16. 2. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 35/35 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Decision  in regard  to the  intervention  of the 
European  Social  Fund  in favour  of persons  occupied  in the  textile  and  clothing  sectors 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the  European 
Communities  No  C 258  of 11 November  1975,  page  6. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 22  October  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
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  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 22 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 October  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for  Social 
Questions  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on 
the matter, 
Having  regard  to  the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr  Fassina, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  section 
for Social  Questions  at its meeting  on 13 November 
1975, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 135th  plenary 
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the  proposal  for  a 
Decision. 2. The  proposal  seeks  to renew  the  measures 
taken  in 1972  because  of the  trends  in the  textile 
sector,  and  to bring  the  clothing  industry  within  the 
scope  of these  measures.  The  Commission  is also 
taking  account:  (i) of the  impact  which  the  recession 
has had  on these  sectors;  (ii)  of the  changes  in their 
trade  balance. 
3. The  Committee  wonders,  however,  whether  it 
is enough  to renew  measures  adopted  in 1972  and 
bring  the  clothing  industry  within  their  scope.  The 
economic  and  social  situation  has  deteriorated 
considerably  since  1972.  The  nature  and  magnitude 
of the  problems  facing  us today  have  changed  very 
substantially. 
4. The  Social  Fund  is capable  of making  a positive 
contribution,  provided  its  financial  resources  are 
commensurate  with  current  problems.  But  the 
Committee  would  draw  attention  to the  appraisal  of 
the situation  which  is set  out  in the  Commission's 
explanatory  memorandum.  We  must  think  not  only 
in terms  of the  Social  Fund,  but  also  in terms  of EEC 
industrial  policy. 
5. The  Community  must  plan  ahead  and  adopt  a 
purposeful  approach  which  takes  account  of the 
objectives  to be attained  and  all the  economic,  social, 
commercial  and  technological  aspects.  Such  an 
approach,  and  such  an approach  alone,  will  prevent 
the Community  from  having  to intervene  after  the 
event  in order  to deal  with  the  repercussions  of 
Decisions  in which  it has  had  little  say. 
No C 35/36 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 16. 2. 76 
6. Unlike  the  Decision  of 19  December  1972, 
whose  validity  was  limited  to three  years,  the  new 
Decision  will  be of unlimited  duration.  The  reason 
for this  lies  in the  gravity  and  structural  nature  of 
the difficulties  facing  the clothing  and  textile  sectors. Moreover,  Article  11 of the  Decision  of 1 February 
1971  provided  that  the  Decision  should  be reviewed 
by the  Council  not  later  than  five  years  after  its 
entry  into  force  (1972). 
Done  at Brussels,  27 November  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  on European  Social  Fund  measures  to 
aid vocational  adaptation  operations 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 258  of 11 November  1975,  page  5. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 22  October  1975,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  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 
135th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and  27 November  1975. 
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  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 22 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
28 October  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for  Social 
Questions  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on 
the above  matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Social  Questions  at its meeting  on 13 November 
1975, Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Fassina; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 135th  plenary-
session,  held  on 26 and  27 November  1975  (meeting 
of 27 November), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  no votes  against  and  three  abstentions: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal  for a Council 
Decision,  but  wishes  to  make  the  following 
comments: