22. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 191/5 
3.8.3. Point IV 
The Committee welcomes the requirement that signs 
must accord with the special needs of workers with 
Done at Brussels, 29 May 1991. 
The Committee agrees in principle with the proposal, 
subject to the following comments. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. According to the Commission, this proposal 
parallels Medspa, a Community action designed to 
address problems of the Mediterranean. Implemen­
tation of Norspa would mean that the entire coastal 
area of the Community (and many other countries) are 
included in such programmes. It is part of a family 
of Community initiatives designed to provide direct 
financial support for environmental conservation. reduced mobility, and highlights the need for transport-
staff training [referred to in Article 4(b)] in this area. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois STAEDELIN 
1.2. On 31 January 1991, the Commission published 
a proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a 
financial instrument for the environment (LIFE — Doc. 
COM(91) 28 final). This proposal follows a request on 
26 June 1990 by the European Council to review the 
Community funding available to support actions, vis­
a-vis, the environment. 
1.3. The LIFE initiative is justified on the basis that 
a financial instrument is needed if the Community's 
environmental objectives are to be attained, and the 
budgetary resources available through the Com­
munity's existing financial instruments are insignifi­
cant. It is proposed (p. 14 of the LIFE proposal): Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) on specific action to protect the 
environment in the coastal areas and coastal waters of the Irish Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea 
and North-East Atlantic Ocean (l) 
(91/C 191/03) 
On 23 January 1991, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article DOS 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 
17 May 1991. The Rapporteur was Mr Roseingrave. 
At its 287th plenary session (meeting of 29 May 1991), the Economic and Social Committee 
unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 
(*) OJNoC21, 29. 1. 1991, p. 13. 'Amongst the actions already underway which will 
be included in the new financial instrument are the 
No C 191/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 7. 91 
Medspa, Norspa, ACE-technology and the Acnat 
programmes. This integration will have the direct 
consequence that the present Council provisions for 
their management will need to be repealed as soon 
as the present regulations come into force.' 
1.4. The objective of the Norspa programme is to 
establish a mechanism through which pollution of the 
coastal areas and coastal waters in the regions con­
cerned can be tackled and measures taken to improve 
their protection (p. 6). Pilot or demonstration projects 
are to be supported, together with the information and 
dissemination measures (p. 7). 
1.5. Within the EC, priority will be given to measures 
which help reduce input of nutrients and dangerous 
substances; in the case of industry, help identify measur­
es to speed up application of emission standards, etc.; 
address integrated management of biotopes of Com­
munity and international interest, and the reduction of 
coastal erosion or the disappearance of the dune belt 
(Annex). 
1.6. In the case of coastal States outside the Com­
munity, cooperation, information exchange and the 
transfer of clean technologies will be supported 
(Annex). The programme will run for ten years (two 
five years periods). Budgets of ECU 4 million and 
6 million are provided for 1991 and 1992 respectively. 
1.7. 50 % and 30 % funding will be available respect­
ively for public and private projects. However, measur­
es linked to management and implementation of the 
scheme could be financed to up to 100 % of the total 
costs (p. 7). Monitoring will be carried out by Com­
mission officials, who may carry out on-the-spot 
checks, including sample checks. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee finds itself in the position of 
advising on a proposal which it is now proposed to 
integrate into a larger more comprehensive fund. It is 
not yet clear if there will be any separate identify for 
the areas and activities covered by Norspa in the new 
instrument. The Committee's observations are present­
ed as if Norspa were to be established as a separate 
programme. 
2.2. The Committee is of the view that the objectives 
are not achievable within the budget proposed. Indeed, 
the latter is so modest in relation to the elements to be 
addressed and the geographic coverage proposed that 
the programme cannot be regarded as a substantive 
attempt to address major and serious problems. 
2.3. The Committee recommends that the financial 
resources proposed for the achievement of the objec­tives be increased substantially. More precision as to 
the objectives to be achieved is also necessary. 
