No C 211/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
The proposal will be particularly prejudicial to the outcome of the GATT negotiations on the 
Article XIX issue since it is tantamount to endorsing selectivity. The recommendation that 
competition on non-Community markets should in future be an internal Community matter 
will also detract from the jurisdictional powers that the Community itself has conferred on 
GATT. 
6. The introduction of a procedure whereby any firm or individual could complain directly 
to the Commission is likely to result in a stream of cases that will place undue strain on the 
administrative authorities. 
7. The proposed trade measures (e.g. customs duties or quotas) would be self-defeating 
since they would push up costs and limit competition. 
8. In a sphere of such importance as commercial policy vis-a-vis non-member countries, the 
Section is opposed to a "guillotine" or management committee procedure that transfers a 
substantial share of the Council's powers to the Commission. The existing procedure involv­
ing the Article 113 Committee is perfectly adequate. 
9. It is the worst possible moment to aggravate tensions in trade relations. At the OECD 
ministerial meeting on 9 and 10 May it was agreed to "make use, individually and collec­
tively, of the favourable conditions provided by the economic recovery to reverse protection­
ist trends." Unctad VI and other forthcoming negotiations should also work for a trade 
"ceasefire". 
10. The Section therefore regards the Community machinery for dealing with cases of 
unfair commercial practices as entirely satisfactory and calls on the Commission to withdraw 
its proposal.' 
Voting: 
For: 3, against: 117, abstentions:.8. 
Delete point 1. 
Reasons 
1. The statement of support for free trade, given with such assurance, is hardly credible from an 
economic unit which pursues a resolutely protectionist policy in a key sector (agriculture). 
2. The Council keeps calling for shorter Committee opinions. 
Voting: 
For: 1, against: 115, abstentions: 12. 
Opinion on the proposals for a European scientific and technical strategy: framework 
programme 1984-1987 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 January 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposals to the Econo­
mic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Economic Community. 
8. 8. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/29 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the Council's request of 12 Janu­
ary for an opinion on the proposals for a European 
scientific and technical strategy: framework pro­
gramme 1984-1987, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the its 
Bureau on 22 February 1983 instructing the Section 
for Energy and Nuclear Questions to draw up an 
opinion and a report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by that Sec­
tion at its 80th meeting on 6 May 1983, 
Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Drago, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
1 June 1983 (208th plenary session of 1 and 2 June 
1983), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously, with seven abstentions: 
1. Foreword 
1.1. The Economic and Social Committee 
approves the 'European Scientific and Technical 
Strategy: Framework Programme 1984-1987' pro­
posed by the Commission. 
The proposed new approach can play its part in 
creating a Community scientific and technical stra­
tegy geared to meeting present and future economic 
and industrial challenges. 
The Committee observes that the proposed 
approach and the programme are founded on a criti­
cal overall appraisal of past experience and trusts that the new approach will enhance the effective­
ness of present and future action. 
1.2. In the Committee's view, the new approach is 
calculated to foster closer cohesion within the Com­
munity and strengthen the Community's role in 
international production and trade. 
1.3. The Community's dependence on outside 
technology is steadily growing. It is essential to rev­
erse this process, given: (i) the fact that raw materi­
als, energy and farm products account for over two-
thirds of the Community's imports; (ii) the widening 
creative, innovative and technological gap between 
the EEC and its main competitors, namely the 
United States and Japan. 
1.4. In the medium and long term, the greater com­
petitiveness generated by scientific and technologi­
cal development could assist the Community in 
absorbing its large pool of unemployed labour, 
improving the quality of life and promoting more 
balanced social progress. The proposed scientific 
and technical strategy must therefore be used to 
speed up modernization of the Member States' 
economies and stimulate growth, while smoothing 
the cultural adjustment that new technologies inev­
itably require. These cultural changes must, how­
ever, take account of social requirements and must 
preserve a society where both freedom and responsi­
bility can flourish. 
1.5. The Committee shares the Commission's 
awareness of the importance of a scientific and tech­
nological research strategy that will help the Com­
munity to improve productivity and competitiveness 
and make better use of available resources. 
2. Policies and aims of the framework programme: 
comments 
2.1. The Committee sees the framework pro­
gramme illustrated in the table below as a first 
attempt at Community medium-term planning for 
scientific and technical R&D and demonstration 
activities. 
No C 211/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
Community 
goals 
1. Promoting 
agricultur­
al competi­
tiveness 
(including 
fish) 
2. Promoting 
industrial 
competi­
tiveness 
3. Improving 
the man­
agement of 
raw mater­
ials 
4. Improving 
the man­
agement of 
energy re­
sources 
and reduc­ing energy 
depend-
5. Reinforc­
ing de­
velopment 
aid 
6. Improving 
living and 
working 
conditions Scientific and 
technical objectives 
1.1. Development of agricultural 
competitiveness and improve­
ment of products 
(Fish) 
2.1. Elimination and reduction of 
hindrances 
2.2. Improvement and development 
of new techniques and products 
for conventional industry 
2.3. Promotion 
and deve­
lopment 
of new tech­
nology 2.3.1. Information 
technology 
2.3.2. Biotech­
nology 
3.1. Optimal use of raw materials 
(including recycling them) 
4.1. The development of nuclear 
fission energy, especially safety 
aspects 
4.2. Controlled thermonuclear fu­
sion (JET) 
4.3. The development of renewable 
sources of energy 
4.4. Rational use of energy (systems 
analysis, hydrocarbons, coal, 
energy saving) 
5.1. The implementation of S/T 
activities which benefit devel­
oping countries 
6.1. Improvement of safety and 
protection of health 
6.2. Protection of the environment 
(and prevention of hazards) 
7. Improving the efficacy of the EEC's S/T potential 
(Stimulation) 
Horizontal action (including the 
utilization of R & D) 
Total 1984-1987 
Proposed 
budgetary 
allocation 
million 
ECU(') 
115 
15 
30 
350 
680 
80 
540 
480 
310 
520 
150 
110 
160 
5% of total 
appropria­
tions 
110 
3 750 % 
of total 
3,5 
28,2 
2,1 
49,4 
4,0 
7,2 
2,9 
100 1982 
% 
(for compari­
son) 
1,86 
18,46 
1,36 
63,66 
0,67 
10,15 
3,84 
100 
(') 1982 values. 
8. 8. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC211/31 
2.2. The seven Community projects and 13 target 
programmes reflect fundamental policy decisions, 
based on data concerning national policies and 
joint international ventures. Although the Com­
mittee approves the projects selected, it considers 
that the programme is too broadly spread. 
2.3. The Committee feels that the estimated budget 
of 3 700 million ECU is relatively small in the light 
of actual needs and national expenditure. The Com­
mittee nevertheless trusts that some R&D and 
demonstration programmes will be expanded with a 
view to: (a) coordinating Community research activ­
ities more effectively, (b) reshaping such activities if 
need be and (c) incoporating them into R&D plans 
with pre-established goals. 
2.4. The Committee approves the medium-term 
approach to financial planning and is pleased that 
Community R & D is to receive a higher annual pro­
portion of Community resources (4 % as opposed to 
2,6 %). 
The Committee trusts that failure to get adequately 
precise, clearer priorities will not lead to funds being 
spread too thinly, so that the framework programme 
yields disappointing results. 
2.5. The Committee agrees with the criteria deter­
mining the specific R&D and demonstration activ­
ity objectives (page 19 of COM(82) 865 final). How­
ever, it would point out that there is no indication of 
what steps are to be taken to avoid overlapping 
between national and Community efforts. 
2.6. In seeking to put resources to the best use 
(maximum pooling and coordination of national 
and Community efforts), attention should prefera­
bly be focused on fewer, carefully defined priorities 
in spheres where Community industry and research 
institutions can achieve results. 
2.7. The Committee notes that under the Commis­
sion's overall draft budget (3 700 million ECU) all 
sectors will receive a higher allocation than they do 
at present. The Committee nevertheless feels that 
there should be a shift away from certain pro­grammes and a re-emphasis on the following areas, 
which warrant higher expenditure because of their 
immediate potential: 
— areas with a bearing on agricultural competitive­
ness (new products, quality improvements, new 
production processes, marginal land), 
— areas with a bearing on industrial competitive­
ness (traditional industries, technical barriers), 
— development aid — transfer of technologies that 
facilitate adaptation, 
— improvement of living and working conditions. 
The Committee considers that efforts to reduce 
energy dependence and increase nuclear safety 
(JCR) should be continued. 
The Committee also endorses the Commission allo­
cation for improving the efficiency of scientific and 
technical potential. 
3. Conclusions and proposals 
3.1. The Economic and Social Committee has no 
intention of going into details of the individual pro­
grammes as it will later be asked to deliver an opi­
nion thereon. However, the above comments may 
help to make the projects more effective. 
3.2. Constant liaison and coordination between 
research institutions and industry is necessary if 
research is to produce findings which are of major 
economic and industrial significance and have sub­
stantial development potential. 
3.3. It is necessary to encourage cooperation not 
only in medium-term R & D but also in more short-
term practical applications of technology to existing 
markets. 
Cooperation in this area should be fostered between 
complementary industries and organizations such as 
technical and marketing know-how. 
3.4. The Committee attaches particular importance 
to the machinery for consulting social categories but 
will deal with changes in existing scientific and 
technological research committees in it forthcoming 
opinion on the 'communication from the Commis-
No C 211/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
sion to the Council on structures and procedures for 
the common policy in the field of science and tech­
nology' (COM(83) 143 final). 
3.5. The Committee notes the Commission's 
undertaking to review the programme within two 
years. In this connection it trusts that it will then be 
possible to asses the cost-effectiveness of the deci­
sions taken. 
3.6. The Commission document also highlights 
marked inadequacies in the dissemination of infor­
mation on scientific and technological research pro­
grammes. The Committee trusts that the existing 
data exchange system (Euronet, etc.) will be 
improved and that a study will be made of the pos-
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, sibility of setting up a data bank on Community 
scientific and technical research programmes. This 
would foster a fruitful interplay of the factors influ­
encing the innovative process; human and technol­
ogical resources, funding and markets. 
It should also be possible to obtain general informa­
tion on national budgets, policies and priorities, and 
medium-term programmes in the scientific and tech­
nological research field. 
3.7. The Committee believes that the framework 
programme could and should become a major pillar 
of a future Community policy on research and 
development, as such it is well-suited for bringing a 
Community industrial policy one step closer. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
Having regard to the Council's request of 31 May 
1983 for an opinion on the proposal for a Council 
Decision on the framework programme for Com­
munity scientific and technical activities 1984-1987, Opinion on the proposals for a Council Decision on the framework programme for 
Community scientific and technical activities 1984-1987 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 31 May 1983 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 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: