No C 64/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 3. 82 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a sectoral research and 
development programme of the European Economic Community in the field of medical and 
public health research — concerted action — (1982 to 1986) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 291 of 12 November 1981, page 13. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 14 October 1981 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 
193rd plenary session held in Brussels on 15 and 16 December 1981. 
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 by the Council of the 
European Communities on 14 October 1981 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision 
adopting a sectoral research and development 
programme of the European Economic Community 
in the field of medical and public health research — 
concerted action — (1982 to 1986) (»), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
27 October 1981, instructing the Section for the 
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion and a 
report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the 
abovementioned Section at its meeting on 
1 December 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report presented by the 
rapporteur, Mrs Heuser, at this meeting, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 193 rd plenary 
session, held on 15 and 16 December 1981 (meeting 
of 15 December), 
Whereas the Council, on 13 February 1978, adopted 
three concerted actions as a first Community 
0) OJ No C 291, 12. 11. 1981, p. 13. research programme in the field of medical and 
public health research (2); 
Whereas the Council, on 18 March 1980, adopted a 
second medical research programme consisting of 
four further concerted actions (3); 
Whereas the abovementioned programmes were 
endorsed by the Economic and Social Committee on 
23 November 1977 (4) and 29 November 1978 (5) 
respectively; 
Whereas the Commission now proposes to 
consolidate and follow up these activities in a new 
sectoral research programme consisting of 
33 projects grouped into eight research areas and 
three subprogrammes, at a total cost of 20 million 
ECU on the Community budget over a five-year 
period, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's 
proposal and endorses the activities outlined 
therein. 
(2) OJ No L 52, 23. 2. 1978, p. 20. 
(3) OJ No L 78, 25. 3. 1980, p. 24. 
(4) OJ No C 59, 8. 3. 1978, p. 43. 
(5) OJ No C 105, 26. 4. 1979, p. 22. 
15. 3. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 64/21 
2. The Committee notes that the new programme 
will cost a total of 20 million ECU on the Community 
budget as against 0-36 million u.a. for the first 
programme and 2-32 million ECU for the second. 
Whilst this represents a considerable increase, the 
Committee notes that the scope of Community 
activity has also been greatly enlarged. The seven 
original concerted actions of the first and second 
programmes are to be superseded by a total of 
33 projects in fields where Community-level 
coordination would seem most appropriate. 
3. The Committee agrees with the distribution of 
expenditure between the various areas of research; 
with regard to the financial and manpower resources 
allocated to the programme however, the Committee 
would question whether these will be adequate to 
provide an effective coordination service in each 
area. 
4. In view of the significance of the large number of 
projects included in the programme, it would be 
useful to have a more detailed explanation as to how 
these projects were selected. In particular, there 
would seem to be a case for carrying out more formal 
evaluation (e.g. Erfolgskontrolle) on work to date, 
and a detailed cost benefit analysis of the projected 
activities. These should be undertaken specifically in 
the light of the Community's economic and social 
objectives. 
5. In particular the Committee welcomes the many 
attempts to establish common parameters and 
measuring methods which are a pre-condition for 
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1981. comparable statistics and research findings in the 
Community. It has already made this point in earlier 
opinions. This applies particularly in the case of 
medicines, on which the Committee issued an 
opinion on 30 April 1980(0. 
6. The Committee would point out that in the health 
programme political considerations will for the first 
time automatically be a factor. The Committee is of 
the opinion that the Commission must take care to 
ensure that such work can be pursued in a 
scientifically objective manner without any 
ideological pressures. 
7. The Committee welcomes the rationalization of 
the advisory committee structure. It is to comprise a 
General Concerted Action Committee and form 
Special Concerted Action Committees (COMACs). 
This reflects one of the recommendations of the 
committee's study of 31 January 1980 on the 
organization and management of Community 
research and development. However, it also 
recommended on that occasion that the 'COMACs 
should have a broadly-based membership whose task 
is to ensure that research responds to real needs, that 
it is efficiently carried out and that optimal use is 
made of the results ... There should be adequate and 
balanced representation of government circles, 
research organizations, research workers, academic 
circles, user industries and interested economic and 
social groupings'. 
(') OJ No C 205, 11. 8. 1980, p. 5. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE