Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the grant of financial assistance to Portugal for a specific programme for the modernization of the Portuguese textile and clothing industry ()

(95/C 110/06)

On 5 January 1995, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 130b of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Regional Development and Town and Country Planning, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 14 February 1995. The Rapporteur was Mr Cal.

At its 323rd Plenary Session held on 22 and 23 February 1995 (meeting of 22 February), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion by a majority with four abstentions.

()1. The Economic and Social Committee Opinion of 2 June 1994 (), recognized the importance and endorsed the introduction of a Community initiative on the modernization of the Portuguese textile industry, insofar as the objective was to modernize an existing industry, as well as to encourage diversification into other forms of economic activity. The lessons learned from Portugal's situation could be applied more generally to other sectors, with the aim of promoting their modernization also. The Committee fully believes it is vital that the guidelines proposed in conjunction with this initiative be applied to the letter.

2. The Committee welcomes the draft Council Regulation and notes that it refers back to Commission Communication 94/C/180/04 of 15 June 1994. The comments in the Committee Opinion on this proposal () still hold true, notwithstanding the change in the legal basis for the proposal whose objective is still to promote economic and social cohesion.

2.1. In particular, the Committee notes that in order to qualify for Community assistance under this initiative, applicant businesses must prove that they are complying with national legislation on labour conditions. The Committee reiterates its suggestion that the scope of this condition be extended to include collective agreements between the social partners.

3. The Committee deems it essential to secure effective involvement of regional and local authorities and the economic and social partners in preparing, carrying out and assessing the proposed measures, in accordance with Article 4 of the Framework Regulation on the Structural Funds, also referred to in the present proposal.

3.1. The Committee feels that it falls to the Commission to ensure that these bodies are involved, particularly by asking the Member States to spell out the specific arrangements for their involvement in preparing and implementing the programme being presented.

This must be so, particularly during preparations for the programme which the Portuguese authorities have to submit once the Council has approved the Regulation.

3.2. As regards implementation of the operational programme, the Committee reiterates its proposal() () that provision be made for the economic and social partners to be consulted on the planning and assessment of the Community measures. Such consultations could be held at regular intervals, for example on the occasion of the meetings of each follow-up committee.

3.3. Finally, the Committee feels that steps should be taken as soon as possible to make good the delay caused by the change in legal basis without, however, jeopardizing effective, suitable participation of the various partners in preparing and carrying out the operational programme.

Done at Brussels, 22 February 1995.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER

() OJ No C 373, 29. 12. 1994, p. 14.

() Community initiatives - OJ No C 295, 22. 10. 1994.

() Amendment of the Structural Fund Regulations - OJ No C 201, 26. 07. 1993.