No C 101/18 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 26. 4. 78 
Floating  currencies,  and  international  monetary  disorder  are  adversely  affecting  Com-
munity  efforts  to devise  a prices  policy. 
The continued  use  of a system  which  is increasingly  incapable  of guaranteeing  farm 
incomes  is both  contentious  and  futile. 
The ESC  therefore  feels  that  the  time  has  come  to review  one  of the  cornerstones  of the 
common  agricultural  policy,  namely  prices  policy. 
The ESC  will  in the near  future  express  its views  on this  problem  in an initiative  opinion 
addressed  to the Community  decision-making  bodies.' 
Reasons 
It is obvious  that  the situation  is serious.  Anyone  who  refers  to points  1, 3, 7, 9 and  14 of the 
opinion  will  see  that  the  recession  in general,  and  that  of agriculture  in particular,  is under-
mining  the  social  situation  of producers.  Such  a situation  is incompatible  with  the  objectives 
set out in Articles  39 and  117  of the Treaty  of Rome. 
Voting 
For: 2, against:  47, abstentions:  39. 
The following  passage  in the  Section  for  Agriculture's  opinion  was  amended  to the  wording 
now appearing  in the Committee's  opinion  on the  basis  of an amendment  which  the  meeting 
carried: 
Paragraph  2 
In view  of this  situation  the  Committee  would  underline  the  importance  of the  common 
agricultural  policy  which  is a major  factor  in the integration  of the Community. 
Voting 
For: 33, against:  23, abstentions:  4. 
Opinion  on  the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulations  (EEC) 
No 2727/75  and  (EEC)  No  1418/76  as regards  the  export  refunds  for  cereals  and  rice 
exported  in the  form  of goods  not  covered  by Annex  II to the  Treaty 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 10 of 12 January  1978,  page  3. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 4 January  1978,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  43 of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
26. 4. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities  No  C 101/19 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
156th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 1 and 2 March  1978. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  43 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  made  by the Council  of 
the European  Communities  on 4 January  1978  for an 
opinion, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its chairman 
on 19  January  1978  instructing  the  Section  for 
Agriculture  to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to Articles  46 and  47 of the Rules  of 
Procedure  (urgency  procedure), Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 9 February  1978, 
Having  regard  to the  oral  report  submitted  by the 
rapporteur,  Mr de Tavernier, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 156th  plenary 
session  held  on 1 and  2 March  1978  (meeting  of 
1 March  1978), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the draft  Regulation  which 
is aimed  at encouraging  the use of Community  cereals 
and rice  in the production  of certain  processed  goods 
intended  for export. 
Done  at Brussels,  1 March  1978. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the proposals  for: 
— a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2727/75  on the  common 
organization  of the market  in cereals 
— a Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1418/76  on the  common 
organization  of the market  in rice 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 11 of 15 January  1978,  page  14. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 10 January  1978,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  43 of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community.