No C 138/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 81 
Opinion on the following documents: New information technologies — first Commission 
report; proposal for a Council Regulation concerning Community actions in the field of 
microelectronic technology and recommendations on telecommunications 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 247 of 24 September 1980, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 19 September 1980 the Council referred the abovementioned documents 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 
185th plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 February 1981. 
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 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 19 September 1980 
for an opinion on the following documents: New 
information technologies — first Commission 
report; proposal for a Council Regulation 
concerning Community actions in the field of 
microelectronic technology and recommendations 
on telecommunications, 
Having regard to the decisions taken by its Bureau on 
23 September 1980, instructing the Section for 
Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services to draw up 
an opinion and a report, 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section 
for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services at its 
meeting on 4 February 1981, 
Having regard to the supplementary opinion of the 
Section for Transport and Communications on the 
draft Council recommendation concerning the 
supplementation of harmonization in the field of 
telecommunications, Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr Nierhaus, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 185th plenary 
session, held on 25 and 26 February 1981 (meeting on 
25 February 1981), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. New information technologies — first Commission 
report (Doc. COM(80) 513 final) 
1.1. The Committee notes with interest the 
initiation of Community action in the area of new 
information technologies. 
1.2. The Committee approves the priorities fixed in 
the first report on the Commission's activities. It 
notes, however, that, in scale, the activities 
undertaken so far by the Commission fall 
considerably short of the expectations expressed in 
its opinion on Document COM(79) 650 final 
(European society faced with the challenge of new 
information technologies: A Community response) 
and are therefore to be regarded as only the start of 
an urgently needed action programme. 
9. 6. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 138/27 
1.3. The Committee also expects the Commission to 
have something to say, in its coming report, on how 
one can arrive at more effective implementation of 
the possibilities of safeguarding employment 
(including the creation of new jobs), protection 
against the misuse of data and protection of 
consumer interests. The Committee has already 
drawn particular attention to these important 
problems in connection with the growth of 
microelectronics in its opinion on Doc. COM(79) 650 
final. 
2. Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning 
Community actions in the field of microelectronic 
technology (l) 
2.1. The Committee agrees with the Commission 
that the important thing for the Member States is to 
avoid the danger of falling even farther behind in 
microelectronics, the key technology of the future. 
2.2. It considers that special efforts must be made to 
safeguard and improve the Community's competitive 
position also in the development of facilities for the 
manufacture of microelectronic components and to 
avoid any greater dependence on the USA and Japan 
in this field. 
2.3. The Committee takes a basically positive view 
of the Commission's proposals 
— for promoting advanced facilities for the 
manufacture of the next generation of complex 
submicron integrated circuits, 
— for developing basic conceptual knowledge and 
skills in the area of computer-aided design and 
testing, 
— for coordinating the relevant national 
programmes. 
It thinks, however, that the funds provided for are 
much too meagre in view of the great importance of 
this sector for the future economic development of 
the Member States. In particular, the Section regrets 
that the present structure of Community expenditure 
does not give any greater scope for the promotion of 
such important sectoral development work. 
2.4. In view of the Commission's limited resources, 
the realistic solution would seem to be for it to fall 
back on existing national programmes and 
coordinate them in keeping with Community aims. 
(i) OJ No C 247, 24. 9. 1980. 2.5. The Commission must, however, take steps to 
ensure that no imbalances or distortions of 
competition arise for firms in certain Member States 
as a result of the different levels and conditions of 
national aid. It should therefore examine the 
possibility of providing Community funds in certain 
exceptional cases for projects of special importance 
for the economic development of the Community, 
independently of national aid programmes. 
3. Recommendations on telecommunications 
(Doc. COM(80) 422 final) 
3.1. The Committee thinks that application of new 
technologies in telecommunications, too, will offer 
significant future prospects for the Member States. 
Telecommunications users can expect a considerably 
enhanced range of communications facilities, and 
operators and manufacturers can expect 
opportunities for rapid growth. 
3.2. The expansion of telematic services opens up 
favourable prospects particularly for users in the 
Community's small and medium-sized enterprise 
sector. On account of the rising costs of software, the 
possibilities of using data banks and computer 
centres via long-distance transmission facilities take 
on special importance for these firms, and 
comprehensive information is needed here. 
3.3. This underlines the need to make the future 
telematic systems and services in the Community 
compatible. 
3.4. The Committee agrees with the Commission 
that the planning phase for the new integrated 
services digital networks must be utilized to create a 
Community 'umbrella' for the adaptation measures 
already initiated by the national post and 
telecommunications administrations. In view of the 
technical difficulties to be overcome, the Section is, 
however, sceptical about the timescale aimed at, 
which it considers to be too short. 
3.5. The Committee thinks that the right 
approaches have been selected in the Commission's 
recommendations for the liberalization of the 
Community market for telematic terminals and the 
gradual opening-up of possibilities for cross-frontier 
procurement of telecommunications equipment. The 
No C 138/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 81 
Commission should, however, make sure that any 
opening-up of the terminals market is geared to 
genuine reciprocity, due account being taken of the 
different evaluation criteria. The Section considers 
that additional steps aimed at reducing differences in 
public purchasing conditions, as well as adaptation 
of the approval procedures, will be needed in order 
to achieve equal treatment for all Community 
manufacturers in the letting of contracts by the 
national telecommunications administrations. 
Done at Brussels, 25 February 1981. 3.6. In addition to coordination between the 
Commission and the telecommunications 
administrations, an intensive dialogue between the 
administrations and manufacturers, as provided for 
in the Commission's fourth draft recommendation is 
needed to support the entire harmonization process. 
Users and — in so far as an effect on working 
conditions is to be expected — representatives of the 
workers concerned should be involved in this 
dialogue. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE