No C 172/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 7. 88 
OPINION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE 
on the adoption of a common intervention system for ECSC readaptation aid pursuant to 
Article 56 of the ECSC Treaty 
(88/C 172/04) 
(adopted at the 271st session held on 1 June 1988 with one vote against and three abstentions) 
THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, 
Having examined the matter in the Subcommittee for 
Labour Questions on 26 May 1988 and 31 May 1988, 
1. welcomes in principle the Commission's initiative in 
harmonizing readaptation aid; 
2. supports the attempts to simplify the entire system 
and make it transparent; 
3. takes a positive view of the Commission's first step 
towards making the readaptation aid transparent as 
set out in its information document on the present 
system of readaptation aid; 
4. notes that this first step towards greater transparency 
is not enough to enable the Commission's proposed 
new system of readaptation aid to be fully assessed; 
5. expects the Commission to supply a model simulation 
bringing out the financial repercussions of its 
proposed new system (including the regional 
differences) compared with the readaptation aid 
granted in the past; 
6. calls for all previous types of benefit to be subsumed 
under the five 'standard situations' to enable the 
Commission's intentions to be assessed; 
7. fears that the planned flexibility clause will 
jeopardize the projected harmonization and trans­
parency aspects with the result that the objectives 
will be missed; 
8. notes with concern that the introduction of a ceiling 
of only 3 000 ECU means that the will to harmon­
ization and transparency is being made subordinate 
to the aim of saving money; neither is any minimum 
participation laid down in the Commission's 
proposal; 
9. notes that in certain Member States the realization of 
the Commission's intentions will lead to a drastic cut 
in payments, with the result that existing arrangements between both sides of industry and 
government will be interfered with and the social 
consensus will be jeopardized; 
10. calls on the Commission to improve the financing 
basis of the system without adding to the already-
high level of readaptation costs payable by the coal 
and steel industries, in particular any increase in the 
levy is rejected; 
11. notes with interest that the Commission is planning 
to extend the readaptation aid system by applying 
Article 56(1); 
12. draws attention however to the legal risks inherent in 
the planned application of Article 56 (1); 
13. continues to take the view that it would be discrimi­
natory to apply this system to only either the coal or 
the steel industries; 
14. fears serious repercussions on the financing 
framework and thus a risk for the entire system of 
readaptation aid; 
15. takes the view therefore that social readaptation aid 
should continue to be limited to closure and 
curtailment measures under Article 56 (2) of the 
ECSC Treaty until the financial and legal risks of 
any extension have been clarified and its complete 
financing has been ensured; 
16. calls on the Commission to: 
— investigate the above questions, 
— produce the simulation and information 
requested above, 
— bear in mind the above suggestions 
and on this basis present an amended proposal for 
the reorganization of readaptation aid; 
17. calls on the Commission to continue to apply the 
existing provisions until such time as a definitive 
decision is reached on an amended Commission 
proposal.