The Committee recommends that the objectives of 
Norspa should be incorporated into the LIFE pro­
gramme. 
2.4. The Committee notes that the integration of 
environmental considerations into Community policies 
is now mandated, as is clear from the following pro­
vision of the Single European Act: Environmental pro­
tection requirements shall be a component of the Com­
munity's other policies [Article 130R (2)]. The Commit­
tee suggests that Norspa can play a role in achieving 
this integration, and this should be reflected in the 
Articles. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Committee accepts that operations benefit­
ing from other Community support, e.g. from the Struc­
tural Funds, should not receive 'double payement'. 
However, in implementing this provision (Art. 5 in the 
Regulation), the Committee is anxious to ensure that 
the integration requirements noted above are not 
thwarted; many of the activities with which the Norspa 
activities should be integrated can attract Community 
support. 
3.2. Care should be taken in selecting projects for 
funding, and the provisions for monitoring same, will 
allow satisfactory monitoring of projects. The Commit­
tee is anxious to ensure that this translates into progress 
in the achievement of overall policy objectives for the 
Seas and coastal areas in question. 
3.2.1. Where coastal protection (the reduction of 
coastal erosion) is concerned, the Commission should 
consider giving priority to the protection from pollution 
by public utilities and public amenities. 
3.2.2. In defining coastal areas, the Commission 
should take account of coasts facing the open sea and 
estuaries which are subject to erosion by tidal currents. 
3.2.3. The Committee notes that radiation hazards 
in the Irish Sea have been amongst the most serious 
environmental issues to be addressed in this area, and 
recommends that provision be made for this Regu­
lation. 
3.2.4. It recommends that the monitoring, etc. be 
undertaken in an overall policy context. 
3.3. In the competitiveness and employment impact 
statement, it is indicated that the consultation with 
both sides of industry will take place in the framework 
of the Economic and Social Committee. The Committee 
welcomes this innovation. 
22. 7. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 191/7 
3.4. The Committee feels that it would be very useful and the list of Community and non-Community 
to have a map indicating the area coverage intended, countries involved. 
Done at Brussels, 29 May 1991. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois STAEDELIN 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) establishing a financial instrument 
for the environment (LIFE) i1) 
(91/C 191/04) 
On 19 February 1991 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 
17 May 1991. The Rapporteur was Mr Roseingrave. 
At its 287th plenary session (meeting of 29 May 1991), the Economic and Social Committee 
unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 
1. Outline of proposal 
1.1. The LIFE proposal is designed in effect to add 
a financial instrument to the regulatory approach which 
has heretofore dominated the Community's policy 
armoury in the fields of environment. It is being created 
in part to help fund environmental conservation which 
is of Community interest but is not supportable by the 
Structural Funds or other funding mechanisms. 
1.2. LIFE is proposed as a means in helping the 
Community meet the target of a 'high level of protec­
tion' specified in the Treaty via the Single European 
Act, to achieve environmental as well as economic and 
social cohesion amongst regions, and to fulfil inter­
national obligations. Specifically, the new financial 
instrument will have the objectives of helping: 
— strengthen and increase the effectiveness of adminis­
trative structures and services, 
(J) OJ No C 44, 20. 2. 1991, p. 4. — reduce and control pollution, mainly via the encour­
agement of prevention, and the use of appropriate 
technology, 
— protect sensitive areas and maintain biogenetic 
diversity, 
— provide technical and financial support in third 
countries. 
1.3. The seriousness of the environmental problems 
to be addressed, the extent to which they are of particu­
lar Community importance and interest, and the 
capacity of the country or region to contribute will be 
amongst the criteria guiding allocations from LIFE. 
1.4. Funding can take the form of part financing, 
interest and/or reimbursable subsidies, and support for 
technical assistance and studies. It can amount to 30 % 
and 50% respectively for private and public invest­
ments, but a maximum of 75 % is allowable in the case 
of biotopes or habitats of Community interest, while 
measures designed to acquire necessary information 
and provide technical assistance can (exceptionally) 
attract 100% financing.