17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 263/77 
ratify  the AETR  in time  for the agreement  to come 
into force  on 1 January  1976,  which  is 180  days  after 
the deposit  of the instruments  of ratification. 
4. The  Committee  would  therefore  not  be 
opposed  to the fixing  of a more  realistic  date  in the 
Regulation. 
5. Finally,  the  Committee  draws  the  Council's 
attention  to the fact  that,  at the Council  meeting  of 
11 December  1974,  some  governments  requested  the 
Commission  to  consider  ways  of  improving 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  543/69  so as to make  the 
application  of it easier.  As soon  as an agreement  is 
reached  on  these  changes,  the  compatibility  of Regulation  (EEC)  No  543/69  with  the  AETR  must 
be restored.  The  Council  should  therefore  look  into 
how the AETR  and  any  amendments  to Regulations 
of the  European  Economic  Community  could  be 
brought  into  line  with  each  other.  The  procedure  of 
depositing  instruments  of ratification  would  be 
unaffected. 
Done  at Brussels,  26 June  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Decision  on intervention  by the social  fund  to 
encourage  structural  adjustment  measures 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has not been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION  . 
On 29 April  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 131st  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 25 and  26 June  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  Article  198  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an Opinion  made 
by the Council  of the European  Communities  on 30 
April  1975; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
22 April  1975  in anticipation  of the  request  for an 
Opinion,  instructing  the Section  for Social  Questions 
to draw  up an Opinion  and  a report  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  at its meeting  on 12 
June  1975  and  the oral  report  made  by Mr Laval  on 
behalf  of the Rapporteur; Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 25 
June  1975  (131st  plenary  session  of 25 and  26 June 
1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  no votes  against  and  three  abstentions: 
Preliminary  remark 
The Committee  regrets  being  given  only  an 
extremely  short  time  to draw  up an Opinion  on this 
question,  which  is crucial  for  the  framing  and 
implementation  of a genuine  European  Social  Policy. 
No C 263/78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 17. 11. 75 
1. The  role  of the  Social  Fund  in tackling  the 
consequences  of structural  adjustment 
1.1. The  Commission's  proposal,  which  refers  to 
the Communique  issued  after  the  Summit 
Conference  held  in Paris  in December  1974,  and  is in 
pursuance  of the  Council  Decision  of 1 February 
1971  on the  Reform  of the  European  Social  Fund, 
particularly  Article  4 thereof,  calls  for specific  action, 
mainly  in the field  of vocational  training,  to create  a 
better  match  between  supply  and  demand  on the 
labour  market  by means  of securing  the  necessary 
labour  mobility.  The  Commission  is also  seeking  to 
encourage  the development  of branches  of economic 
activity  whose  expansion  is particularly  desirable 
from  the  point  of  view  of  the  medium-term 
economic  development  of the  Community,  and  to 
assist  the  structural  change  required  in the  sectors 
worst  hit. 
1.2. While  it is in agreement  with  these  general 
intentions,  the Committee  finds  — and  here  it would 
refer  to the  views  expressed  on the  Social  Fund  in 
several  of its earlier  Opinions  — that  the  measures 
the Commission  is proposing  for tackling  the current 
economic  and  social  problems  show  that  up  till 
now the  Social  Fund  has  not  been  a sufficiently 
effective  instrument  of Community  employment  and 
vocational  training  policy  from  the point  of view  not 
only  of curing  but also  of preventing  unemployment. 
1.3. Given  the  magnitude  and  urgency  of the 
problem  of the  employment  and  unemployment  of 
young  people,  the  Committee  would  like  to see  a 
draft  recommendation  submitted  as soon  as possible 
to the  Council  by  the  Commission,  comprising 
measures  to give  unemployed  young  people  the 
opportunity  of taking  basic  or advanced  training  to 
prepare  them  for jobs. 
1.4. Without  wishing  to underestimate  the  special 
difficulties  which  exist  owing  to the  extent  and  the 
rapidity  of the changes  which  have  taken  place  in the 
world  economic  situation  and  international  trade 
relations  in the past  few  years,  the Committee  regrets 
that it is only  now,  in the  midst  of a crisis,  and  in 
response  to the repercussions  of events  whose  causes 
are manifold  and  difficult  to identify,  that  the Social 
Fund  is assigned  functions  it should  have  been  given 
before;  if this  had  been  the case,  it would  now  be in 
a better  position  to  play  the  preventive  and 
structural  role  which  it must  have  and  which  the 
Committee  has always  considered  vital. 1.5. In  1969,  in its Opinion  on the  reform  of the 
European  Social  Fund,  the  Committee  stressed  that 
the Fund  should  be set tasks  which  would  make  it 
an integral  part  of  the  Community's  structural 
policies. 
