8. 8. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC211/17 
cultivation of these crops, thereby increasing land 
surfaces available for growing crops which are in 
deficit. 
2.9. Issues not covered in the Commission proposal 
2.9.1. The Committee regrets, however, that the 
Programme: 
— does not take account of development prob­
lems, 
— does not devote enough space to research into 
crop diversification (e.g. crops with a high pro­
tein content, disease-resistant trees), 
— does not cover forestry, 
— does not put enough emphasis on the need to 
ensure that yields are not increased at the 
expense of quality, 
— does not include research into the economics 
and sociology of agriculture. 
2.9.2. One important area which is not covered by 
the Commission's programme is that of the health 
and safety of both farmers and consumers. This sub­ject should be given even more urgent priority as it 
attracts so little attention from private-sector indus­
try and research. The Committee feels that Com­
munity research should focus on two areas in parti­
cular: 
— agricultural machinery: the use of unsafe agri­
cultural machinery means that the incidence of 
accidents and work-related illness is higher 
among farmers than virtually any other groups 
of workers, 
— chemical products for use in agriculture: the 
Commission programme provides for research 
into improved hygiene and the control and eli­
mination of chemical residues which may be 
harmful for consumers (hormones, antibiotics, 
pesticides, etc.). The Committee would urge that 
attention be given to the harmful effects of toxic 
substances on farmers and farm workers. 
3. In conclusion, the Committee would request 
that, alongside the European Parliament and the 
Council, it be sent a copy of the report referred to in 
Article 4 of the Commission proposal, on the activ-
ites carried out under the programmes. 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
The Chairman of the 
Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation instituting a specific measure to 
promote urban renewal in Northern Ireland (Belfast) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 138 of 2 June 1983, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 22 April 1983 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. 
NoC211/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 83 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows : 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council 
of the European Communities on 22 April 1983 for 
an opinion on the proposal for a Council Regula­
tion instituting a specific measure to promote urban 
renewal in Northern Ireland (Belfast), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
to authorize the Section for Regional Development 
to draw up an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the Committee's opinion of 
25 February 1982 on the proposal for a Council 
Regulation instituting a specific action on behalf of 
housing in Northern Ireland within the framework 
of an integrated operation in Belfast, 
Having regard to the study on integrated operations 
drawn up on 7 April 1982, 
Having regard to the oral report made by Mr Bor-
nard, rapporteur, (Article 29 of the Rules of Proce­
dure), 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Regional Development at its 53rd meeting, 
held on 19 May 1983, 
Having regard to the discussions on 1 June 1983 
during the 208th plenary session held on 1 and 
2 June 1983, effective and specific urban-renewal action in the 
Belfast area, but would make the following points: 
2. The Committee has been informed that, because 
of the deadlock within the Council, the original pro­
posal on housing in Belfast, approved by the Sec­
tion in February 1982, has had to be redrafted by the 
Commission in the form of a generally acceptable 
compromise. 
The Committee welcomes the broader concept of 
urban renewal demonstrated by the overall develop­
ment programme now being proposed. 
3. The Committee greatly regrets the delay in tak­
ing action of such importance to living conditions in 
a depressed area and to the Community's image. 
The Section feels that it is all the more necessary 
that the Council approve the present proposal with­
out delay. 
4. The Committee notes that a number of points 
raised in the February 1982 opinion are taken up in 
this proposal. In particular, the use of the expres­
sions 'infrastructure' in Article 2, and 'improvement 
of the environment' in Article 4, removes all the Sec­
tion's reservations concerning the construction of 
housing in an unsuitable environment which takes 
no account of the quality of life. 
Whereas the decision on a specific measure to 
promote development in the Belfast area has been 
delayed too long, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a unanimous vote: 
1. The Committee endorses the Commission pro­
posal to devote 100 million ECU to implement 5. The Committee also stresses the need for an 
overall programme covering the three years opera­
tions with annual updating. As in the previous opi­
nion, it insists that efforts be directed primarily 
towards the most disadvantaged people and concen­
trated on the most deprived areas, to be determined 
in consultation with the interested parties. 
6. The Committee therefore indicates once again, 
below, the infrastructure projects which it feels are 
essential for improving the environment in which 
8. 8. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 211/19 
people live (in addition to the infrastructure projects 
directly related to housing): 
— medical and hospital facilities, including special 
services in the area of post-natal care (very high 
infant mortality rate), paediatrics and retraining 
of the handicapped, 
— Schools and creches, 
— sports and leisure activity centres, which would 
seem to be the only possible meeting places for 
young people who have been placed in opposite 
camps as a result of the day-to-day strife, 
— street lighting and lighting in other public 
places. 
The Committee also feels that efforts should be 
made to improve roads, water supplies and public 
transport. 
7. The Committe again welcomes the emphasis 
placed on the additional nature of the funds made 
available by the Community, and notes that the 
principle of the additionality of expenditure is not 
only stressed in Article 5, but is also reinforced by 
the additional conditions laid down in Article 4: 
Done at Brussels, 1 June 1983. 
Francois CEYRAC 
Opinion on young people and their role in the development of the European Community 
A. LEGAL BASE FOR THE OPINION 
At its 197th plenary session held on 28 and 29 April 1982, the Committee, acting on a 
proposal from its Bureau in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Article 20 of its 
Rules of Procedure, decided to deliver an Opinion on its own initiative on the above 
matter. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
208th plenary session held in Brussels on 1 and 2 June 1983. — the projects must not have been completed at 
the time the list of proposed investments is sub­
mitted by the Government. 
The Committee welcomes this addition, which helps 
to make the financing more transparent. 
The Committee would also like the additionality of 
Community aid to be viewed not only in relation to 
the total volume of national expenditure allocated 
to the investment projects necessary for urban rene­
wal, but also in relation to the vlume of expenditure 
allocated for this purpose in Northern Ireland and 
in the areas other than Belfast. 
8. The Committee feels that it is particularly 
important to ensure that the population is informed 
about the aid supplied by the Community 
(Article 11). 
9. The Committee stands by its favourable opinion 
on the previous Commission proposal and endorses 
the new version, its main concern being that a deci­
sion should be taken soon so that the Community 
can at last initiate the aid measures required in this 
area. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: