31. 12, 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 344/3 
The Section for Social Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
matter, adopted its opinion on 14 November 1985, in the light of the report by Mr Pearson. 
At its 231st plenary session, (meeting of 27 November 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion by a unanimous vote: 
1.1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
intention to bring up to date EEC Regulation 1408/71 with 
the amendments proposed in the proposal for a Council 
Regulation (COM(85) 396 final), seeing them as a consistent 
step towards greater cohesion of the Community. 
1.2. The original Regulation and the new amendments 
must therefore be read in conjunction one with the other. 
1.3. These measures will be of practical assistance to 
employed persons, self-employed persons and to members of 
their families moving within the Community, and 
accordingly are strongly endorsed. 
2.1. The matter could be complicated, owing to the 
differing ranges of benefits available in Member States; thus 
the Committee is pleased that the final paragraph of the new 
(proposed) Article 10 (a) is clear and unequivocal: 
'such benefits shall be granted by and at the expense of the 
institution of the place of residence'. 
2.2. The Committee notes that, while the proposed 
amendments are specific and detailed in their application, their implications are wider, reflecting the growing 
significance of non-contributory benefits in the context of 
contemporary social and economic conditions in the 
Member States. This need will grow, to take account of (a) 
limited contribution records (i.e. disabled people) and (b) the 
eroding of contribution-based entitlements (i.e. youth and 
long-term unemployment). 
2.3. It is further pleased that employment within another 
Member State or States will qualify as regards seniority and 
availability of benefit, even prior to the implementation of 
the current proposal. 
3. It is noted that the measures apply to citizens of 
Member States of the European Community and reflect the 
relevance of Decisions made by the European Court of 
Justice in relation to social security benefits and to social 
assistance. 
4. The Committee notes with approval that the 
Commission has moved away from the usage of the term 
'migrant' in its description of citizen of a Member State 
working and residing in another Member State. This is a 
proper stance in pursuance of a 'Peoples' Europe'. 
Done at Brussels, 27 November 1985. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) amending Regulation No 2950/83 on the 
implementation of Decision 83/516/EEC on the tasks of the European Social Fund i1) 
(85/C 344/03) 
On 9 September 1985 the Council decided, in accordance with Article 127 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Economic Community, to ask the Economic and Social Committee for an opinion on 
the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Social Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the 
subject, adopted its opinion on 14 November 1985 in the light of the report by Mr Beretta. 
At its 231st plenary session (meeting of 27 November 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion unanimously: 
(J) OJ No C 237, 18. 9. 1985, p. 6. 
No C 344/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 85 
Comments 
1. The Committee agrees that the European Social Fund 
should cover both the young and long-term unemployed who 
decide to work in a self-employed capacity. The Committee 
accordingly supports the Commission's proposal and notes 
that it accommodates views expressed in previous 
opinions (J). 
2. The Committee believes that, in view of the large 
number of potential beneficiaries, the ESF funds earmarked 
for financing the projects in question are wholly inadequate. 
The Committee therefore feels that adoption of the proposed 
amendment must go hand in hand with an increase in the 
Social Fund budget. This reaffirmation of earlier statements 
is all the more valid today because of the acceptance of new 
ESF aid beneficiaries and the enlargement of the 
Community. 
3. The Committee considers that the beneficial impact of 
the new type of ESF aid would be much greater if there were 
close coordination with other structural funds of the 
Community, such as the ERDF and EAGGF, as well as with 
EEC loan instruments (EIB and NCI). 
4. The Committee considers that generally speaking, and 
particularly where the self-employed are concerned, grants 
(*) Review of the European Social Fund 
OJNoC 124,9. 5. 1983. 
Action to Combat Long-Term Unemployment 
OJNoC25, 28. 1. 1985. 
Statistical Machinery of the European Social Fund 
OJ No C 44, 15. 2. 1985. from the Social Fund must not be limited to financing 
measures and programmes already in process of 
implementation at national level; they must rather be focused 
primarily on promoting new initiatives planned and selected 
according to the principle of 'additionality'. 
5. The Committee proposes that the bodies responsible 
for administering the Fund should give maximum publicity 
to the benefits and opportunities such a Community 
instrument offers to the self-employed and to job-creating 
projects; such publicity would ensure that the maximum 
number of citizens enjoy equal opportunities and would 
highlight one of the advantages of belonging to the European 
Community. 
6. The Committee would not wish to hide the fact that 
there is an element of risk in disbursing funds for 
self-employed activities, especially if such funds are 
earmarked for additional training; the risk lies in the fact that 
the funds might be used up in providing short-term support 
which merely produces a temporary reduction in 
unemployment. The Committee therefore believes that the 
appropriate Community and national bodies need to take 
particular care to ensure that the projects in question have 
concrete prospects of long-term success. 
7. The Committee would underline the importance of 
helping the self-employed in the interests of discouraging all 
forms of moonlighting. 
8. Finally, the Committee considers that help should be 
given to self-employed persons who opt to join 
cooperative-base schemes. 
Done at Brussels, 27 November 1985. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting an action programme of the Community in 
education and training for technology — Comett (1986 to 1992) (*) 
(85/C 344/04) 
On 27 August 1985 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 
128 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
On 14 November 1985 the Section for Social Questions, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion in the light of othe report by Mr 
Nierhaus. 
At its 231st plenary session (meeting of 27 November 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion unanimously: 
(J) OJ No C 234, 13. 9. 1985, p. 3.