1.6. More  recently,  in  its  Opinion  on  the 
restructuring  of the economies,  the Committee  stated 
that it was  essential  to: 
'Strengthen  the instruments  available  to the  EEC, 
so that  it can  take  the initiative  and  even  out  the 
restructuring  process.  In this  connection  the 
Committee  would  stress  the  importance  of the 
European  Investment  Bank  and  the  Regional  and 
Social  Funds,  whose  functions  and  structures 
must  be geared  to providing  effective  support  for 
restructuring  where  necessary' 
1.7. Regarding  the  choice  of measures  eligible  for 
Social  Fund  assistance  under  the  Decision,  the 
Committee  would  observe  that  without  precise 
criteria  it will  be  very  difficult  to assess  the 
importance  and  urgency  of the  adjustments  required 
in the various  branches  of economic  activity.  In this 
connection  the Committee  pointed  out  in its Opinion 
on the  restructuring  of the  economies  that  'a 
medium-term  restructuring  policy  cannot  be tailored 
to factors  which  are  of current  significance  but  may 
change  in importance  within  a relatively  short  time'. 
1.8. The  Committee  considers  that  this  is nowhere 
more  true  than  in the  crucial  area  of vocational 
guidance  and  training. 
1.9. Furthermore,  as was  urged  in the Committee's 
Opinion  on employment  and  the  changed  situation 
in the Community  (paragraph  2.5)  (*), full  and  better 
employment  must  be  one  of  the  principal 
considerations  in all decisions  on technological  and 
structural  change. 
1.10.  The  Committee  considers,  therefore,  that  the 
choice  of measures  to be eligible  for assistance  from 
the Fund  must  be made  with  reference  not  only  to 
the immediate  consequences  of the  current  crisis  but 
also to our  overall,  long-term  economic  and  social 
objectives  for society. 
1.11.  The  Committee  would  also  refer  to its 
request  that  the  criteria  applied  in deciding  on 
(!) OJ No C 109,  19. 9. 1974,  p. 52. 
17.11.75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/79 
priorities  be made  known.  It regrets  that  the present 
proposal  does  not  give  enough  information  on this 
matter,  and,  moreover,  that  the Commission  has  not 
faced  up to the facts  regarding  the possible  need  to 
increase  the resources  of the Social  Fund. 
1.12.  While  the  financial  resources  of  the 
European  Social  Fund  may  have  been  considered 
sufficient  by the Member  States  in the economic  and 
social  conditions  which  existed  in periods  of growth, 
the Committee  feels  strongly  that,  in a grave  crisis 
such  as we have  at present,  it would  be unthinkable 
to contemplate  a restructuring  of the  economies 
without  giving  the  Social  Fund  financial  resources 
commensurate  with  the  social  implications  of such 
restructuring,  particularly  in the  fields  of earned 
income  support  and  of an active,  effective  manpower 
policy. 
2. The  need  for  consistency  between  the  planned 
measures  and  the Community's  economic  and  social 
objectives 
2.1. The  Committee  can  only  approve  a desire  for 
consistency;  however,  it is time  the  Community's 
economic  and  social  objectives  passed  the  stage  of 
generalities  and  declarations  of intent  and  entered 
that of precise  options,  dates  and  means,  though 
with  a certain  flexibility  preserved.  It is extremely 
difficult  to be consistent  with  objectives  which  are 
still not,  or not sufficiently,  defined. 
3. The  priority  to be accorded  to the regions,  sectors 
and groups  of workers  in which  employment 
difficulties  are most  acute 
3.1. The  Committee  regrets  that  the  Commission 
was unable  in the present  circumstances  to be more 
precise  on this  point.  There  is a danger  that  this  will 
lead to an accumulation  of priorities  and  different 
concepts  whose  relationship  to one  another  and 
relative  importance  will  be difficult  to discern. 
