24. 10. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 286/17 
column could usefully be added indicating the 
group from Annex I into which the radionuclide 
falls. 
4. Implementing of the Directive and future revi­
sions 
4.1. As regards the time-scale for introducing the 
proposed safety standards, the Committee notes 
with regret that all the Member States did not suc­
ceed in implementing the 1980 Directive on sched­
ule. 
4.2. IAEA has — together with certain other inter­
national organizations — worked out a recommen­
dation based on ICRP norms — and which in some 
ways goes further than the present draft Directive. 
The Committee requests the Commission to under­take very rapidly a major revision of the 1980 Direc­
tive, taking into account all relevant reports, espe­
cially the IAEA report. This should be done by the 
end of 1984. 
5. Final remarks 
5.1. The Committee notes with satisfaction that in 
November 1983 the Commission is organizing a 
seminar concerning 'Optimizing of protection 
against radiation'. 
The Committee hopes that the Commission will see 
that those organizations with a special interest in 
workers protection are able to attend the seminar in 
significant numbers. 
Done at Brussels, 7 July 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on relations between the European Community and the United States 
A. LEGAL BASE FOR THE OPINION 
At its 201st plenary session held on 27 and 28 October 1982, the Committee, acting on 
a proposal from its Bureau in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Article 20 of its 
Rules of Procedure, decided to deliver an opinion on its own initiative on the above 
matter. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
209th plenary session held in Brussels on 6 and 7 July 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to its decision of 27 October 1982, 
instructing the Section for External Relations to 
draw up an opinion on relations between the Euro­
pean Community and the United States, Having regard to the information report presented 
to it by the Section for External Relations on 
27 October 1982, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the rappor­
teur, Mr Staratzke, 
Having regard to its Rules of Procedure, and in Having regard to the opinion adopted by .the Sec-
particular Article 20 (4) thereof, tion for External Relations on 14 June 1983, 
No C 286/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 10. 83 
Having regard to its discussions on 7 July 1983, 
during its 209th plenary session held on 6 and 7 July 
1983, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 108 votes in favour and with seven abstentions: 
1. This opinion on relations between the European 
Community and the United States, is a resume and 
contains findings of the Information Report and the 
Report referred to in the preamble. The three docu­
ments are complementary, and should be con­
sidered as a whole. 
2. In many respects relations between the Euro­
pean Community and the United States are based 
on deep-seated solidarity both political and econo­
mic. Cooperation is essential in view of the interde­
pendence of the two partners' economies and efforts 
are required on both sides of the Atlantic. 
3. The Committee observes that the main causes of 
disagreement lie either in (a) differing policies, 
resulting from differing interests or (b) conflicting 
interpretations of the facts often generating misun­
derstandings. 
The occasional disputes between the two partners 
should therefore be seen in perspective, though this 
does not mean that they should be played down. 
4. Bilateral issues 
4.1. Ever since the inception of the Community 
the common agricultural policy (CAP) has fre­
quently been — and will probably continue to be — 
a source of polemics between the USA and Europe 
currently it is a major bone of contention. 
The USA is loath to accept the existence of the CAP 
and the rapid increase in agricultural production in 
the Community. American agricultural products 
come up against competition from Community 
exports on the world markets. The harder dollar has 
also made American exports more expensive. Faced 
with this predicament, the USA has submitted an 
official complaint to the GATT about the Com­
munity and the CAP, accusing the Community of 
seizing an unfair proportion of the world market. It 
is worth noting, however, that US exports to non-Community countries have risen more sharply in 
recent years than Community exports to these mar­
kets. 
As the world's major agricultural exporters, the USA 
and the Community should work together for the 
smooth development of international trade in agri­
cultural products, which could be given concrete 
form in international commodity agreements. Such 
agreements should also improve the position of 
developing countries. The GATT Committee on 
Agricultural Products could be a vehicle for discus­
sions. 
4.2. After arduous negotiations, the Community 
agreed to voluntary restraint on steel exports to the 
USA till the end of 1985. The Community accepted 
this as a 'lesser evil'. It should now demonstrate 
determination and unity in this question, and make 
sure this arrangement is respected. It should already 
be giving thought to the type of relations it would 
like to see established in this sector, especially after 
the US authorities' recent decisions restricting 
imports of special steels, which are greatly to be 
deplored. 
4.3. As the Community's advanced technology 
sector is lagging behind that of the USA (and 
Japan), it is vital to embark on an industrial policy 
also based on closer cooperation between Com­
munity-based firms. Any tension which this policy 
may generate with the United States could be alle­
viated if, as the Committee suggests, the Com­
munity pursued a policy of cooperation (on an 
equal footing) with the USA, particularly in the field 
of research and development. 
4.4. Other sectors where conflicts periodically arise 
include cars, petrochemicals and synthetic fibres, 
textiles and clothing, footwear, services and sea and 
air transport. The Committee feels that the two part­
ners should seek to resolve disputes by holding joint 
discussions on a case-by-case basis. It is clear from 
previous instances that agreement is possible, given 
good will. 
5. Multilateral issues 
5.1. The Committee notes that Congress, the 
Administration and the courts of law have given 
American laws, regulations and jurisprudence 
precedence over some of the United States' interna­
tional obligations. Interpretation of the GATT rules 
drawn up at the outcome of the Tokyo Round are a 
24.10.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No G 286/19 
case in point. For example, the Americans interpret 
the concept of 'injury', in connection with anti­
dumping and anti-subsidies measures, differently 
from their main trade partners. 
The Committee would recommend that the Com­
mission continue to press the United States to fall in 
line with commonly-accepted international practice. 
5.2. The Committee is concerned by calls in Con­
gress for bilateral reciprocity with a number of the 
United States' trade partners. This could disrupt the 
international trade system. 
The Committee would urge the Commission to 
study in detail the documents currently before Con­
gress, so as to be fully aware of their implications. 
5.3. The United States seriously underestimates the 
importance for the Community of trade with East­
ern Europe. The American embargo imposed on 
Community firms in the case of the Siberian gas 
pipeline was all the more unacceptable as the Mem­
ber States were not consulted beforehand and as it 
amounted to making American legislation appli­
cable worldwide and retroactively. 
The forthcoming renewal in September 1983 of the 
1979 Export Administration Act, which provided the 
legal basis for the embargo, is naturally giving rise 
to serious concern among Community businessmen 
and politicians, and in the public at large. 
The Committee endorses the endeavours on the part 
of the Community and Member States to persuade 
Congress to make the EAA more sensitive to 
Europe's interests. 
5.4. It is to be hoped that the Community and the 
United States will adopt a common approach to 
Japan, as bilaterally-negotiated voluntary restraint 
agreements between Tokyo and one of the partners 
will inevitably affect the other partner. 
5.5. Views on development cooperation differ 
sharply. The USA fails to appreciate the full scale of 
development problems and should, in the Com­
mittee's view, contribute more energetically to the 
success of the North-South dialogue. Here the Com­
mittee regrets the disappointing outcome of the Sixth UN Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD). 
5.6. It is in the interests not just of the USA but of 
the entire world economy that the fight against 
inflation be continued. Here the USA has given pre­
ference to monetary policy measures (strict control 
of the money supply, high interest rates) rather than 
fiscal policy measures (tax legislation, spending 
cuts). A tight monetary policy, coupled with a hefty 
budget deficit, has in the past few years, led to an 
excessive rise in interest rates. The negative conse­
quences of this have not been confined to the 
United States. There can be no doubt that high 
interest rates have discouraged investment (and con­
tinue to do so), besides contributing to soaring 
unemployment, in the United States and the Com­
munity alike. 
The USA obviously underestimated the possible 
implications of their policies for the economy of 
their main trading partners. 
The Committee would therefore like to see a regular, 
intensive dialogue between those in positions of 
responsibility in the USA and the Community with 
a view to achieving fair concessions on both sides. 
In this connection, the Committee appeals to the 
USA and the Community to adopt a joint stand on: 
(a) world economic recovery; (b) determination of 
new macro-economic priorities, starting with 
employment; (c) more stable parities between the 
major currencies (dollar, ECU, Yen, etc.) and (d) 
improvement of development cooperation (includ­
ing the question of the LDC's debt burden). 
Lastly, the Committee regards the recent Williams­
burg Summit as a disappointment since the Com­
munity clearly has not yet succeeded in convincing 
the USA of the need for a joint approach. 
6. Suggestions for improved relations with the 
United States 
6.1. If it is to play its full role in dealings with the 
USA, the Community will have to rely in the first 
place on itself. It therefore has to promote imple­
mentation and consolidation of its common policies 
especially in the industrial sector. These are the pre­
requisites for pursuit of a genuine common policy on 
trade to non-member countries, which will enable 
the Community to act as a united bloc. In this con-
No C 286/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 10. 83 
the interests of both the USA and the Community. 
New strategies to this end should therefore be 
devised by the two partners and would, for instance, 
help to restore confidence at a time when many 
countries are virtually bankrupt. 
6.5. For all these reasons, the Committee is con­
vinced that the Community should engage in a per­
manent dialogue with the USA and that this dia­
logue should embrace not only politicians and civil 
servants but also economic and social interest 
groups. The Committee also recommends a syste­
matic two-way flow of information to enhance the 
public's understanding of the realities. These recom­
mendations are expanded in the Report of the Sec­
tion for External Relations. 
6.6. The Committee would conclude by stressing 
that (a) a united European stand bolsters the Mem­
ber States' negotiating position and (b) a strong 
Community is crucial to international peace and 
security. It hopes that the USA will revert to the pos­
itive attitude to European integration displayed at 
the Community's inception and provide the support 
that was forthcoming in those days. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
APPENDIX 
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
Voting 
A roll-call vote was taken on the opinion as a whole. The following members, present or repre­
sented, voted for the opinion: 
Mr Amato, Mr Antonsen, Mr Arena, Mr Bagliano, Mr Bernasconi, Mr Berns, Mr Binnenbruck, 
Mr Boddy, Mr Bordes-Pages, Mr Bornard, Mr Bos, Mr Brassier, Mrs Bredima, Mr Breitenstein, 
Mr Briganti, Mr Burnel, Mr de Caffarelli, Mr Cammann, Mr Carroll, Mr Cashman, Mr Chappie, 
Mr Dassis, Mr de Bievre, Mr de Bruyn, Mr de Grave, Mr d'Elia, Mr della Croce, Mr Delourme, 
Mr de Tavernier, Mr Dracos, Mr Drago, Mr Dunet, Mr Eelsen, Mr Elkan, Mr Emo Capodilista, 
Mr Fortuyn, Mr Friedrichs, Mr Fuller, Mr Germozzi, Mr Glesener, Mr Hemmer, Mr Hilkens, Mr 
Houthuys, Mr Hovgaard Jakobsen, Mr Jaschick, Mr Jenkins, Mr Kelly, Mr Kenna, Mr Kirschen, 
Mr Kitsios, Mr Kolble, Mr Lauga, Mr Laur, Mr Law, Mr Low, Mr Lojewski, Mr Loughrey, Mr 
Margot, Mr Masprone, Mr Masucci, Mr Meraviglia, Mr Miller, Mr Milne, Mr Mols Sorensen, Mr 
Morselli, Mr Muhr, Mr Murphy, Mr Nielsen B., Mr Nielsen P., Mr Nierhaus, Mr Noordwal, Mr 
de Normann, Mr Ognibene, Mrs Patterson, Mr Pearson, Mr Plank, Mr Poeton, Mr Pelletier, Mr 
Ramaekers, Mr Regaldo, Mr van Rens, Mr Romoli, Mr Roseingrave, Mr Rouzier, Mr Schneider, 
Mr Schnieders, Mr Schoepges, Mr Smith A., Mr Smith L., Mr Stahlmann, Mr Staratzke, Mr 
Storie-Pugh, Mr Storm Hansen, Mr Strauss, Mrs Strobel, Mr Tamlin, Mr Tixier, Mr van der Mens-
brugghe, Mr van Melckenbeke, Mr Vasseur, Mr van der Veen, Mr Ventejol, Mr Vercellino, Mr 
Wick, Mr de Wit, Mr Yverneau, Mr Zinkin, Mr Zoli. 
The following members, present or represented, abstained: 
Mr Beretta, Mr Bonety, Mr Cavazzuti, Mr Curlis, Mr Rainero, Mr Soulat, Mrs Williams. nection, the Committee would refer to its opinion 
on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) on 
the strengthening of the Common Commercial 
Policy with regard in particular to protection against 
unfair practices ('). 
6.2. The Committee would reiterate that GATT is 
the keystone of international trade. GATT rules can 
only be fully effective if all contracting parties 
accept this. The Community, as the world's largest 
trading power, and the USA have a responsibility to 
the rest of the world in the fight against protectionist 
temptations. 
6.3. The Committee considers that a bigger two-
way flow of investment between the Community 
and the USA — with the Community giving encour­
agement to US interests would do much to increase 
cooperation and mutual understanding. 
6.4. The Committee is convinced that greater sta­
bility in international trade and finance would be in 
(') OJNoC211,8. 8. 1983, p. 24. 
Done at Brussels, 7 July 1983.