No C 18/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.1. 78 
Having regard to the discussions at its 152nd plenary 
session held on 26 and 27 October 1977 (meeting 
of 26 October), 
Whereas the aim of the Commission's proposal is 
to shorten administrative procedures and cut the 
delays which occur when marketing authorizations 
Done at Brussels, 26 October 1977. 
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 for an opinion made 
by the Council on 7 July 1977, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 27 September 1977 instructing the Section for 
Energy and Nuclear Questions to draw up an 
opinion and a report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by that 
Section at its 35th meeting, held on 7 October 1977, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Schlitt, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 152nd plenary 
session held on 26 and 27 October 1977 (meeting 
of 26 October), for proprietary medicinal products are applied for, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee approves the proposal. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
Whereas the Community is dependent on non-member 
countries for its supplies of mineral ores, especially 
" those of non-ferrous metals; 
Whereas the Community therefore needs a policy 
on primary raw materials that takes account of the 
foreseeable long-term development of the world 
market and is designed to prevent any supply 
difficulties from occurring; 
Whereas the proposed research and development 
programme in the field of primary raw materials 
constitutes a first meaningful step towards such a 
policy, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
proposals but would like to make the following 
remarks. Opinion on the proposal for a multiannual research and development programme in 
the field of primary raw materials — Indirect action (1978 to 1981) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 209 of 1 September 1977, page 9. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 7 July 1977 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 
152nd plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 October 1977. 
23.1.78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 18/13 
2. The Committee welcomes the Commission 
studies and research and development in connection 
with the exploration of the geological stubstratum 
of EEC territory for possible deposits of non-
ferrous metals — which must include deep-seated 
deposits. 
3. Mining technology, especially when further 
developments have taken place, will make it possible 
in future to descend to much greater depths and 
exploit any deposits found there. Medium and 
long-term programmes will be needed to find 
such deposits. The four-year programme of the 
Community now under review can therefore be 
regarded as being no more than the first in a whole 
series of long-term measures. It is also important 
not only to discover the rather poorer deposits of 
the Community, but also to develop ways of making 
them economically viable. 
4. The Committee is of the view that the research 
and development actions proposed should be seen 
Done at Brussels, 26 October 1977. 
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 for an opinion made 
by the Council on 25 July 1977, as part of a general Community-level supply policy 
that embraces not only measures to possibly increase 
the level of Community self-sufficiency, but also 
measures to secure supplies from non-member 
countries. The export of 'know-how' on improved 
methods of prospecting, extracting, leaching and 
mining is likewise of greater importance — parti­
cularly in paving the way for the major supplier 
countries to make a long-term contribution to the 
provision of the Community with non-ferrous metals 
at reasonable prices. 
5. The Committee has no misgivings about the 
envisaged expenditure, especially as it assumes that 
the programme is in the process of being developed 
and, if successful, will lead to further measures which 
will in turn be financed accordingly. The Committee 
thinks it is right that the programme will be re­
examined after three years and will be revised, if 
necessary, in accordance with established procedures 
and after consulting the Advisory Committee on 
Programme Management. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau 
on 27 September 1977 instructing the Section for 
Energy and Nuclear Questions to draw up an 
opinion and a report on the matter, 
Having regard to its opinion of 19 December 1974 
on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a second three-year plan of 
action in the field of information and documentation in science and technology 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 182 of 30 July 1977, page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 25 July 1977 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 
152nd plenary session held in Brussels on 26 and 27 October 1977.