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COM (86) 602 
 
 
 
Vol. 1986/0 251 
  
 
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Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
ChLorofLuorocarbons in the environment: a reexamination of
control measures
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION
authorizing the Commission to participate in the negotiations for 
a protocol on chlorofluorocarbons to the Vienna Convention for the 
Protection of the Ozone Layer
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0MC86) 602 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL  
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS IN THE ENVIRONMENT :  A REEXAMINATION OF CONTROL MEASURES
I. INTRODUCTION
C 1 )B y  implementing the Council Decisions of 26 M arch 1980 and 1 5  N ovem ber 
(2)1982 the C om m unity has taken a num ber of measures to limit and reduce 
emissions into the atmosphere of certain chlorofluorocarbons (C FC s) which 
have the potential to reduce the ozone content of the stratosphere with 
consequent dangers for health and the environment. T he principal measures 
which have been applied are :
- a production capacity standstill for C F C s 1 1  and 12 at the level existing 
in 1980, for which the reference figure for E E C  (10) is 480 000 tonnes 
per year (this is to be adjusted to cover the additional capacity in E E C  
(12) represented by production plants in Spain, which w e  understand to 
have a total of 57 600 tonnes per year capacity);
- a reduction of at least 30 percent in the am ount of C F C s 1 1  and 1 2  used 
for the manufacture of aerosols, relative to the am ount used in 1976;
- the promotion of action to reduce C F C  usage and emissions in the m ain 
non-aerosol applications :  refrigeration, foam  plastics and solvents.
Decision 80/372/EEC O.J. N °  L  90, 03.04.80, p. 4 5  
Decision 82/795/EEC O.J. L  329, 25.11.82, p. 29

-  2 -
Since 1976 the Commission has monitored Levels and trends in the production 
and sales of CFCs 11, 12, 113 and 114 in the Community by means of the 
annual statistics provided by the European CFC producers under the data 
collection system described in the Communication of 26 May 1981
(4)On 16 June 1983 the Council took note of a Communication in which the 
Commission concluded that no change in the Community's precautionary 
measures policy was warranted by the available scientific and economic 
information, but that a re-examination of the situation could be undertaken 
in normal circumstances by the end of 1985.
It became necessary, however, to defer the re-examination pending the 
outcome of two important events arranged by UNEP in 1986. The first was a 
CCOL review of the ozone layer situation in the light of a comprehensive 
scientific assessment sponsored by NASA and other national and 
international bodies including the EEC. The second was a two part Workshop 
held in May and September 1986 to examine possible CFC control options, 
preparatory to the negotiations for a CFC protocol to the Vienna Convention 
which will resume in December 1986. Accordingly the Commission submitted a 
Communication^^ to Council proposing that the next re-examination should 
be undertaken in the second semester of 1986, and the Council took note of 
that Communication in December 1985.
The purpose of the present Communication is to summarise the present 
position, taking account of the recent CCOL review and UNEP Workshop 
proceedings, and to present the Commission's considered view on the course 
to be adopted in respect of the existing CFC control measures in the 
Community, and the forthcoming negotiations in UNEP.
(3) COM (81) 261 final, 26.05.1981
(Uj COM (83) 284 final, 31.05.983
(5) COM (85)644 final, 19.11.1985

- 3  -
H. THE SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT
The physical and chemical processes which control atmospheric ozone are 
n o w  recognised as being far m ore complex than w as appreciated w hen the 
theory of ozone depletion due to C F C s w as first advanced in 1974. T he 
amount of ozone in the stratosphere is the result of a balance between 
generation and loss processes, the former being controlled by solar 
radiation and largely independent of h um an activities. T he loss 
processes, both natural and m a n  made, are determined by emissions not 
only of C F C s but of a num ber of other trace gases, notably methane 
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N 20) and carbon dioxide (C02), the abundance of 
which in the atmosphere is also observed to be rising.
T he ozone depleting effect of C F C s is due to the catalytic effect of 
active chlorine atoms formed by decomposition of C F C s in the 
stratosphere by ultra-violet radiation. But active chlorine can also 
arise from other organic chlorine com pounds such as methyl chloroform 
(C H 3 C C 1 3 ) which is manufactured in large tonnages. Bromine atoms also 
catalyse ozone decomposition, and emissions of certain bromine 
com pounds are n o w  rising due to their use as fire extinguishants.
A n y  changes in the emission rates of these trace gases m a y  affect ozone 
levels, and to predict what m ay  happen in the years ahead it is 
necessary to use computerised mathematical models which represent all 
the complex interactive processes involved. T he m odel predictions, 
however, are dependent on the assumptions that have to be m ade on 
future emissions of the various trace gases, som e of which are partly 
of natural origin. Methane is particularly important because it acts 
as a "sink" for active chlorine. T he extent to which C F C s m ay  cause 
ozone depletion is therefore related to the rate of methane emission.
T o  calculate future ozone changes it is thus always necessary to 
construct a total trace gas emission scenario in which C F C s are only 
one set of components.
In the 1986 C C O L  review, three different C F C  emission growth rate were 
considered :  zero (i.e. continuing emissions at 1980 levels); 1.5 %  per 
year com pounded and 3  %  per year compounded. These three scenarios

- 4  -
were examined in conjunction with currently observed trends in other 
trace gases, and at zero C F C  emission growth the model predicted no 
total ozone change, mainly because the depleting effect of C F C s would 
be offset by methane. For C F C  emission increases of less than 1.5 %  
per year the total ozone column change w as found to be less than 3  %  
over the next 70 years but with a sustained C F C  growth rate of 3 %  per 
year the predicted ozone depletion after 70 years is 10 %  and rapidly 
i ncreas ing.
These predictions relate to the total ozone column and in fact are 
combinations of quite large percentage decreases in the upper 
stratosphere and large increases at lower altitudes, the former geing 
mainly due to C F C s and the latter mainly to methane - hence the 
critical influence of methane in the equation.
T he total column ozone changes are derived from one-dimensional models 
relating only to altitude, but two-dimensional models take latitude 
and season into account and these predict that ozone depletion will be 
greater at high latitudes than at the equator. In other words, a 
degree of total ozone depletion which might be regarded as presenting a 
relatively small risk could imply depletion at high latitudes which 
would be viewed with alarm by the populations concerned.
It should be noted that existing models do not account for the recently 
reported large decreases in the ozone column over Antarctica during 
spring. This is to be the subject of a special investigation and, 
while the outcome could affect regulatory policy, it appears premature 
to take the phenomenon into account in the initial formulation of a C F C  
protocol.
T o  summarise the current scientific situation, although there are 
uncertainties it is believed that if sufficient chlorine enters the 
upper atmosphere from whatever source or activity, ozone depletion will 
depend on the combined effects of a number of trace gases, and two- 
dimensional models predict that depletion will vary with season and 
latitude, being greater at high latitudes and in Spring.

- 5  -
Observations by ground-based instruments have not disclosed a 
significant trend in total ozone over the past 1 5  years.
T o  validate and refine model prediction capability it is necessary to 
obtain m ore data on trace gase concentrations in the atmosphere, and 
m uch is expected from a program of satellite observations.
Although this brief review has concentrated on ozone depletion, it
should be remembered that m any of the trace gases concerned - including 
C F C s and also ozone itself - are also "greenhouse" gases which m a y  
cause global warming and consequent climatic and other effects.
Changes in the vertical distribution of atmospheric ozone expected due 
to the effects of C F C s are also predicted to be significantly important 
for the climate change issue.
It is clear, therefore, that any system of C F C  control must have enough 
in-built flexibility to respond to rapidly advancing knowledge of 
atmospheric processes, and that measures m ay  also have to be developed 
for emissions of other substances.
III. ECONOMIC TRENDS
It is n o w  possible to review production and use data for C F C s 11, 12,
113 and 114 in the E E C  over a ten year period, 1976 to 1985, and the
statistics are summarised in the tables and graphs in A nnex I.
For C F C s 1 1  and 1 2  the main features are as follows :
- from 1976 to 1982, there w as an overall dow nw ard trend in production - 
which effectively represents total sales - and this w as mainly due to 
decreasing sales for aerosols. T he trend in the past three years has 
been upwards because the reduction in sales for aerosols has been 
halted, while sales for non-aerosol uses, mainly foam  plastics, and 
for exports, have continued to rise;

-  6 -
- the production of 336.3 kilotonnes in 1985 represents 70 %  of nominal 
total capacity for the E E C  (10) of 480 kt per year. Portugal has no 
C F C  production, and production figures for Spain will not be available 
until the 1986 figures are issued in the first half of 1987;
- usage for aerosols of 117.6 kt in 1985 is 33.5 % below the 1976 
reference level. Despite small increases since 1982 this is s till 
well below the ceiling of 123.8 kt represented by the m ax im u m  of 70 %  
of the 1976 total set by the Council Decision of 26 M arch 1980;
- refrigeration and miscellaneous uses have registered significant rises 
in percentage terms but represent relatively minor proportions of E E C  
sales :  10.6 %  and 5.3 %  respectively in 1985.
Turning to the picture for C F C s 113 and 114, it will be noted that the 
total production of these two compounds has increased from 23.5 kt in 
1976 to 64.3 kt in 1985, representing a com pound annual growth rate over 
the 9 years of 11.8 % . M ost of this growth is in the use of C F C  113 for 
solvent cleaning applications and is mainly associated with the 
development of the electronics industry.
In 1985 E E C  (10) production of C F C s 113 and 114 equated to 16 %  of the 
total production of the four C F C s :  11, 12, 113 and 114.
T he level of imports into the E E C  of C F C s 11, 12, 113 and 114 is thought 
to remain negligible.
Figure 1  and Table 3  in A nnex 1 . show  h o w  E E C  production and use of C F C s 
1 1  and 1 2  relate to be the global totals for the companies which report 
under the data collection scheme administered by the U S  Chemical 
Manufacturers Association. In 1985 E E C  production represented 48 %  of 
the C M A  total, and production outside the E E C  has also been rising since 
1982.
There is a contrast in the pattern of C F C  1 1  and 1 2  usage within and 
outside the E E C . In 1985 over 5 1  %  of sales in the E E C  were for 
aerosols compared with 22 % outside, whereas sales for refrigeration

- 7  -
accounted for only 1 1  %  compared with 40 % outside the Com m unity. T he 
percentages for foams and other uses were very similar, at about 33 % 
and 6  % respectively within and outside the E E C .
IV. THE TECHNICAL SITUATION
The technical possibilities for reducing perhalogenated C F C  usage in the 
main application sectors w as one of the topics examined in the U N E P  
W orkshop.
In the aerosol field, European and Japanese experience is that C F C s 
cannot be fully replaced in som e major personal product sectors without 
serious loss of quality although partial replacement with 
CFC/hydrocarbon blends is possible and already widely employed. In the 
U S A  conflicting views were expressed on this issue. Extensive studies 
in the Netherlands have indicated that dimethylether in aerosols 
presents no danger for health and the environment and this propellant 
m a y  increase the scope for C F C  substitution.
N o  substitutes are yet available for C F C  blowing agents for rigid 
(closed cell) foams for insulation purposes. For flexible foams 
methylene chloride is used instead of C F C s by som e manufacturers, 
especially in the U S, but most European producers would reject this m o v e 
on health as well as technical grounds. Successful trials for an 
activated carbon filter unit for recovering C F C  1 1  in flexible 
polyurethane slabstock manufacture are reported from Denmark, but 
further technical evaluation is required and there are doubts about the 
economics.
Prospects for C F C  12 replacement in refrigeration and air conditioning 
appear limited but som e replacement with non-perhalogenated C F C s is 
possible and there is scope for reducing losses by improved leak 
detection practice and equipment design, and by reclamation.
There are alternative cleaning solvents for C F C  113, but for som e 
applications it is s till considered technically irreplaceable.

-  8 -
In an extensive search by a major C F C  producer for alternatives to the 
principal fully halogenated commercial C F C s it w as concluded that no 
fully satisfactory fluorocarbon alternatives would becom e available in 
the foreseeable future.
V. FUTURE CFC CONTROL OPTIONS
T he 1986 U N E P  W orkshop on the Control of Chlorofluorocarbons examined a 
range of control options against a set of criteria, including effects on 
emissions and consequent atmospheric modification, cost effectiveness, 
equity and ease of implementation and monitoring.
It w as not the function of the W orkshop to reach a concensus but the 
weight of opinion clearly supported the Com m unity policy of a production 
capacity limit as being the only realistic long term global control 
measure. A s the limit is approached, the market price mechanism would 
operate to channel consumption into the uses of C F C s perceived as being 
the most socially valuable, and stimulate research for substitutes and 
alternative technology in all application fields. Arbitrary 
restrictions on specific uses result in emission reduction in the short 
term but fail to encourage searches for alternatives in the others, and 
recent history has demonstrated h o w  non-aerosol uses are offsetting the 
reductions due to aerosol restrictions.
The level at which a production limit should be set is debatable, 
however, and som e experts at the U N E P  W orkshop believed that there is a 
case for immediate action to reduce production below present levels.
T he question also arises as to h o w  secure an equitable distribution of 
the facility to produce and use C FC s. T w o  contructive suggestions in 
particular were put forward at the U N E P  W orkshop in Washington by 
Canadian and Japanese experts. T he Canadian paper suggested that a 
global emission limit should be set and that individual countries should 
be given quota shares of that emission limit based on population and 
national income. T he proposal aroused considerable interest at the 
W orkshop and clearly merits detailed examination. There do appear 
however to be som e difficulties which have to be overcome before any 
such scheme can be implemented. First, it would be necessary to agree

- 9 -
on a global emission limit, ideally based on a scientific assessment of 
a safe level of emissions, but perhaps based on historical levels of 
production or in som e other pragmatic way. In addition, in order to 
avoid unnecessary disruption of current production and trade, there
would need to be detailed monitoring of exports and imports, not only of 
C F C s but of all products containing C F C s or whose manufacture has 
involved the use of C F C s.
The Japanese proposal advocated a provisional regulatory measure to 
"cap" C F C  1 1  and 1 2  production capacity at existing levels, in line with 
current E E C  control measures. This would be followed by the
establishment within, say, five years, of a national quota system for 
production and consumption. This approach provides for early action to 
secure an emission limit, while recognising that time will be needed to 
develop an acceptable method of meeting individual national
requi rements.
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Having examined all aspects of the current situation, and after
considering the views put forward at the recent U N E P  W orkshop,
the Commission concluded that the present C om m unity measures for 
controlling the use and in particular the production of C F C s  
represent an intrinsically sound framework policy, but recognises 
that modification in detail m a y  be required in the context of a 
global regulatory system, and in the light of advancing
scientific and technical knowledge. For example this m a y  involve 
setting a limit on production, which could be below current 
capacity. A t the sam e time the Commission will continue to 
examine h o w  the C om m unity might participate in a global programme 
for monitoring levels in the concentrations of trace gases in the 
atmosphere which m a y  affect ozone.
2. Pending the outcome of the forthcoming negotiations for a C F C  
protocol, the Commission considers that the status quo in respect 
of the existing Council Decisions on C F C s in the environment 
should be maintained.

-  10  -
3 . A c c o r d in g ly , th e  C o m m issio n  i n v i t e s  t h e  C o u n c il t o  t a k e  n o te  o f  
t h i s  C o m m u n ic a tio n  and t o  a u t h o r i s e  t h e  C o m m issio n  t o  p a r t i c i p a t e  
in  n e g o t i a t i o n s  f o r  a CFC p r o t o c o l t o  t h e  V ie n n a  C o n v e n tio n  in  
a c c o rd a n c e  w it h  t h e  a t t a c h e d  d r a f t  N e g o t i a t i n g  M a n d a te .

ANNEX 1
CPC PRODUCTION AND USE STATISTICS
Contents :
Table 1. CFC 11 & 12 production and sales by EEC  
producers: 1976 - 1985
Table 2. CFC 113 & 114 production and sales by EEC  
producers: 1976-1985
Table 3. CFC 11 & 12 sales by application within and  
outside the EEC in 1985
Figure 1. EEC, USA and World production of CFC 11 & 12 by  
CMA reporting companies: 1970 - 1985
Figure 2. EEC producers sales of CFC 11 & 12 by main  
application sector: 1976 - 1985
Data sources:
EEC :  Independent accountants acting for European
Fluorocarbon Technical Committee (EFCTC) of Council  
of European Chemical Manufacturers Federations  
(CEFIC).
USA :  US International Trade Commission (ITC)
CMA Reporting Company totals :  Independent accountants
acting for US Chemical Manufacturers Association  
(CMA). (The EEC producers report under the CMA and  
EFCTC annual data collection systems).
Note: EEC data for years 1976 - 1980 is for EEC-9; data
for years 1981 — 1985 is for EEC—10 and includes  
Greece but excludes Spain and Portugal. After  
1977, EEC data for CFC 113 & 114 has been issued  
only when the annual production exceeds 45,000  
tonnes. The CMA data reporting scheme does not  
cover CFC 113 & 114.

T M  «  1. CEC 11 « ri 12 P R O D U C T IO N  A N D  SALES B Y  BH 2 PRD O JCKSS I 1976 -  1965
Unit i thousand tonnes C FC  11 and U
1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1964 1985 (hang·: 1976 to  1965
PR O D U C T IO N
(including imports frets 
outside EZC)326.4 319.1 307.0 304.2 295.7 300.1 289.0 310.2 322.2 336.3 4 - 9.8 4-3.0
SALES m  B B C  
Aérosols 176.9 162.6 150.4 136.5 126.4 116.1 111.7 113.9 114.7 117.6 -59.3 -  33.5
Ncn-aerosol uses:
R efrigeration 
Ebam P la stic s 
Solvents/Other Uses20.8 
42.2 
4.220.3
45.3 
4.920.4
54.5 
6.120.3
55.8
6.921.2
61.9
7.421.5
64.1
8.121.2
65.6
8.221.6
70.1
10.923.1
69.4
10.624.3
74.4 
12.14 - 3.5 
4-32.2 
4 - 7.94 - 17.0 
4 - 76.5 
4-190.0
T otal: non-aerosol uses 67.1 70.4 81.0 83.0 90.0 93.6 95.1 102.5 103.1 110.8 443.7 4 - 65.1
TO TA L S A I E S  IM  fSC 244.0 233.0 231.4 219.6 216.8 209.8 206.8 216.4 217.7 228.5 -15.6 -  6.4
T O T A L  EX PO R T S OOTSIXE ŒC 83.6 81.2 82.2 81.6 79.4 88.2 82.0 91.2 103.4 107.4 4-23.9 4 - 28.6
T O T A L  ESC A N D  EX P O R T  SALES 327.6 314.2 313.7 301.2 296.2 298.0 288.8 307.6 321.1 335.9 4 - 8.3 4 - 2.5
Production less sales -  1.2 44.9 -  6.6 + 3.0 -  0.5 4 - 2.1 4 - 0.2 4 - 2.5 + 1.1 4 - 0.4
TARIE 2 . CEC 113 A N D  114 P B Û D U C T T C N  A N D  SALES BY  BB C  PHOUXXRS , 1976 -  1965
U nit : thousand tonnes CEC 113 and 114
1976 1977 1984 1985 Change: 1976 to  1985 
%
PRODUCnOI
(including im ports fra n  
o u tsid e  EFT) 23.5 23.9 53.6 64.3 440.8 +173.5
SALES IN EEC 
A erosols 5.7. 5.3 5.3 5.4 + 0.2 + 4 .0
Non-aerosol uses:
R efrig eratio n  
füam P la s tic s  
Solvents/O ther Uses
T o ta l: non-aerosol use30.1
0.4
11.9
12.40.2
1.0
12.8
14.0Data
fo r
1978-83
not
issued0.3
1.7
31.3
33.30.3
2 .6
35.4
38.3+ 0.2  
+ 2.2 
+23.5
+25.9+127.4
+596.0
+198.1
+209.3
TOOL SALES IN SBC 17.6 19.3 38.6 43.7 +26.1 +148.6
TOTAL EX PORTS OmSIUE B B C 5.2 5.7 12.9 20.0 +14.8 +286.5
TOOL HSC A N D  EX PO RT SALES 22.8 25.0 51.5 63.7 440.9 +100.0
Production le s s  sa le s 40.7 -1 .1 4-2.1 +0.6

TABLE 3. CPC 11 AND 12 SALES BY APPLICATION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE EBC  
BY CMA REPORTING COMPANIES IN 1985
Unit: thousand tonnes (kt) CFG 11 and 12
World Sales by CMA
Salesin EEC Sales outside EEC reporting companies
Application
kt% kt% kt %
Aerosols 117.6 51.5 102.5 21.6 220.1 31.3
Refrigeration 24.310.6 187.6 39.5 211.9 30.1
Foam Plastics 74.432.6 157.1 33.1 231.4 32.9
Other non-aerosol uses 12.1 5.3 27.5 5.8 39.65.6
Total: Non-aerosol uses 110.8 48.5 372.2 78.4 483.0 68.7
TOTAL : ALL APPLICATIONS 228.5100.0 474.7100.0 703.2100.0
Note: Sales outside EEC derived by difference between reported
figures for total sales by CMA. reporting companies and  
sales within EEC reported by EFCTC

FIG. 1
ANNUAL EEC, USA AND WORLD PRODUCTION OF CFC 11 AND 12  
BY CMA REPORTING COMPANIES :  1970 - 1985
Sources EFCTC,  ITC, CMA
(EEC production excludes Spain but includes  
Greece after 1980)
900
800 -
t n< uCco4->700
fa0
U JT>c( C600w30x:-P
1500
(N.HV,\rHi —1400Ufau
fao
2300
O,HE - <UDDOfa200
fa
100All CMA reporting companies
EEC (10) capacity limit  
480,000  tonnes
_L
1970 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85
YEAR

200 _
180
160FIG 2. CFC 11/12 SALES BY EEC PRODUCERS: 1976-1985
(Spain and Portugal excluded;  
Greece included after 1980)
co
LU140
O(-
CDCDO
120Aerosols
Limit for aerosols from 31.12  
123, 800 tonnes
C D
L U
L U
l O O
40CO
t ' O  80
CN1Exports outside EEC
r —Ir—j
CD 60Q t a J m *Foam plastics
20Refrigeration
Solvents/Other Uses
1976 777879 80 818283 8485
Y E A R

Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION
AUTHORISING THE COMMISSION TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A PROTOCOL ON CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS  
TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN C O M M U N ITIES,
Having regard t o  t h e  T r e a t y  e s t a b l i s h i n g  t h e  E u ro p e a n  E conom ic  
C o m m u n ity ,
Having regard t o  t h e  p r o p o s a l fro m  t h e  C o m m is s io n ,
Whereas t h e  a im  o f  t h e  C om m unity e n v ir o n m e n t p o l i c y  as s t a t e d  i n  th e  
D e c l a r a t i o n  o f  th e  C o u n c il o f  t h e  E u ro p e a n  C o m m u n itie s  an d  o f  th e
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s  o f  t h e  G o v e rn m e n ts  o f  t h e  Mem ber S t a t e s  m e e tin g  in
th e  C o u n c il o f  22 N o vem b er 1 9 7 3  on t h e  p ro g ram m e o f  a c t i o n  o f  t h e  
E u ro p e a n  C o m m u n itie s  on t h e  e n v ir o n m e n t s u p p le m e n te d  b y th e
R e s o lu t io n  o f  t h e  C o u n c il o f  t h e  E u ro p e a n  C o m m u n itie s  and o f  t h e
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s  o f  t h e  G o v e rn m e n ts  o f  t h e  Mem ber S t a t e s  m e e tin g  
w i t h i n  t h e  C o u n c il o f 17 May 1 9 7 7  on t h e  c o n t i n u a t i o n  and  
im p le m e n t a t io n  o f  a E u ro p e a n  C om m unity p o l i c y  an d  a c t i o n  p ro g ram m e on  
t h e  e n v ir o n m e n t , n a m e ly  t h e  im p ro v e m e n t o f  t h e  q u a l i t y  and
s e t t i n g  o f l i f e ,  o f  t h e  s u r r o u n d in g s  an d  l i v i n g  c o n d it io n s  o f  th e  
p e o p le  o f  t h e  C o m m u n ity , i m p l i e s ,  i n  p a r t i c u l a r ,  p r e v e n t i n g ,  r e d u c in g  
an d  as f a r  as p o s s i b l e ,  e l i m i n a t i n g  p o l l u t i o n  an d  n u is a n c e s  as w e l l  
as s e e k in g  common s o l u t i o n s  particularly within international organi­
zations to environmental problems with States outside the Community;
(1)
(2)O .J . n . C  1 1 2 , 2 0 / 1 2 / 1 9 7 3 ,  p a g e  1
O .J . n . C  1 3 9 , 1 3 / 6 / 1 9 7 7 ,  p a g e  1

c
Whereas i n a c c o rd a n c e  w it h  t h i s  p o l i c y  t h e  C o u n c il has a lr e a d y  
a d o p te d  m e a s u re s  c o n c e r n in g  c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s  in  t h e  e n v ir o n m e n t,  
an d  a c t io n , on an i n t e r n a t i o n a l  l e v e l ,  p a r t i c u l a r l y  in  t h e  fra m e w o rk  
o f  t h e  U n ite d  N a tio n s  E n v iro n m e n t P ro g ra m m e , has b een  p ro m o te d  by  
t h e  C o m m u n ity;
Whereas t h e  G o v e rn in g  C o u n c il o f  th e  U n ite d  N a tio n s  E n v iro n m e n t  
P ro g ra m m e , a t  i t s  n in t h  s e s s io n , d e c id e d  t o  i n i t i a t e  w o rk a im e d  a t  
t h e  e l a b o r a t i o n  o f  a g l o b a l  fra m e w o rk  C o n v e n tio n  f o r  t h e  p r o t e c t i o n  
o f  t h e  o z o n e  l a y e r ;
Whereas t h e  V ie n n a  C o n v e n tio n  f o r  t h e  P r o t e c t i o n  o f  t h e  O zone la y e r  
w as o p e n e d  f o r  s ig n a t u r e  on 22 M arch  1 9 8 5  an d  h as b een  s ig n e d  by th e  
E u ro p e a n  C om m unity an d  t h e  Member S t a t e s ;
Whereas t h e  R e p o rt o f  th e  E ig h th  S e s s io n  o f  th e  C o o r d in a t in g  
C o m m itte e  on t h e  O zone l a y e r ,  an d  t h e  p r o c e e d in g s  o f  t h e  t w o - p a r t  
W o rksh o p  on c h l o r o f l u o r o c a r b o n s ,  h e ld  i n  t h e  c o n t e x t  o f  th e  U n ite d  
N a tio n s  E n v iro n m e n t P ro g ra m m e , have p r o v id e d  v a l u a b l e  i n s i g h t  as to  
t h e  c u r r e n t  s t a t e  o f s c i e n t i f i c  k n o w le d g e  and t h e  p o s s i b i l i t i e s  f o r  
control . o f  c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s  on a g l o b a l  s c a l e ;
Whereas in  v ie w  o f  t h e  . a b o v e m e n tio n e d  c o n s id e r a t io n s  and b e c a u s e  o f  
t h e  c o m p e te n c e s  o f  th e  C om m unity in  t h i s  a r e a ,  i t  i s  n e c e s s a r y  f o r  
t h e  C om m unity to  p a r t i c i p a t e  in  t h e  n e g o t i a t i o n s  f o r  a p r o t o c o l on  
c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s  t o  t h e  V ie n n a  C o n v e n tio n  f o r  th e  P r o t e c t i o n  o f  
t h e  O zone l a y e r ,  w h ic h  w i l l  commence in  G en eva in  D ecem ber 1 9 8 6 ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

S o le  A r t i c l e
The C o m m issio n  i s  hereby authoriz,ed to particopate in the negotiations f o r  a  
p r o t o c o l on c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s  t o  t h e  V ie n n a  C o n v e n tio n  f o r  th e  
P r o t e c t i o n  o f  t h e  O zone L a y e r .
The C o m m issio n  w i l l  c o n d u c t t h e s e  n e g o t i a t i o n s  in  c o n s u l t a t i o n  w it h  
R e p r e s e n t a t iv e s  o f th e  Mem ber S t a t e s  and in  c o n f o r m it y  w it h  th e
annexed directives.

ANNEX
D i r e c t i v e s  f o r  t h e  n e g o t i a t i o n s
The n e g o t i a t i o n s  s h o u ld  aim  to w a rd s  t h e  e l a b o r a t i o n  o f a p r o t o c o l  
c o n c e r n in g  c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s . T h is  w o u ld  p r o v id e  f o r  a p p r o p r ia t e  
g lo b a l s t r a t e g i e s  and p o l i c i e s  f o r  t h e  c o n t r o l  o f e m is s io n s  o f  
c h lo r o f lu o r o c a r b o n s , w h ic h  s h o u ld  be c o n s is t e n t  w it h  th e  b ro a d  
fra m e w o rk  o f  e x i s t i n g  p o l i c i e s  d e v e lo p e d  i n  th e  C o m m u n ity , b u t s h o u ld  
r e c o g n is e  t h a t  t h e  c h a n g in g  s t a t e  o f  s c i e n t i f i c  k n o w le d g e , an d  th e  
p o s i t i o n s  o f  o t h e r  p a r t i e s  t o  th e  n e g o t i a t i o n s ,  may r e q u ir e  some  
c h a n g e s  t o  t h e  d e t a i l s  o f  th o s e  p o l i c i e s .
The n e g o t i a t i o n s  s h o u ld  a ls o  aim  a t  e n s u r in g  t h a t  a p p r o p r ia t e  
p r o v is io n s  e n a b lin g  t h e  C om m unity t o  becom e a C o n t r a c t in g  P a r t y  a r e  
c o n t a in e d  in  t h e  p r o t o c o l .