No C 140/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 5. 84 
4.4.3. The Committee calls upon the Commission 
to extend the information system at a later stage to 
cover the seas surrounding the Community. To this 
end, an immediate start should be made on coopera­
tion with international organizations which already 
have experience in this field, because of: 
— the importance of the sea as a source of raw 
materials and as a source of economic activity 
(fishing, sea-bed resources etc.), 
— rising pollution including hydrocarbon pollu­
tion, particularly of sea basins which are iso­
lated by barriers, 
— the fact that the sea is being used more and 
more for the dumping of rubbish. A common policy to combat marine pollution — a 
policy which the Economic and Social Committee 
has advocated in the past — would make it easier to 
monitor and control the serious forms of pollution 
which have already led to ecological changes. 
4.4.4. It should also be ensured that the system is 
compatible with other information systems, con­
cerning the quality of the urban and rural environ­
ment. Such systems ought, in particular, to evaluate 
the links between housing, on the one hand, and, on 
the other, people's mental and physical health and 
certain social phenomena such as delinquency. 
Done at Brussels, 28 March 1984. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision implementing Decision 83/200/EEC 
empowering the Commission to contract loans under the New Community Instrument for 
the promoting investment within the Community 
(84/C 140/07) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 48 of 21 February 1984, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 1 February 1984 the Council of the European Communities asked the Economic 
and Social Committee for an opinion on the abovementioned proposal. 
Procedure: 
The Section for Economic and Financial Questions, which was entrusted with the pre­
paration of this opinion and appointed Mr Drago as rapporteur, adopted its opinion 
on 20 March 1984. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Committee adopted its opinion at its 216th plenary session, held on 28/29 March 
1984 (meeting of 29 March) by a majority, with six votes against and three abstentions. 
28. 5. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 140/17 
1. The Committee endorses the proposal for a 
Decision authorizing a further tranche of borrow­
ings of 1 400 million ECU within the framework of 
NCI III. 
2. In keeping with its opinions on the first tranche 
of borrowings (CES 551/83) and on the promotion 
of innovation in small and medium-sized enter­
prises (CES 975/83), the Committee welcomes the 
guidelines and priorities laid down by the Commis­
sion, particulary the priority for investment projects 
— mainly of small and medium-sized enterprises — 
in industry and directly allied services. Investments 
in small and medium-sized enterprises in the craft, 
commercial and tourism sectors should also be 
included in the list of eligible investments. 
3. In its earlier opinions the Committee called for 
support to be given primarily to investment projects that would increase employment. In this connection 
the Committee approves the Commission proposal 
to promote investment projects that contribute 
directly to the creation of jobs. The Commission 
says 'contribute directly or indirectly', but the latter 
term is open to the objection that it is too vague to 
enable an assessment to be made of whether an 
investment project is entitled to support. It is there­
fore urged that 'indirectly' be deleted. 
4.4. In addition, investments that further the ^in­
dustrialization of regions with structural problems 
should receive special consideration, as should pro­
jects designed to employ or re-employ labour which 
is temporarily without work and which even in some 
cases been without work for a long time in sectors or 
firms with structural difficulties. 
Done at Brussels, 29 March 1984. 
The Chairmann 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 
724/75 establishing a European Regional Development Fund 
(84/C 140/08) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the Euro­
pean Communities No C 360 of 31 December 1983, page 1. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 30 November 1983, acting under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Communities, the Council asked the Economic and Social Committee for an 
opinion on the abovementioned proposal. 
Procedure: 
The Section for Regional Development was instructed to draw up an opinion on the 
subject, with Mr Giacomo Regaldo as rapporteur. The Section opinion was adopted 
on 17 February 1984.