No C 35/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 2. 88 
insufficient time to adapt to the new system. In some 
instances importers and exporters have yet to agree on 
the appropriate classifications for products. In order to 
reduce business disruption and consequent costs during 
the inevitable period of transition it is suggested: that the Commission urgently make available to all 
affected parties correspondence tables showing the 
old and new tariff codes alongside each other, 
customs authorities of those states where it has not 
so far been done should urgently inform traders 
of the new system, hold seminars and provide all 
possible advice and assistance. 
Done at Brussels, 16 December 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the European Convention 
for the protection of animals for slaughter 
(88/C 35/05) 
On 6 November 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 
on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Commit­
tee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 3 December 1987 in the light of the report 
by Mr Storie-Pugh. 
At its 251st plenary session held on 16 and 17 December 1987 (meeting of 16 December 1987) 
the Committee adopted the following Opinion by a large majority with 1 vote against and 
6 abstentions: 
The Committee welcomes the proposal for a Council Decision and recommends that a 
Directive on the subject 'Protection of animals for slaughter' should have a high priority. 
While retaining the general provisions of the European Convention, consideration should be 
given to the incorporation into a Directive of some additional points set out in the report by 
the Section for Agriculture and Fisheries. 
Done at Brussels, 16 December 1987. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
8. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 35/9 
APPENDIX 
to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
Article 43, fourth paragraph of the rules of procedure 
The following amendment which amounted to a counter-opinion was defeated at the plenary session: 
'The Committee endorses the Convention's noble aim of protecting animals before slaughter, by ensuring 
proper treatment to spare them unnecessary suffering. However, it feels that the proposed text is repetitive 
and inconsistent, and contains some highly questionable statements. 
The Committee therefore rejects the proposal, not least because it is limited to the slaughtering process and 
does not cover—as it should—the entire life-span of all animals. The Committee urges the Member States 
not to ratify the Convention, and calls on the Commission to draw up a Community instrument to replace 
the Convention and regulate this area in a thorough and satisfactory manner.' 
Result of the voting 
For: 1, against: large majority, abstentions: 12. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the granting of financial support to 
transport infrastructure projects 
(88/C 35/06) 
On 2 December 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on 
the abovementioned proposal. 
At its 251st plenary session the Committee appointed Mr Rouzier rapporteur-general and 
adopted unanimously the following Opinion 
Preliminary comments 
The Committee regrets that the Commission and the 
Council are making it difficult for the Committee to 
carry out fully its consultative functions. The deadline 
by which the Committee has to adopt its Opinion 
is too short, which prevents it from giving proper 
consideration to the implications of the proposal. The 
Commission must have known for some time that the 
Council still does not intend to adopt a Regulation on 
the granting of financial support under a medium-
term transport infrastructure programme (1), a proposal 
which the Committee welcomed (2). This is why last 
November the Commission submitted an ad hoc pro­
posal with a view to using the 1985 budget appropri­
ations for supporting transport infrastructure (*). 
(') OJ No C 288, 15. 11. 1986. 
(2) OJ No C 328, 22. 12. 1986. 
(-') Commission proposal (OJ No C 323, 16. 12. 1986) — Com­
mittee Opinion (OJ No C 68, 16. 3. 1987). 1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee notes that, with the exception 
of Article 1 concerning the projects, the wording of 
the proposal is identical to that of Articles 2 to 4 
of Regulation (EEC) No 4059/86 (4). In the present 
circumstances the Committee approves this part of the 
Commission's proposal. 
1.2. The Committee regrets, however, that the 
Council was still unable to adopt a medium-term Regu­
lation which could have formed a much better instru­
ment than ad hoc measures, which are very often the 
result of a compromise rather than an objective examin­
ation of the real economic priorities. 
(4) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1986.