9. 7. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 171/19 
Reasons 
These  wines  are primarily  drunk  by the older  generation  of the working-class.  Their  production  has  not 
increased  in 10 years.  In 40 years  I have  only  met  one  person  who  admitted  to drinking  them.  There  is 
no question  of their  expanding  because  the  Community  sanctions  them,  a consideration  which 
influences  very  few  drinkers. 
Voting 
For: 20;  against:  33; abstentions:  12. 
The following  passage  in the  Section  for  Agriculture's  opinion  was  deleted  as the  result  of an 
amendment  approved  by the Committee: 
'2. The  Section  therefore  considers  that  the Commission  should  concentrate  on ensuring  adequate 
Community  preference  for musts.  To this  end,  the  Community  customs  duties  on imported 
musts  should  be unbound  in GATT;  the  appropriate  procedures  should  be set  in hand 
immediately.' 
Voting 
For: 34;  against:  30;  abstentions:  7. 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  amending  regulation  (EEC)  No 974/71 
with  regard  to the calculation  of. monetary  compensatory  amounts  in the wine  sector. 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 55 of 1 March  1979,  page  11. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 23 February  1979,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  43 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 167th 
plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 4 and  5 April  1979. 
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  43 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 23 February  1979  for an 
opinion, Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 26 
February  1979,  instructing  the Section  for Agriculture 
to prepare  the Committee's  work  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Agriculture  at its meeting  on 21 March  1979, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Guillaume, 
No C 171/20 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 9. 7. 79 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 167th  plenary 
session,  held  on 4 and  5 April  1979  (meeting  of 4 April 
1979), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The  Committee  approves  the Commission  proposal. 
2. On  the one hand  the draft  Council  Regulation  meets 
the need  for  simplification  and  greater  logic  by 
abolishing  the system  of reverse-effect,  double  MCAs 
for wine  trade  between  Italy  and  France,  and  applying 
only the difference  between  the MCAs  in question. 
3. On  the other  hand  exports  from  Italy  and  France, 
especially  those  to non-EEC  countries,  will  be less 
affected  by,MCAs. 
Done  at Brussels,  4 April  1979. 4. Like  the Commission,  the  Committee  too  would 
point  out  that  if there  are  differences  in real  prices 
between  the two  main  producer  countries  as a result  of 
the uneven  depreciation  of currencies,  it is normal  to 
make  allowances  for this when  Italian  and French  wines 
are exported  to hard-currency  countries. 
5. The  Committee  asks  the Commission  to examine 
the trends  in table-wine  prices  in the Community  and 
see to it that  the fall in prices  that  should  result  from  the 
present  proposal  being  applied  in wine-importing 
Member  States  is passed  on to the consumer. 
6. As  soon  as the new  system  comes  into  effect,  the 
Committee  would  like  the Commission  to keep  a close 
eye on how  trade  develops  in the products  concerned 
and on the effects  on farmers'  incomes  — especially  in 
countries  which  are revaluing.  Where  there  are negative 
effects  on producers'  incomes,  the Commission  should 
submit  measures  to the  Council  to counteract  or 
moderate  such  effects. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Fabrizia  BADUEL  GLORIOSO 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  establishing  measures  for  the 
implementation  of Directive  77/489/EEC  on the protection  of animals  during  international 
transport 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No C 41 of 14 February  1979,  page  4. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 7 February  1979,  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 167th 
plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 4 and  5 April  1979. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: