No C 128/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 5. 79 
Opinion of the proposal for a multiannual research programme in the field of climatology 
(indirect action) (1979 to 1983) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 247 of 18 October 1978, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 September 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 235 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 164th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 19 and 20 December 1978. 
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 Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 27 September 1978 for 
an opinion, 
Having regard to the decision by its Bureau on 
18 October 1978 instructing the Section for Energy and 
Nuclear Questions to prepare an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by that Section at 
its meeting held on 8 December 1978, 
Having regard to the oral report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mrs Clark, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting of 
19 December 1978 (164th plenary session of 19 and 20 
December), 
"Whereas natural climatic variations have a major 
impact on human civilization, often involving serious 
economic consequences and causing widespread human 
hardship; 
Whereas while these variations are themselves well 
documented, relatively little is known about their 
causes; 
Whereas the Member States should, through a 
coordinated Community research programme, contribute to worldwide efforts to achieve a better 
understanding of the mechanism and behaviour of 
climate, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee endorses the Commission's 
proposal. 
2. It takes particular note of the list of climatic 
extremes which have been recorded in the last two 
decades. These events, relayed on the mass media, have 
led to a growing public awareness of the importance of 
climate on economic and social activity in the different 
regions of the world. They have also given rise to a 
growing awareness that human activities may 
themselves, in some way be contributing to these 
climatic variations. In view of the growth in the C02 
concentration in the atmosphere, the release of waste 
heat associated with the increasing utilization of energy, 
etc., the Committee feels there is a need for particular 
emphasis on 'man-climate interactions'. 
3. The Committee believes that research on 
climatology is intrinsically suited to international 
cooperation thereby avoiding needless duplication. In 
the first instance, the problem should be tackled on a 
worldwide scale. It is therefore important that any 
individual research work should fit in with worldwide 
efforts such as the Global Atmospheric Research 
Programme (GARP). However, useful work can also be 
carried out on the basis of major geographic regions. 
Accordingly, the Committee considers that the 
21. 5. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 128/7 
programme carried out under the aegis of the 
Community must be open to full participation by all 
European countries, whether members of the 
Community or not. 
Done at Brussels, 19 December 1978. 
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 Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 27 September 1978 for 
an opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
18 October 1978 instructing the Section for Energy and 
Nuclear Questions to prepare an opinion on the matter, 4. The Committee would stress the importance of 
reviewing the programme at regular intervals, in order 
to assess the results obtained and to identify fields for 
further research. 
Having regard to the opinion adopted at that Section's 
44th meeting, held on 8 December 1978, 
Having regard to the oral report made at that meeting 
by the rapporteur, Mr Preben Nielsen, 
Having regard to the discussions at the 164th plenary 
session held on 19 and 20 December 1978 (meeting of 
19 December), 
Whereas the Committee in its Study of 25 May 1976 
called for the inclusion of raw materials management 
(exploration, exploitation, conservation, recycling, and The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a research and development 
programme of the European Economic Community in the field of recycling of urban and 
industrial waste (secondary raw materials) indirect action (1979 to 1982) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official journal of the European 
Communities No C 233 of 3 October 1978, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 September 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 235 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 164th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 19 and 20 December 1978.