28. 7. 77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 180/43 
Reasons 
In point  of fact,  paragraphs  1.3.1,  1.3.2,  1.3.3  and  1.3.4  make  a distinction  between  mail-
order  selling  carried  out solely  by mail,  which  — it is proposed  — should  be covered  by a 
specific  Directive,  and  types  of mail-order  selling  which  involve  the element  of surprise  and 
the use of representatives  and,  hence,  the possibility  of psychological  pressure  being  put on 
consumers. 
The criterion  on which  this  distinction  is based  is imprecise  and  unsatisfactory. 
We are dealing  here  with  commercial  techniques  which  are:  (a) varied;  (b) fluid.  It seems 
beyond  question  that  the properly  conceived  interests  of consumers  require  that  an in-depth 
examination  of this  sector  be carried  out  and  that  a Directive  be drawn  up to cover  the 
whole  sector  of mail-order  selling.  In this  way,  better  account  will  be taken  of consumers' 
interests,  having  regard  to the various  kinds  of mail-order  selling.  Also,  the risk  of making 
certain  types  of mail-order  selling  impossible  will  be obviated,  since  after  a detailed  study, 
the necessary  steps  can be planned. 
Mail-order  selling  is a very  active  sector,  and  its very  activity  testifies  to the fact  that  large 
numbers  of consumers  are interested  in it. 
This amendment  does  not aim  to liberalize  mail-order  selling  of whatever  kind,  bearing  in 
mind  the  idea  underlying  the  proposed  Directive;  rather  it seeks  a way  of achieving  an 
economically-sound  adaptation  which  takes  account  of the mutual  interests  of both  sides. 
These  are the reasons  for proposing  a slightly  more  general  attitude  than  the draft  opinion 
takes  at present. 
Voting 
For: 34, against:  36, abstentions:  10. 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  modifying  the Decision  of 22 July  1975 
concerning  a programme  of pilot  schemes  and  pilot  studies  to combat  poverty 
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 21 June  1977,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  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 
150th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 22 and  23 June  1977. 
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  100  thereof, 
Having  regard  to the referral  of 21 June  1977  by the 
Decision  of the Council  of the European  Communities, Having  regard  to its decision  taken  during  its plenary 
session  of 22 and  23 June  1977  according  to Article  18 
of the Rules  of Procedure  whereby  the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  may  appoint  a rapporteur-general, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  by the  rapporteur-
general,  Mr Carrol, 
No C 180/44 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 28.7.77 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 150th  plenary 
session  on 22 and  23 June  1977  (meeting  of 22 June 
1977), 
Whereas  the  Committee  has  expressed  full  support 
for the first  programme  of pilot  schemes  and  studies 
to combat  poverty,  drawn  up in accordance  with  the 
resolution  of the  Council  of 21  January  1974, 
concerning  the  Social  Action  Programme  in its 
opinion  of 24 April  1975; 
Whereas  the Committee  takes  note  of the successful 
establishment  of a programme  of 21 schemes  and 
studies  since  the Council  Decision  taken  on 22 July 
1975, 
HAS  UNANIMOUSLY  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING 
OPINION: The Committee  attaches  great  importance  to the 
problems  of poverty  in the  European  Community. 
It has pointed  out in its opinion  on the development 
of the  social  situation  in the  Community  in 1976 
that the Commission  should  speed  up the completion 
of its programme  of pilot  studies  to combat  poverty, 
on the  basis  of the  interim  report  it published  on 
13 January  1977.  The  Committee  further  stated  that 
the Council  should  approve  the necessary  finances  so 
that the Commission  can complete  the work  in hand 
and evaluate  the practical  lessons  to be learnt  from 
the programme,  with  due  regard  to the special  nature 
of poverty  in rural  areas. 
The Committee  therefore  supports  the continuation 
of this  programme  and  approves  the above  referred 
proposal  of the European  Commission. 
Done  at Brussels,  22 June  1977. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI