7. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 56/13 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision amending Council Decision No 85/338/EEC 
in order to provide for the continuation of the Commission work programme concerning an 
experimental project for gathering, coordinating and ensuring the consistency of information 
on the state of the environment and natural resources in the Community (J) 
(90/C 56/05) 
On 6 October 1989 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 130s of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which 
was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 
31 October 1989. The rapporteur was Mr Vercellino. 
At its 271st plenary session (meeting of 15 November 1989), the Economic and Social 
Committee unanimously adopted the following opinion. 
1. While endorsing the proposed two-year extension 
of the Corine project, the Committee would like the 
Commission and the Member States to take account of 
the following comments and recommendations. These 
concern the linkage and coordination of Corine with 
the future activities of the European Environment 
Agency and the European environment monitoring net­
work. 
2. When Corine was launched, the Committe wel­
comed the Commission proposal for developing an 
information system on the state of the environment and 
the natural resources in the Community. It saw this as 
'an essential precondition for an effective environment 
policy'(2). 
3. From the outset, the Committee stressed the vital 
need for Corine to run beyond its initial four-year span. 
This position was echoed by the European Parliament 
and the Corine group of experts. this area. This would involve a rapid move from the 
experimental coordination stage to a full-scale Euro­
pean environment monitoring and information net­
work, supplementing and consolidating the results hith­
erto achieved at national and Community level. 
5. Article 4 of the Agency proposal cements this 
approach by stating that the Agency 'shall be entrusted 
with, and be responsible for continuing... the work 
undertaken by the Commission pursuant to Decision 
85/338/EEC. 
6. It is therefore logical and natural to extend Corine 
while the Agency is being negotiated and set up, in 
order to avoid a temporary vacuum between the expiry 
of the programme and the start-up of the Agency. 
During this period, the results achieved to date can be 
consolidated and developed in line with the major new 
duties deputed to the Agency, the Commission and the 
relevant national bodies. 
4. When later examining the proposal to set up a 
European Environment Agency, the Committee 
applauded the contribution already made by Corine 
and the Council's intention to make a quantum leap in 
(M OJ No C 269, 21. 10. 1989, p. 
(2) OJ NoC 140,28.5. 1984. 7. The Committee is however adamant that the 
extension of the experimental stage should be devoted 
solely to the overriding aim of setting up the Agency and 
ensuring that it operates efficiently. This is important to 
avoid wasted efforts, duplication of duties and delays 
in the adoption and implementation of a decision whose 
urgency is widely recognized by the bodies and popu­
lation groups concerned. 
Done at Brussels, 15 November 1989. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE