27. 9. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 252/5 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down, in respect of hops, the amount 
of aid to producers for the 1981 harvest 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No 152 of 16 June 1982, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 May 1982 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 199th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 30 June and 1 July 1982. 
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 made by the Council of the 
European Communities to the Economic and Social 
Committee on 27 May 1982 for an opinion on the 
proposal for a Council Regulation laying down, in respect 
of hops, the amount of aid to producers for the 1981 
harvest, 
Having regard to Articles 46 and 47 of the Rules of 
Procedure, 
Having regard to the Committee's previous work on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Section for 
Agriculture at its 235th meeting held on 3 June 1982, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Bernaert, 
Having regard to the discussions during the 199th plenary 
session held on 30 June and 1 July 1982, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a unanimous vote: The Committee approves 
subject to the following. the proposed Regulation, 
1. The Committee endorses the Commission's view 
that 'the Community should continue to encourage a 
concentration of supply, normal marketing of production 
and an adequate quality level by setting aid for areas 
planted at amounts which enable producer groups to 
initiate or step up programmes designed to stabilize the 
market'. 
It is also desirable for this aid to be apportioned in such a 
way as to foster the production of Community hop 
varieties for which there are better market prospects 
outside the Community (aromatic varieties). 
2. The Committee notes that the aid proposed for this 
year is also designed to offset the' inadequate returns 
earned by some growers in 1981, as a result of the fact 
that they were forced to use some of their 1981 crop to 
make up quantities not supplied under multi-annual 
contracts because of the shortfall of the 1980 harvest. 
3. Having regard to the fact that production and 
capital costs in the sector, which have always been very 
high, have been particularly affected by inflation in recent 
years, the Committee believes that although the average 
level of aid for the 1981 harvest (191 ECU per hectare) is 
les than that granted for the 1980 crop, it will be adequate 
to maintain growers' incomes. The Committee also hopes 
that in most cases it will suffice to maintain Community 
production at an appropriate level. 
Done at Brussels, 30 June 1982. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE