19. 9. 74 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 109/43 
wishes  to draw  the  Council's  attention  to  the 
growing  anxiety  in medical  circles  about  the  statis-
tical  relationship  believed  to exist  between  the  inci-
dence  of cardiovascular  disease  and  the  hardness 
of water  supplies.  Although  statistically  there 
appears  to be such  a connection,  there  is not  yet 
any precise  knowledge  in this  field,  nor  can  it be 
accepted  at the  present  time  that  there  is a direct 
cause-and-effect  relationship  between  hard  water 
and certain  kinds  of cardiovascular  disease.  It there-fore seems  desirable  that  further  investigation  be 
undertaken  on  this  particular  aspect  of  water 
quality. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 May  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS 
OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on the  Draft  Council  Resolution  on the  adaptation  to technical  progress  of Directives 
on the protection  and  improvement  of the environment 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in the  Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 44 of 19 April  1974,  page  26. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its meeting,  held  on 26 March  1974,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned 
proposal  for  a Draft  Council  Resolution  to the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on 
an optional  basis. 
The request  for  an Opinion  was  sent  by the  Council  to the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  on 27 March  1974. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its Opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
120th  Plenary  Session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 May  1974. 
The full  text  of the Opinion  is as follows  : 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  by the  Council  of the 
European  Communities,  dated  27  March  1974, 
for an Opinion  on the  Draft  Council  Resolution  on 
the adaptation  to technical  progress  of Directives  on 
the protection  and  improvement  of the  environ-
ment  ; 
Having  regard  to the  Decision  taken  on 26 March 
1974  by its Bureau,  in anticipation  of an imminent 
consultation,  entrusting  the  Section  for  Protection 
of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Consumer 
Affairs  with  the  preparation  of an Opinion  and  a 
report  on the matter  ; 
Having  regard  to Article  198  of the EEC  Treaty  ; Having  regard  to  its  Opinion  on  the  General 
programme  to eliminate  technical  barriers  to trade 
in industrial  products,  resulting  from  disparities 
between  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative 
provisions  of the  Member  States  dated  28  May 
1969  ; 
Having  regard  to  the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for  Protection  of the  Environment,  Public 
Health  and  Consumer  Affairs  on 13 May  1974  ; 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  presented  by Mr 
Ramaekers  ; 
Having  regard  to discussions  at the  120th  Plenary 
Session  on 29 and  30 May  1974  ; 
Whereas  it must  be possible  for  Community  Direc-
tives  and  rules  under  the  environmental  action 
No C 109/44  Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 
programme  to reflect  developments  in research  and 
the scientific  results  thereof; 
Whereas  the  measures  advocated  by the  Commis-
sion for  the purpose  of adapting  certain  provisions 
contained  in these  Community  Directives  and  rules 
to technical  progress  meet  the  need  for  improved 
protection  of the natural  and  human  environment, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION  : 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves  the 
Draft  Council  Resolution  subject  to the  following 
comments  : 
GENERAL  COMMENTS 
1.1. The  Committee  points  out that  already  it has 
repeatedly  come  out  in favour  of the  principle  of 19. 9. 74 
adapting  certain  provisions  to technical  progress, 
particularly  under  the  general  programme  to elimi-
nate technical  barriers  to trade. 
1.2. The  Committee  considers  that  it is extremely 
important  to implement  a procedure  that  will  make 
it possible  to keep  up with  developments  in research 
on improvement  of the  environment;  it refers  in 
particular  to the  studies  that  could  be entrusted  to 
the European  Foundation  for  the  Improvement  of 
Living  and  Working  Conditions. 
1.3. The  Committee  would  also  like  to  be 
consulted  on the  proposals  to be made  under  the 
planned  procedure. 
Done  at Brussels,  30 May  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPP  AS 
OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No 1174/68  on 
the introduction  of a system  of bracket  tariffs  for  the  carriage  of goods  by road 
between  Member  States 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 8 of 31 January  1974,  page  27. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its meeting,  held  on 17 December  1973,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned 
proposal  for a Regulation  to the Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with 
Article  75 of the Treaty  establishing  the European  Economic  Community. 
The request  for  an Opinion  was  sent  by the  Council  to the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  on 18 December  1973. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its Opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
120th  Plenary  Session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 May  1974. 
The full  text  of the Opinion  is as follows  : 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  letter  dated  18  December 
1973,  in which  the  President  of the  Council  of the European  Communities  requested  the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  to deliver  an opinion  on the  pro-
posal  for a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  1174/68  on the  introduction  of a system