3.2. In  the  Committee's  view,  it is essential  first 
of all to set about  the job  of identifying  throughout 
the Community  the  sectors,  regions  and  groups  of 
workers  worst  hit by the persistent  crisis,  so that  the 
planned  measures  can have  an optimal  effect. 3.3. In  this  connection,  the Committee  thinks  that 
the Council  should  take  a decision  right  away 
according  absolute  priority  to  the  following 
categories,  irrespective  of country,  region  or sector: 
— young  people  under  25 years  of age  who  are 
unemployed  or looking  for their  first  job; 
— migrant  workers,  in respect  of measures  seeking 
either  to avert  a possibility  of migrant  workers 
being  sent  back  to their  countries  of origin 
because  of unemployment,  or facilitate  the return 
and reintegration  of migrant  workers  in their 
countries  of origin,  where  the workers  genuinely 
wish  to go back  and  the measure  in question  is 
not a disguised  means  of encouraging  the sending 
home  of migrant  workers. 
3.4. The  Committee  would  consequently  like  to 
see a review  carried  out  of all aspects  of the Fund's 
operations,  with  particular  reference  to  its 
intervention  to encourage  restructuring  in particular 
regions  and  sectors,  with  a view  to a comprehensive 
overhaul  of the  Fund's  role  and  activities.  This 
review  should  be begun  without  delay,  using  the 
appropriate  procedures  and  with  the participation  of 
representatives  of the various  categories  of economic 
and social  activity. 
3.5. With  particular  reference  to the  regional 
aspects,  the  Committee  has  consistently  maintained 
that formulation  and  implementation  of a coherent 
regional  policy  is one  of the basic  preconditions  for 
an effective  Social  Fund.  Unfortunately,  we are  still 
waiting  for  such  a coherent  regional  policy  to be 
formulated  .and  implemented. 
3.6. Finally  the  Committee  would  like  to point 
out that  by virtue  of Article  3 (2) of the  Council 
Decision  of 1 February  1971,  assistance  from  the 
Social  Fund  may  also  be granted  in special  cases  to 
be determined  by the Council  for persons  who  are to 
pursue  activities  as  self-employed  persons  (e.g. 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 2398/71  of 8 November 
1971,  on assistance  for persons  directly  engaged  in 
agriculture  in a self-employed  capacity). 
4. Conclusions 
4.1. On  a general  level,  whilst  it recognizes  the 
Commission's  proposals  as being  a laudable  attempt 
to tackle  a number  of problems  of importance  for 
the economic  and  social  future  of the  Community, 
the Committee  regrets  the lack  of precision  and  at all 
events  the  fragmentary  nature  of the  proposals. 
Though  they  might  provide  the basis  for a Council 
Decision,  in the  Committee's  view  they  will  hardly 
No C 263/80 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 17.11.75 
achieve  the aims  intended  and  will  be of only  limited 
help in the judicious  encouragement  of restructuring 
in sectors  whose  development  is desirable. 
4.2. In  view  of what  is at stake  and  the  difficult 
choices  to be made,  the  Community  should  have 
envisaged  not  a piecemeal  decision  of limited  scope 
and short-term  effect,  but  a comprehensive, 
purposeful  measure,  based  on a precise  definition  of 
the economic  and  social  goals  to be aimed  at and 
capable  of giving  the  European  Social  Fund  the means  of action  and  the reliability  needed  to make  it 
the instrument  of Community  social  policy  par 
excellence. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 June  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  fixing  the main  intervention  centres 
for oil seeds  for  the  1975/76  marketing  year  and  the  derived  intervention  prices 
applicable  in these  centres 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 145  of 28 June  1975,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 5 June  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 131st  plenary  session, 
held in Brussels  on 25 and  26 June  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an Opinion  made 
by the  Council  of the  European  Communities  on 
5 June  1975; 
Having  regard  to Article  198  of the EEC  Treaty; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Chairman 
in accordance  with  the urgency  procedure  provided 
for in Articles  46 and  47 of the Rules  of Procedure, 
instructing  the Section  for Agriculture  to draw  up an 
Opinion  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the draft  Opinion  submitted  by the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Schnieders; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  adopted  by  the 
Section  for  Agriculture  at its meeting  on 5 June 
1975; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its meeting  on 25 
June  1975  (131st  plenary  session  of 25 and  26 June 
1975), HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the  Commission's 
proposal. 
It points  out,  however,  that  the  intervention  price 
proposed  for  the  two  Danish  intervention  centres 
(Arhus  and  Copenhagen),  which  is calculated  in 
relation  to the  Hamburg  price,  does  not  appear  to 
allow  a sufficient  margin  for actual  transport  costs. 
The Committee  requests  that  the  Commission  and 
the Council  study  this  matter  closely  in the light  of 
the experience  gained  during  the  current  marketing 
year. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 June  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE