16. 10.74 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 125/41 
Reason 
If cigars  are classified  in one  group  as the Commission  suggests,  there  will  only  be one  cigar 
tax and  this  will  be to the advantage  of cigars  with  an outer  wrapper  of natural  tobacco  as opposed 
to cigars  with  an outer  wrapper  of reconstituted  tobacco. 
Result  of the vote: 
for: 22 
against:  33 
abstentions:  15. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  from  the  Commission  to the  Council  on the  establishment  of 
a European  vocational  training  centre 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 72 of 27 June  1974,  page  17. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 18 April  1974,  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 
122nd  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 17 and  18 July  1974. 
The full  text  of the  Opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  Decision  of the  Council  of 
the European  Communities,  dated  18  April  1974, 
to consult  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on 
the proposal  from  the  Commission  to the  Council 
on the  establishment  of  a European  vocational 
training  centre; 
Having  regard  to  Article  198  of  the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the  Decision  taken  by the  Bureau 
of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  dated 
17 May  1974,  entrusting  the  Section  for  Social 
Questions  with  the  .preparation  of an  opinion  on 
this subject; Having  regard  to  the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  at its 89th  meeting  held 
on 11 July  1974; 
Having  regard  to the  report  presented  by Mrs  Weber, 
Rapporteur; 
Having  regard  to discussions  at its 122nd  plenary 
session  on  17  and  18  July  1974,  sitting  of 
17 July  1974; 
Whereas  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  has 
on several  occasions  in  the  past  advocated  the 
establishment  of a European  institute  competent  for 
all vocational  training  problems; 
Whereas  the  Social  Action  Programme  adopted  by 
Council  resolution  on 21 January  1974  includes  as 
No C 125/42 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 16.10.  74 
one of its priority  objectives  the implementation  of 
a common  vocational  training  policy; 
Whereas  the  concept  of 'vocational  training'  as 
applied  to the  new  centre  should  be interpreted  in 
the widest  sense, their  own  staffs  and  budgets  are  not  to be taken 
lightly,  and  the  advantages,  however  substantial, 
must  be assessed  carefully  in terms  of cost-efficiency. 
Therefore  the  Section  fully  agrees  with  the 
Commission's  statement  in  the  explanatory 
memorandum  that  duplication  with  other  activities 
will be avoided. 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by 60 votes  to 37 with  6 abstentions: 
The Committee  approves  the  proposal  for  a 
Regulation  subject  to the following  comments: 
1. GENERAL  COMMENTS 
1.1. The  Committee  welcomes  with  particular 
approval  this  Commission  proposal,  for  it is to 
a large  extent,  as the Commission  acknowledges,  the 
fruit  of its own  efforts.  For  some  14 years  the 
Committee  has  pressed  for  the  establishment  of a 
centre  of this  kind.  In its study  on the  systems  of 
education  and  vocational  training  in the  Member 
States  of  the  European  Communities  of 
13 December  1973,  the  Committee  pressed  a 
suggestion  it had  already  made  that  a European 
Institute  for  Vocational  Training  and  Guidance  be 
set up to coordinate  research  projects  of various 
national  and  international  institutions  for education 
and vocational  training  and  to ensure  that  the results 
of such  projects  were  disseminated  throughout  the 
Community.  It felt  that  only  a central  institute  of 
this sort  would  be in a position  to assemble  the 
basic  technical,  academic,  and  scientific  material 
necessary  to enable  the  advisory  bodies  and  the 
authorities  to draw  the  right  conclusions  and  take 
the proper  policy  decisions  with  a view  to the 
practical  harmonization  of education  and  training 
systems  for  young  people  and  adults.  The  social 
policy  guidelines  adopted  by the Heads  of State  or 
of Government  at their  conference  in Paris  in 
October  1972,  and  the  enlargement  of  the 
Community  to nine  members,  have  since  provided 
fresh  impetus  to Community  action  in the  field  of 
vocational  training,  and  this  proposed  Regulation 
is evidence  of the  more  constructive  attitude  now 
prevailing  towards  problems  of training  the  young 
and those  who  have  already  started  their  working 
life. 
1.2. However,  the  Committee  is well  aware  that 
decisions  to set up new  Community  agencies  with 1.3. The  Committee  feels  that  the  new  Centre  will 
not compete  either  with  the  Advisory  Committee 
on Vocational  Training  or with  itself.  The  Centre's 
tasks  comprise:  practical  detailed  research,  establish-
ment  of pilot  projects,  establishment  or pooling  and 
dissemination  of reliable  and  up-to-date  information 
(if at all  possible  with  a sufficient  degree  of 
comparability)  and  the creation  of a documentation 
and information  retrieval  system  operated  on modern 
lines.  But  the  new  Centre  should  not  only  fill  in 
information  gaps  in the field  of vocational  training. 
It should  provide  the  Commission  with  the  basic 
elements  which  are  necessary  to achieve  a funda-
mental  objective  of the  Rome  Treaty,  namely, 
improvement  of the  living  and  working  conditions 
of the working  population. 
1.4. The  Committee  endorses  the  list  of the  tasks 
of the European  Centre  for  Vocational  Training, 
as set out  in Article  2 of the  Commission  proposal. 
The Centre  has  the character  of a research  institute 
for the  further  development  of vocational  training, 
including  associated  cultural  education,  and  continu-
ing vocational  training.  Therefore  the Centre's  task 
is not to carry  out  vocational  training  in the general 
sense,  apart  from  conferences,  seminars,  pilot 
projects  or pilot  courses. 
1.5. The  Committee  wishes  to emphasize  that  the 
term  'vocational  training'  as applied  to the  Centre, 
notably  in its title,  should  be  given  the  widest 
possible  interpretation  to cover  all activities  directly 
or indirectly  helping  not  only  the  young  but  also 
unskilled  workers  and  those  workers  with  some 
years  of experience  behind  them  to enhance  their 
prospects  on the  labour  market  by improving  or 
adding  to their  working  skills,  at all stages  in their 
working  lives.  This  is of particular  importance  in 
respect  of those  areas  and  economic  sectors  where 
workers  and  school-leavers  are  being  compelled  to 
pay a heavy  price,  in terms  of unemployment  or 
emigration,  for the rapid  economic  and  technological 
changes  that  bring  benefits  to the  rest  of the  Com-
munity  population.  This  also  applies  particularly  to 
female  workers  and  women  seeking  work.  In 
addition  handicapped  persons,  who  number  about 
twelve  million  in the  enlarged  Community,  and 
elderly  workers  deserve  special  attention. 
16.10.74 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 125/43 
1.6. As  to the  status  of the  .Centre,  the Committee 
endorses  the Commission's  view  that  it should  enjoy 
maximum  autonomy,  but  that  it should  work 
closely  with  the  Commission,  and  that  it should 
enjoy  extensive  legal  capacity  in all the  member 
countries.  Of the  several  solutions  possible,  this 
seems  the most  reasonable. 
1.7. The  Committee  feels,  however,  that  the  Com-
mission  should  give  clearer  explanations  as to the 
differences  between  the  respective  legal  status  of 
the agencies  whose  creation  it proposes  — for 
example  as between  this  Centre  and  the Foundation 
for the  improvement  of  living  and  working 
conditions. 
1.8. The  Commission's  suggestion,  made  in the 
explanatory  memorandum,  that  members  of the 
Advisory  Committee  should  sit  on  the  Centre's 
Management  Board  is welcome. 
1.9. Broadly  speaking,  the Committee  alsb  endorses 
the objectives  and  tasks  of the  Centre,  as indicated 
in Articles  2 and  3 of the  proposed  Regulation, 
subject  to the  specific  comments  set out  below.  It 
recalls  that  in its study  on vocational  training  of 
December  1973  it made  a list  of the  tasks  which 
the proposed  institute  should  carry  out,  but  it notes 
that the Commission  has  preferred  to make  a short, 
general  list  rather  than  a long  detailed  one.  The 
Committee  trusts  that  when  the Management  Board 
draws  up its work  programme  it will  take  into 
account  the  specific  comments  made  below  on 
Articles  2 and  3. 
1.10.  The  structure  of the  Centre,  as proposed  by 
the Commission  in its proposed  Regulation  — a 
tripartite  policy  board  advised  by an experts  com-
mittee  composed  of highly  qualified  specialists,  with 
the Centre's  Director  as its  key  elertient  —  is 
obviously  open  to  controversy;  the  Committee 
proposes  in its specific  comments  a structure  that 
will allow  for  representation  by all economic  and 
social  categories. 
1.11.  The  Committee  also  feels  that  it would  be 
wrong  for  the  Chairman  of the  Board  to be 
appointed  by  the  Commission.  It feels  that  the 
Chairman  and  Vice-Chairmen  should  be elected  by 
the Board  as a whole  and  should  represent  the 
groups  of which  the Board  is made  up. 
1.12.  It is clear  that  the experts  committee  will  have 
an important  role  to play  in the functioning  of the 
Centre,  but  the  Committee  is concerned  that  its role should  in no way  encroach  on that  of the 
Board,  and  that  if it is to 'examine  any  question 
relevant  to the  objectives  of the  Centre',  it should 
only do  so  within  the  framework  of  policy 
directives  handed  down  by the Board.  This  does  not 
preclude  the  experts  committee  from  dealing  with 
all problems  connected  with  the  Centre's  tasks  in 
agreement  with  the Management  Board. 
2. SPECIFIC  COMMENTS 
2.1. Article  1 
The Commission  document  uses  several  different 
names  for the Centre.  The  Committee  feels  that  the 
title must  be comprehensive  enough  to cover,  inter 
alia, continuing  education,  vocational  education, 
vocational  training  in industry  and  in schools, 
vocational  training  geared  to the  reintegration  of 
workers  and  the  handicapped,  retraining  and 
adaptation.  It is important  that  the Centre  should  be 
assigned  clear  tasks  defined  in Article  2, as explained 
above  under  'General  comments'. 
2.2. The  Commission  document  has  left  open  the 
question  of where  the  Centre  is to be located.  As 
regards  the choice  of location,  the Committee  takes 
the line  that  the  European  institution  organs  and 
institutes,  etc.  should  be spread  over  the  Member 
States  of the Community  on the federative  principle, 
i.e. these  organs  should  not  be concentrated  at the 
seat of the  European  Commission,  although  close 
cooperation  must  be guaranteed  between  them.  In 
present  circumstances  it would,  for  psychological 
reasons,  be desirable  to locate  the Centre  in one  of 
the new  Member  States. 
2.3. Articles  2 and 3 
In its Study  of 13 December  1973  on the  systems 
of education  and  vocational  training  in the Member 
States  of the  European  Communities,  the Economic 
and Social  Committee  commented  in detail  on the 
tasks  and  working  methods  of such  a Centre  and 
dealt  briefly  with  the  organization  of its  work. 
According  to the  Study,  the  following  proposals 
should  be taken  into  consideration  when  the Centres' 
work  programme  is being  drawn  up. 
2.4. Proposals  for a European  institute  for research 
into vocational  training  and  vocational  guidance 
Since  to a large  extent  research  into  vocational 
training  is still  largely  at the inventory  stage,  the main 
No C 125/44 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 16.10.  74 
objective  of a European  Institute  should  initially  be 
to draw  up such  an inventory,  particularly  in view 
of the  fact  that  at the  moment  the  work  being  done 
on this,  even  by the  national  institutions,  is quite 
inadequate.  The  following  general  objectives  should 
be borne  in mind: 
2.4.1.  Exchange  of the  results  of research  (in  this 
respect  it is particularly  important  to overcome 
existing  linguistic  barriers.  This  could  be achieved 
by publishing  synoptic  reports  on  important 
publications  in various  countries); 
2.4.2.  Standardization  of terminology; 
2.4.3.  Standardization  of  statistics  on  vocational 
training; 
2.4.4.  Organization  of  a European  information 
system; 
2.4.5.  Overall  and  detailed  comparison  of the  sys-
tems  of vocational  training  of the  various  countries, 
since  experience  has  shown  that  in the national  insti-
tutions  international  comparison  always  plays 
a purely  marginal  role; 
2.4.6.  Filling  in gaps  in research  by assigning  appro-
priate  research  projects  to national  institutes. 
2.5. This  list of tasks  reveals  first  of all the  import-
ance  attached  to the  organization  of  research,  but 
this does  not  mean  that  the  Institute  must  not  carry 
out basic  research  itself.  The  prime  function,  coordi-
nation  of research,  is to be carried  out  in accordance 
with  the  Institute's  own  fundamental  criteria  (see 
above). 
2.6. Coordination  of research  on vocational  training, 
vocational  development  and  vocational  guidance 
2.6.1.  Comparative  analysis  of the  relationship  be-
tween  economic  growth  and  the  trend  in  the 
employment  situation  (overall  and  sectoral); 
2.6.2.  Comparative  trade  cycle  research  with  special 
reference  to national  labour  markets; 
2.6.3.  Comparative  analysis  of technical  develop-
ments  and  their  impact  on the  (European)  labour 
market; 
2.6.4.  Research  into  the  'content'  of occupations, 
relationships  between  occupations  and  changes 
therein  in the context  of European  integration; 2.6.5.  Research  into  the  structure  and  efficiency  of 
vocational  guidance  in the individual  countries. 
2.7. Coordination  of research  as regards  pioneering 
'differential'  research 
(i) Comparisons  and  analyses 
2.7.1.  Analysis  of  modern  vocational  training 
methods  and  procedures  applied  in the  individual 
countries  or vocational  training  institutions,  taking 
into account  the  individual  media  and  combinations 
of media  used; 
2.7.2.  Comparative  analysis  of the  budget  appro-
priations  for  teaching  aids  and  school  requisites  in 
vocational  schools; 
2.7.3.  Analysis  of differences  in objectives  and  the 
implementation  of reforms  in the individual  countries 
— comparison  between  countries; 
2.7.4.  Analysis  of national  research  into  vocational 
training  as part  of national  vocational  training  prac-
tice; 
2.7.5.  Examination  of the conditions  for introducing 
social  reforms,  particularly  innovatory  national 
reforms,  into  the vocational  training  systems  of other 
European  countries  (analyses,  summaries,  strategy, 
proposals); 
2.7.6.  Comparison  of the  costs  of vocational  training 
at firm  level  and  above  the  single  firm  level  (ideas 
concerning  equitable  allocation  of costs,  examination 
of the special  levies  already  imposed  on undertakings 
in some  countries,  to see  whether  further  harmoniz-
ation  is called  for,  particular  attention  being  given 
to the  relative  competitiveness  of undertakings  in 
various  countries); 
2.7.7.  Analysis  of differences  in the advanced  training 
of vocational  teachers  (training  of the  necessary  staff 
in view  of the shortage  of teachers,  improved  training 
for instructors  — there  is a need  for  a social  orien-
tation  above  and  beyond  technical  specialization); 
2.7.8.  Analysis  of vocational  training  correspondence 
courses  in the various  countries; 
2.7.9.  Examination  of the  conditions  for  training 
vocational  guidance  offjcers,  establishment  of the 
requirements  which  candidates  for  posts  in the 
employment  and  vocational  guidance  services  should 
fulfil;  working  out  of basic  principles  and  pilot 
projects  for  new  departures  in training  for  guidance 
officers; 
16. 10.74 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 125/45 
2.7.10.  Comparative  analysis  of how  school  systems 
and curricula  influence  the  choice  of occupation 
(there  is a lack  of research  into  the processes  involved 
in choosing  an occupation); 
2.7.11.  Examination  of the  equality  of opportunity 
for foreign  children  with  reference  to intensive 
courses,  preparatory  classes,  etc.  td create  the  pre-
conditions  necessary  for  a choice  of occupation  (ap-
proximately  equal  starting  conditions); 
(ii) Pilot  projects 
2.7.12.  Scientific  study  of pilot  projects  of European 
importance  in the  fields  of vocational  guidance, 
vocational  training,  advanced  training,  retraining, 
rehabilitation  and  the  basic  and  advanced  training 
of teachers  and  instructors. 
2.8. Coordination  of research  with  a view  to system 
harmonization 
2.8.1.  Development  of a strategy  for  the  mutual 
adaptation  of national  vocational  training  systems: 
(a) Analysis  and  synopsis  of  vocational  training 
courses  (as regards  methods  — content  — struc-
ture — organization); 
(b) Analysis  and  synopsis  of the  system  of qualifi-
cations  (final  examinations  — qualifications  — 
opportunities); 
(c) Preparation  of proposals  and  pilot  projects  for 
harmonizing  and  further  developing  the  structure 
and 'content'  of  vocational  and  educational 
guidance; 
(d) Preparation  of bases  and  pilot  projects  for  a 
European  integrated  education  system  (integration 
of general  and  vocational  education); 
(e) The  laying  down  of common  objectives  and 
'contents'  for  vocational  training  in Europe;  co-
ordination  of the development  of curricula. 
2.9. These  proposals  should  serve  as guidelines  in 
working  out  the  details  of the  objectives  (Article  2) 
and the methods  (Article  3) of the Centre. 
2.10.  Article  2 
The third  indent  of the  first  paragraph  of Article  2 
should  be amended  to read  as follows: 
'— taking  initiatives  and  contribution  to  the 
development  and  coordination  of research'. 2.11.  Article  3 
The first  indent  of Article  3 should  be amended  to 
read  as follows: 
'— organize  conferences,  seminars,  pilot  projects 
and pilot  courses'. 
'Pilot  courses'  can  be,  for  example,  courses  for 
expanding  curricula  and  training  teaching  staff. 
Existing  training  centres  could  be used  for  carrying 
out these  courses. 
The second  indent  should  be amended  to read  as 
follows: 
'conclude  study  and  research  contracts  and  grant 
financial  assistance  to individual  researchers  or 
institutes  for carrying  out specific  projects'. 
2.12.  Article  4 
The Committee  considers  that  the management  board 
should  be composed  as follows  so as to ensure  that 
all categories  of economic  and  social  activity  are 
represented: 
— 4 members  representing  the Commission, 
— 4 members  representing  the employers, 
— 4 members  representing  wage  earners, 
— 4 members  representing  various  activities. 
The right  of the  European  workers'  and  employers' 
organizations  to propose  members  of the  Manage-
ment  Board,  not  only  guarantees  through  their  par-
ticipation  an effective  body,  but  also  makes  a positive 
contribution  to the  achievement  of economic  and 
monetary  union. 
2.13.  The  members  to be designated  by the  Com-
mission  should  not  be drawn  exclusively  from  of-
ficials  of the  European  Commission  working  in the 
field  of vocational  training,  but  mainly  from  among 
leading  independent  figures  in the  education  and 
vocational  training  world. 
The Director  of the  Centre  should  be responsible  for 
maintaining  permanent  contact  between  the  centres 
and the Commission. 
2.14.  On  Article  4 (3),  the  Committee  is of the 
opinion  that  the Chairman  of the Management  Board 
should  not  be appointed  by the  Commission  from 
among  the  members  which  it has  designated,  but 
should  be democratically  elected  by the  Management 
Board  as a whole.  Such  a procedure  would  obviate 
conflict  between  the  Management  Board  and  its 
No C 125/46 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 16.10.74 
Chairman,  on the one  hand,  and  the Commission  on 
the other.  Consequently,  Article  4 (3) should  read  as 
follows: 
'The  Management  Board  shall  elect  its Chairman 
and Vice-Chairmen  from  among  its members.  The 
Chairman  and  the Vice-Chairmen  shall  not belong 
to the same  group  of members.  A new  Chairman 
shall  be elected  each  year.' 
Article  4 (4) should  read  as follows: 
'The  Chairman  shall  convene  the  Management 
Board  not  less  than  four  times  a year  or at the 
request  of least  one-third  of its members.' 
2.15.  To  ensure  continuity  in the work  of the Chair-
men it is necessary  with  the proposed  annual  change 
of Chairman,  that  both  the Chairman  and  the Vice-
Chairmen  attend  the  prescribed  meetings  of other 
bodies.  Consequently,  Article  4 (6) should  be altered 
to read  as follows: 
'The Chairman  and  Vice-Chairmen  of  the 
Management  Board  shall  attend  meetings  of the 
Experts  Committee.' 
2.16.  The  Committee  proposes  that  the  Chairman 
of the Section  for Social  Questions  should  ex-officio 
be one  of the Management  Board  members  appointed 
by the Commission. 
2.17.  Articles 
The Committee  agrees  that  the  Management  Board 
should  regularly  inform  the  Commission  of the 
Centre's  activities  (last  sentence  of Article  5). The 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Advisory 
Committee  on Vocational  Training  are  to receive 
detailed  information. 
2.18.  Article  6 
The Committee  agrees  with  the Commission  that  the 
Experts  Committee  should  consist  of 18 members, 
with  two  members  from  each  Member  State.  In the 
initial  stages  at least,  this  arrangement  would  allow 
account  to be taken  of the  specific  problems  of the 
differences  in the national  systems  of education  and 
vocational  training,  thanks  to the  expertise  of the 
members  from  the various  States. 
2.19.  The  Committee  endorses  the  Commission's 
proposal  that  the members  of the Experts  Committee 
should  be appointed  by the Management  Board.  The 
regulation  should  not  say  anything  about  the  right to propose  experts  for  appointment,  since  the 
Management  Board  would  certainly  know  two  ex-
perts  from  each  Member  State.  It might  create  diffi-
culties  if Member  States  were  given  the  right  to 
propose  members,  with  final  appointment  being  left 
to the Management  Board. 
2.20.  Article  7 
The Committee  proposes  that  the  last  sentence  of 
Article  7 (1) should  be amended  to read  as follows: 
'In agreement  with  the  Management  Board,  the 
Experts  Committee  may,  on its own  initiative, 
examine  any  question  relevant  to the  objectives 
of the Centre.' 
2.21 On  Article  7 (2),  the Committee  proposes  that 
a Vice-Chairman  of the  Experts  Committee  should 
be elected  from  among  the  members  of that  Com-
mittee. 
2.22 On  Article  7 (3) the Committee  feels  that  the 
minimum  number  of annual  meetings  should  not  be 
stipulated. 
2.23 Article  10 
The last  sentence  of Article  10 (1) should  be amended 
to read  as follows: 
'The  programme  shall  take  account  of the  pri-
ority  needs,  as indicated  by  the  Community 
Institutions,  and  the  suggestions  made  by the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  and the Advisory 
Committee  on Vocational  Training.' 
2.24.  On the  financial  record 
(Annex  to the proposal  for a Regulation) 
At the present  time,  the Committee  finds  it extremely 
difficult  to assess  the Commission  figures. 
2.25.  The  Committee  considers  nevertheless  that  all 
the amounts  shown  in the  budget,  and  the  yearly 
increases,  should  be carefully  scrutinized  and  that, 
as the  Commission  itself  proposes,  all expenditure 
should  be properly  checked. 
Done  at Brussels,  17 July  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS 
16.10.  74 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 125/47 
ANNEX 
to the  Opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  amendment  was  rejected  during  the discussion 
Point  2.12  (on Article  4) 
The first  paragraph  should  be replaced  by the following: 
'The  Section  is of the opinion  that  all areas  of economic  and  social  activities  should  be taken 
into account  when  appointing  the representatives  who  are to sit on the Management  Board. 
It therefore  expects  that,  apart  from  the five members  to be proposed  by the European  workers' 
organizations  and  the  five  to be proposed  by the European  employers'  organizations,  the 
members  to be designated  by the Commission  should  be, in particular,  leading  independent 
figures  in the education  and  vocational  training  world  and  representatives  of economic  and 
social  activities  in so far as these  sectors  have  not  already  been  taken  into  account  in the 
appointment  of representatives  of the  other  groups.' 
Point  2.13 
The first  paragraph  should  be deleted. 
Reasons 
Economic  and  social  circles  are,  of course,  extremely  interested  in vocational  training  questions. 
The majority  of the people  directly  affected  by these  questions  come  from  workers'  and  em-
ployers'  circles. 
However,  since  these  circles  do not embrace  all economic  and  social  activities,  it seems  necessary 
to indicate  that  the Commission  is to take  these  other  activities  into  account  in its proposal. 
Result  of the vote: 
for: 45 
against:  51 
abstentions:  4. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  on the  customs  treatment  applicable 
to goods  returned  to the  customs  territory  of the  Community 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 72 of 27 June  1974,  pages  20 to 24. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 29 April  1974,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Community.