28.11.79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 297/11 
6. 'Future forms of energy' (16 %) shows almost a 
doubling of personnel for the solar energy 
programme, and provides for new activities 
concerning energy storage and transport, with a 
corresponding reduction of effort in the area of 
hydrogen production. The Committee considers both 
these decisions to be correct. 
7. The Committee welcomes the expansion of 
'Study and protection of the environment' (10 %). It 
endorses the concentration on a few areas of 
research, particularly toxic chemicals. 
8. The cutback in the non-nuclear reference 
materials and techniques programme is doubtless 
necessary on account of the fixing of priorities. The 
Committee thinks, however, that care should be taken 
here to ensure that the efficiency of the Community 
Bureau of Reference (CBR) does not suffer. 9. Attention is drawn to the greater effort on 
training and education under 'Specific support for the 
Commission's sectoral activities'. The JRC could be 
given a special task here as regards aid for developing 
countries. 
10. The Committee shares the Commission's 
concern about the age structure of the staff. It 
recommends that the measures proposed for 
improving this situation be checked and applied in an 
appropriate manner. As regards the possibility of early 
retirement, the Committee would, however, point to 
the danger of the premature departure of particularly 
experienced staff. 
11. The Committee agrees with the Commission 
that it is very important that there should be good 
coordination between JRC programmes and the 
indirect programmes, and good liaison with the 
national programmes. 
Done at Brussels, 27 September 1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Raffaele VANNI 
Opinion on the 
— proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 on the 
common organization of the market in seeds and Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 on 
the Common Customs Tariff, and the 
— proposal for a Council Regulation supplementing Regulations (EEC) No 1347/78 and 
(EEC) No 0000/79 fixing for the marketing years 1978/79, 1979/80, 1980/81 and 
1981/82 respectively, the amounts of aid granted for seeds 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 211 of 23 August 1979, pages 4 and 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 16 August 1979, 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. 
No C 297/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 11.79 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
171st plenary session, held in Brussels on 26 and 27 September 1979. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: i 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 16 August 1979 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to Articles 46 and 18 of the Rules of 
Procedure, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the rap­
porteur-general, Mr Rainero, 
Having regard to the discussions at its plenary session 
on 26 and 27 September 1979 (meeting of 27 
September 1979), HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
proposals and agrees with their aims. 
2. The proposed Regulations are made because of 
the need to encourage the production of selected seed 
in order to increase productivity and security of 
production and satisfy consumer requirements more 
rapidly. 
3. This move will have to be backed up by stepping 
up relevant scientific and technical research. 
4. In order ux ensure that the Commission's aims 
are more successfully attained, the Committee 
considers that the aid should be granted directly to 
the users of the selected seed. 
Done at Brussels, 27 September 1979. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Raffaele VANNI