11.5.  77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 114/7 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Masprone, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 147th  plenary 
session  held  on 30 and  31 March  1977  (meeting  of 
30 March), 
Done  at Brussels,  30 March  1977. HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the Commission's  proposal, 
although  it draws  the  attention  of the  Community 
authorities  to the  comments  made  in the  Section's 
report. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the approximation  of the  laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to the  wheel  guards  of motor  vehicles 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 37 of 14 February  1977,  page  27. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 January  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 
147th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 30 and  31 March  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 request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of  the  European  Communities  on 
14 January  1977, 
Having  regard  to the Decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
25 January  1977,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and Services  to draw  up an opinion 
and a report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  on 
2 March  1977, 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Masprone, Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 147th  plenary 
session  held  on 30 and  31 March  1977  (meeting  of 
30 March), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject  to the 
comments  set out below: 
1. The  Committee  notes  that  the proposal  contains 
design  specifications,  especially  under  point  2.1.3. 
2. The  Committee  points  out  that  it is normal 
practice  to avoid  basing  vehicle  safety  standards  on 
design  specifications,  as far  as this  is possible.  It 
would  be better  to lay  down  performance  require-
ments,  the  manufacturer  being  at liberty  to satisfy 
these  in the way  he considers  to be most  appropriate. 
No C 114/8 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 11. 5. 77 
— effects  on vehicle  following  at a specific  distance. 
The test  must  be carried  out  with  the  standard  tyres 
fitted  to the vehicle. 
4. In  conclusion  the  Committee  would  draw  the 
Commission's  attention  to the  comments  contained 
in the report. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the  approximation  of the  laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to the window-wiper  and  washer  systems  of motor  vehicles 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 43 of 21 February  1977,  page  1. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 22 November  1976  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 
147th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 30 and  31 March  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  request  for  an opinion  made 
by the  Council  of the  European  Communities  on 
22 November  1976, 
Having  regard  to the Decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
23 November  1976,  instructing  the  Section  for 
Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up 
an opinion  on the  matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  on 
2 March  1977, 
Done  at Brussels,  30 March  1977. 
Basil  de FERRANTI 3. The  Committee  therefore  calls  upon  the  Com-
mission  to consider  the  possibility  of laying  down 
performance  requirements.  As a rough  guide,  these 
could  be based  on the following: 
— test  speed, 
— wet  road, 
— distance  to be covered  (on wet  surface), 
Done  at Brussels,  30 March  1977. 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr  Masprone, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 147th  plenary 
session  held  on 30 and  31 March  1977  (meeting  of 
30 March), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal  but  draws  the 
EEC  authorities'  attention  to the comments  contained 
in the  Section's  report. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee