 
remains  to be done  (eg.,  in the  field  of education), 
the time  is not  yet  ripe  for  an advisory  committee. 
Later  on,  an advisory  committee  could  fulfil  a useful 
function  within  the  proposed  machinery.  Under  the 
present  proposal  only  a  small  number  of 
representatives  would  be  consulted  on  a limited 
range  of subjects,  and  the  exact  procedure  for  the 
nomination  of members  by  Member  States' 
governments  is unclear. 
9. Better  and  more  extensive  participation  by 
young  people  in  the  work  of  the  various 
Community  bodies  could  also,  in the  Committee's 
view,  contribute  positively  towards  integration.  But 
this participation  should  not  be an end  in itself,  but 
should  genuinely  serve  to increase  the  involvement 
of young  people  in the Community. 
No C 97/34 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 8. 74 
In addition,  the Commission  should,  as a matter  of 
urgency,  initiate  a major  educational  programme 
whereby  the young,  at all levels  of education,  can  be 
better  informed  about  the  objectives  of  the 
Community  and  the  means  by  which  these 
objectives  are being  pursued. 
10. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  would 
like the Commission  to report  annually  to it and  the 
European  Parliament  on all initiatives  and  measures 
taken  with  regard  to youth. 11. As  regards  the  definition  proposed  by  the 
Commission  for  the  term  'y°uth',  the  Committee 
would  like  to stress  the artificiality  of having  an age 
bracket  of 15 to 25 years. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 February  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS 
ANNEX 
to the Opinion  of the Economic  and Social  Committee 
on a 'Recommendation  for a Council  Decision  setting  up a Committee  for Youth  Questions' 
and a 'Recommendation  for  a Council  Decision  setting  up a Youth  Advisory  Committee' 
Rejected  amendment: 
The following  amendment,  submitted  in accordance  with  the provisions  of the Committee's 
Rules  of Procedure,  was  rejected  in the course  of the proceedings: 
Pages  7 and  8: 
Replace  the text  of point  8 by the following: 
'8. The  Committee  considers  that  it would  be useful  if the setting  up of a youth  advisory 
committee  as proposed  by the Commission  were  preceded  by a preliminary  phase  of 
information  and  consultation.  In addition,  the procedure  for appointing  the members  of 
this committee  should  be radically  different  to that  proposed  by the Commission.  Tlie 
youth  advisory  committee  will  then  be able  to discharge  functions  assigned  to it'. 
Reasons: 
To state  that  the time  is not yet ripe  for setting  up an advisory  committee,  without  laying  down 
a date,  a timetable  and  a procedure  for so doing,  amounts  to putting  off its creation  for ever. 
This would  run  directly  counter  to Point  16 of the Hague  Communique  referred  to in the 
Opinion  on page  2 and in the last sentence  of Point  7. 
If therefore  the Committee  does  not approve  the immediate  setting  up of the youth  advisory 
committee,  it is preferable  for it to adopt  an attitude  that  would  lead  to such  a committee 
being  set up in the foreseeable  future. 
Outcome  of the voting: 
Votes  in favour:  8. 
Abstentions:  6. 
CONSULTATION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
— on a proposal  for a Council  Decision  on action  by the European  Social  Fund  to 
assist  the social  and  occupational  integration  of handicapped  persons 
— on a proposal  for a Council  Decision  concerning  action  by the European  Social 
Fund  to assist  workers  moving  from  one Community  country  to another 
— on a proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on further  types  of aid for workers 
moving  from  one Community  country  to another 
— on a proposal  for a Council  Decision  on assistance  from  the European  Social  Fund 
to persons  employed  in the shipbuilding  industry