19. 9. 74 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 109/29 
Having  regard  to discussions  at the Plenary  Session 
on 29 and  30 May  1974  (sitting  of 29 May  1974), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION  : 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves  the 
proposal  under  discussion  but  has  the  following 
comments  to make. 
1. The  Committee  approves  the  principle  that 
reference  prices  may  vary  according  to specific  pe-
riods  of the  year.  However,  in order  that  there  is 
no discrimination,  the  Committee  considers  that 
it is vital  when  determining  these  periods  to take 
account  of the  time-lags  in carp  and  trout  pro-
duction  and  marketing  between  member  countries. 
2. Further,  since  the products  of freshwater  fish-
farms  will  henceforward  come  more  fully  within  the scope  of Regulations  (EEC)  Nos  2141/70  and 
2142/70,  the Committee  consideres  that  it is vital  to 
make  provision  for  appropriate  representation  of 
freshwater  fish-farming  on both  the  Management 
Committee  for Fishery  Products  set up under  Article 
28 of Regulation  (EEC)  No  2142/70  and  the  Advi-
sory Committee  on  Fishery  Products,  which  was 
formed  in pursuance  of the  Decision  of 25  Fe-
bruary  1971. 
•Done  at Brussels,  29 May  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPP  AS 
OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  concerning  Community  financing  of the 
expenditure  incurred  in respect  of the supply  of agricultural  products  as food  aid 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 14 of 14 January  1974,  page  51. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its meeting,  held  on 14 January  1974,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned 
proposal  for a Regulation  to the Economic  and  Social  Committee  on an optional  basis. 
The request  for  an opinion  was  sent  by the  Council  to the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  on 15 January  1974. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its Opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
120th  Plenary  Session,  held  in Brussels  on on 29 and  30 May  1974. 
The full  text  of the Opinion  is as follows  : 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  Council's  request  of 14 
January  1974  for an Opinion  on the proposal  for a, 
Council  Regulation  concerning  Community  financing 
of expenditure  incurred  in respect  of the  supply  of 
agricultural  products  as food  aid ; Having  regard  to Article  198  of the  Treaty  esta-
blishing  the European  Economic  Community  ; 
Having  regard  to the  Decision  of its  Chairman 
entrusting  the Section  for Agriculture  with  the prep-
aration  of an Opinion  on the matter  ; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for Agriculture  on 4 April  1974  ; 
No C 109/30 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 19. 9. 74 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  presented  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Zijlstra  ; 
Having  regard  to the  discussion  at its  Plenary 
Session  of 29 and  30 May  (meeting  of 29 May)  ; 
Whereas  it is desirable  to harmonize  the conditions 
of Community  financing  of expenditure  incurred  in 
respect  of the  supply  of agricultural  products  as 
food  aid ; 
Whereas  it is necessary  to obtain  a clearer  picture 
of the  actual  cost  of food  aid and  of expenditure 
relating  to the common  agricultural  policy  ; 
Whereas  the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation 
does  not  involve  additional  expenditure  but  merely 
reapportions  expenditure, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION  : 
1. The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves 
the proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  harmonizing 
in the  different  sectors  the  conditions  of Commu-
nity financing  of expenditure  involved  in  the 
supply  of agricultural  products  as food  aid. 
2. The  Committee  agrees  that  the  relevant  rules 
should  be altered  so that  expenditure  in respect  of refunds  on exports  to third  countries  is charged 
against  the Guarantee  Section  of the EAGGF  and  the 
remainder  of the  expenditure  in respect  of the 
supplies  in question  is charged  against  Chapter  9> 
'Food  aid  expenditure'  of  the  Budget  of the 
European  Communities. 
3. The  Committee  considers  that  this  reappor-
tionment  will  make  it possible  to obtain  a clear 
idea of the  common  policy  for  the  agricultural 
products  concerned  (dairy  products,  sugar  and  egg 
products)  and  of the cost  of the food  aid policy. 
4. Furthermore,  the  Committee  agrees  that  it is 
desirable  to institute  a system  of advance  payments 
for expenditure  coming  under  Chapter  9 of the 
Budget  of the  European  Communities  based  on the 
system  established  for the EAGGF. 
5. The  Committee  wishes  to stress  the  impor-
tance  it attaches  to the  Community  policy  of 
supplying  agricultural  products  as food  aid ; in this 
connection  it calls  upon  the Council  to consult  it on 
future  action  in this  sphere. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 May  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS 
OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on the  harmonization  of excise  duties  on 
mineral  oils 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 92 of 31 October  1973,  page  36. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its 254th  meeting,  held  on 20 September  1974,  the Council  referred  the  above-
mentioned  proposal  for  a Directive  to the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on an 
optional  basis. 
The request  for  an Opinion  was  sent  by the  Council  to the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  on 24 September  1973.