21. 5. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 128/31 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive (Euratom) amending the Directive laying 
down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers 
against the dangers of ionizing radiation 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities, 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 23 November 1978 the Commission referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 31 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Atomic Energy 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 
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 31 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Commission 
of the European Communities on 23 November 1978 
for an opinion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
29 November 1978 instructing the Section for Energy 
and Nuclear Questions to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 44th meeting 
held on 8 December 1978, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr P. Nielsen, 
Having regard to the discussions at the 164th plenary 
session held on 19 and 20 December 1978 (meeting of 
20 December), 
Whereas basic safety standards for the protection of the 
general public and workers against the dangers of 
ionizing radiation were first adopted by the European 
Atomic Energy Community in 1959 (*); 
0) OJ No 11, 20. 2. 1959. Whereas these standards were amended in 1962 (2) and 
again in 1966 (3); 
Whereas the Commission on 26 July 1972, made a 
series of proposals for updating the basic standards; 
Whereas the Economic and Social Committee Opinion 
of 24 May 1973, welcomed the proposed changes, 
while suggeting a number of improvements; 
Whereas in the light of the various comments received, 
the Commission revised its draft on 22 November 1973 
(4); 
Whereas the Council finally enacted the revisions in a 
Directive on 1 June 1976 (5); 
Whereas the Directive of 1 June 1976 required the 
Member States to bring their legislation into line with 
the basic safety standards by 12 July 1978; 
Whereas the Commission, on 30 May 1978 (6), 
proposed that the time limit for compliance with the 
(2) OJ No 57, 9. 7. 1962. 
(3) OJ No 206, 26. 11. 1966. 
I4) OJ No C 78, 5. 7. 1974. 
;s) OJ No L 187, 12. 7. 1976. 
I6) OJ No C 147, 22. 6. 1978. 
No C 128/32 Official Journal of th. 
1976 Directive be extended by two years (i.e. until 
12 July 1980); 
Whereas the Economic and Social Committee opinion 
of 12 July 1978, deplored that the Directive of 1 June 
1976 had not been implemented on schedule, stressed 
the importance of progressively updating Community 
standards to take account of developments in 
international research, and called for revision of the 
Directive within the next few months; 
Whereas the Commission accepted the Economic and 
Social Committee's view and submitted the proposals 
which are the subject of the present opinion; 
Whereas there is a need to bring into operation a 
Community nuclear safety code laying down minimum 
safety rules; 
Whereas the basic standards laid down under the 
Euratom Treaty are an important means of achieving 
this aim; 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 66 votes to one, with four abstentions: 
1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's 
acceptance of the views expressed in the opinion of 
12 July 1978. 
Done at Brussels, 20 December 1978. European Communities 21. 5. 79 
2. The Committee approves the proposed amendments 
to the Directive of 1 June 1976. They are precisely what 
it requested in order to bring the Euratom standards 
into line with the ICRP recommendations. 
3. The Committee notes that Article 6 of the revised 
standards sets out a number of guiding principles to be 
followed in limiting individual and collective doses 
resulting from controllable exposures. The Committee 
considers that, as presently worded, these could be open 
to varying interpretations. In indent (a), the Committee 
believes that the 'advantages' must take full account of 
the social as well as economic considerations. In indent 
(b), the Committee similarly believes that the word 
'reasonably' cannot be interpreted solely in an economic 
sense. It must also include technical, social and medical 
factors. 
4. The Committee also agrees, in principle, with a 
procedure enabling the standards to be progressively 
and regularly updated in future. The Committee does 
not however wish to comment on the procedure 
outlined in Articles 44, 45 and 46 of the draft revision, 
or its compatibility with Articles 31 and 32 of the 
Euratom Treaty. The Committee would however stress 
the need to observe the provision of Articles 31 and 32 
requiring the Commission to obtain the ESC's opinion. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Fabrizia BADUEL GLORIOSO