31. 12. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 356/69 
7.3. Regarding the Commission's negotiating brief, 
e.g. as a member of the Commission for the protection 
of the Rhine, the question arises of what possibilities 
the Commission has to depart from its mandate if other 
Done at Brussels, 18 November 1987. 
1.1. The inclusion of HCB and HCBD within the 
scope of Directive 86/280/EEC is to be welcomed. The 
Committee regrets however that the proposal has been 
submitted so late. 
1.2. The Committee regards the deadlines laid down 
in the draft for meeting limit values and quality objec­
tives (1988/1991) and implementing the Directive (1988/ 
1991) as minimum requirements. These targets should 
be met earlier, in the interests of water purity. The 
Commission and the Council of Ministers should rec­
ommend that the Member States work towards the 
achievement of the limit values and quality objectives 
before expiry of the deadlines, notwithstanding the 
formal requirements of the Directive. Such a recommen­
dation seems all the more reasonable in view of the fact 
that in its 'impact statement' the Commission points 
out that the Directive is to a great extent already being 
applied. 
2.1. In line with Framework Directive 76/464/EEC 
the present Directive sets alternative emission-limit-
values and quality-objectives for HCB and HCBD. parties to an agreement put forward proposals which 
go beyond the mandate guidelines laid down by the 
Community. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
The Committee would refer to its Opinion on the 
draft for a Resolution of the Council of the European 
Communities on the continuation and implementation 
of a European Community policy and action pro­
gramme on the environment (1987-1992). In point 
2.3.2.1 (maintenance of water purity) the Committee 
recommends that emission standards and quality objec­
tives, hitherto regarded as alternative or 'parallel' 
instruments, be henceforth applied 'cumulatively'. In 
connection with the present Directive the possibility 
should be considered of amending the Framework 
Directive in line with the Opinion's recommendation 
so that limit values and quality objectives (including 
those set for HCB and HCBD) would in future be 
applied cumulatively. 
2.2. With regard to the scientific basis of the quality 
objectives, insufficient attention is paid to the fact that 
the various compounds covered by the draft have a 
combined and cumulative effect on the aquatic environ­
ment. The studies required for the continuation of this 
work should look at these combined effects. The quality 
objective tables could perhaps in future be drawn up 
accordingly. Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Annex II to Directive 86/280/ 
EEC on limit values and quality objectives for discharges of certain dangerous substances 
included in List I of the Annex to Directive 76/464/EEC (2nd amendment) (*) 
(87/C 356/18) 
On 23 October 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 130S of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Proumens as rapporteur-general 
with the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 250th plenary session (meeting of 19 November 1987) the Economic and Social 
Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion: 
(') OJ No C 314, 26. 11. 1987, p. 5. 3.1. The Committee otherwise approves the text of 
the draft Directive. 
No C 356/70 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 87 
3.2. With regard to Section V, table A(83) (limit chloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride via the per-
values for emission standards), the continuation of the chlorination process. As it stands, the draft Directive 
environment policy ought to mean lower limit values makes no provision for a reduction after 1988. 
for HCB emissions arising from the production of per-
Done at Brussels, 19 November 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT