No C 23/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 1.84 
2.3. Management of the research action programme 
and the subprogrammes 
The Committee also asks that the Commission be 
Done at Brussels, 23 November 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Atomic Energy Community, and in particular 
Article 7 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 8 June 1983 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision 
adopting a multiannual research and training pro­
gramme for the European Atomic Energy Com­
munity in the field of radiation protection (1985 to 
1989)0), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 5 July 1983 acting under Article 22 of the Rules 
(') OJ No C 179, 6. 7. 1983. urged to see that the new management arrangements 
improve the exchange of information between the 
national research bodies and the JRC. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
of Procedure, instructing the Section for Energy and 
Nuclear Questions to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rappor­
teur, Mr Preben Nielsen, to the abovementioned 
Section and to the opinion adopted by the Section 
at its 84th meeting on 4 November 1983, 
Having regard to the discussions at the meeting of 
23 November 1983 (212th plenary session of 23 and 
24 November 1983), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee has studied the proposed 
research subprogramme in the field of radiation Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual research and 
training programme for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of 
radiation protection (1985 to 1989) 
(84/C 23/05) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 179 of 6 July 1983, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 8 June 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 7 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 
212th plenary session held in Brussels on 23 and 24 November 1983. 
30. 1. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 23/13 
protection in considerable detail. It is aware that it 
does not have the expertise to adequately assess all 
the scientific aspects of the areas covered by the 
proposed programme. It has nonetheless asked 
some fundamental questions concerning aspects 
which together can be just as important as the tech­
nical details for this 94 000 000 ECU five-year-pro­
gramme to succeed in its aims. 
The Committee can endorse the programme but 
would urge that the following general and specific 
observations be taken into account when the Coun­
cil comes to adopt it. 
2. General observations 
2.1. The criteria the Committee adopted for assess­
ing the quality of this programme and the likelihood 
of its succeeding were the following: 
— the objectives the Commission have set for the 
programme, 
— the work content to be accomplished, 
— the staffing, 
— the utilization or dissemination plan, 
— the programme management, 
— the evaluation procedure (past results), 
— the follow-up plan, 
— the degree of consultation that has taken place 
between the Commission and other institutions 
and research laboratories both inside and out­
side the Community, 
— the international cooperation that exists on the 
matter, 
— the interests of the consumer, and 
— the significance of the research subprogramme 
to the LDCs. 
2.2. The Committee found the evaluation of the 
programme so far completed and the evaluation of 
the proposed programme 1985 to 1989 by a panel of 
independent experts under the chairmanship of 
Warren Sinclair (•) of considerable value. That eval­
uation made pertinent observations on scientific 
aspects, management aspects, socio-economic 
aspects and recommendations which the Section 
largely supports. The Committee welcomes the fact 
that there will be another such evaluation in three 
years' time. 
(') Evaluation of the European Community's radiation 
protection research programme (1976 to 1980), 
research evaluation report No 8, Doc. EUR 8648 of 
April 1983. 3. Specific observations 
3.1. As to the work content of the programme, the 
Committee notes that the Commission is proposing 
that the work be carried out by means of shared-cost 
contracts concluded with national institutions and 
universities. It is satisfied that this research work 
cannot easily be purchased elsewhere. The subjects 
being researched into are often inter-disciplinary, 
and on a scale which lends itself to Community-
level coordination. 
3.2. Whilst respecting the opinion of the Scientific 
and Technical Committee on the general scale and 
content of the proposed programme, the Committee 
would have liked to have seen more work being 
done on low-dose radiation. It would urge the Com­
mission to continue in its endeavours to collaborate 
in this area of research with Japanese research bod­
ies. 
3.3. In common with views expressed in research 
evaluation report No 8, referred to in paragraph 2.2 
above, the Committee advocates the expansion of 
cooperation wherever feasible and appropriate, to 
non-member countries, especially the USA, Canada 
and Japan. 
3.4. The Committee notes that the results from 
Community research on radiation protection contri­
bute to the formulation of new recommendations by 
the ICRP (International Commission on Radiologi­
cal Protection). 
3.5. Furthermore, the Committee supports in parti­
cular the views expressed in the evaluation report 
that the programme take on board more work on 
Radon problems, embryology and cellular effects, 
and is glad to learn that the programme has now 
been changed accordingly. 
3.6. As for the estimated cost of the programme 
the Committee would urge that the 5 % flexibility or 
contingency fund be granted and that this be con­
sidered sacred to allow for — among other contin­
gencies — research into 'new ideas' not foreseen 
when the programme was being drafted. 
3.7. Because of the nature of the problems being 
researched into, which make it a fast-moving 
research area, the Committee questions whether the 
budget does not need to be stepped up by more than 
the 8 % per annum inflation factor. 
3.8. The Committee would like to see a link writ­
ten into this programme and others, between the 
cost of the programme and the estimated amounts 
allocated to the different goals of the framework 
No C 23/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 1.84 
programme which are to be realized by such 
research action programmes or subprogrammes. 
3.9. On the training aspects of the programme, the 
Committee considers that the provisions for training 
are one of its weaker aspects. The 5 % budgetary 
provision for 'mobility and training' must be main­
tained for even a modicum of training to be 
effected. 
In view of the importance of the human factor and 
the organization of work in radiation protection, 
and in view of the greater role of consultation in the 
optimization of radiation protection, which should 
take account of the social and economic aspects, the 
Committee would like the programme to be able to 
contribute more to the solution of the problems 
raised in the safety and hygiene committees. 
3.10. On the utilization of results arising from the 
research programme, the Committee considers that 
much more can and should be done than in the past 
to reach the general public. 
3.11. On the management aspects, the committee 
reiterates what the Committee said in its opinion on 
structures and procedures in the field of the Com­munity's scientific and technical research (') and in 
particular wonders whether the new procedures will 
provide CGCs (coordinating and management com­
mittees) for RAPs, with adequate management and 
leave the subprogrammes themselves under-man­
aged. 
3.12. Regarding a possible consultation of the 
social partners in the drawing up of such a pro­
gramme, the Committee feels that the Commission 
should make a formal proposal as to how regular 
consultation with the local and national representa­
tives of workers and employers should be organized 
with this limited objective in view. 
In the same vein, an input from consumer interest 
groups should be allowed for. 
The Committee urges that the Commission be asked 
to better inform the public as a whole as regards the 
question of radiation protection. This could include 
a dialogue between the Commission and the Social 
partners, including consumer interests. 
(') OJ No C 341, 19. 12. 1983. 
Done at Brussels, 23 November 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on the communication from the Commission to the Council and to the European 
Parliament on promoting the utilization of the results of Community sponsored research 
and development. 
(84/C 23/06) 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 22 September 1983 the Commission referred the abovementioned to the Economic 
and Social Comittee in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community.