No C 131/8 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
organization  will  have  to be set up.  The  entire 
action  programme  proposed  by the Commission 
for the civil  and  military  sectors  should  thus  be 
implemented  in parallel  with  progress  in the 
political  organization  of European  union. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 February  1976. 6.3. It  is essential  that  the  political  will  to 
develop  a Community  aircraft  industry  and  mar-
ket be expressed  as rapidly  as possible,  and  be 
focused  immediately  on specific  and  concrete 
issues. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the communication  from  the Commission  to the Council  concerning 
a Community  policy  on data  processing 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has not been  published  in the Official  Journal 
of the European  Communities. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 3 October  1975,  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. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at 
its 137th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 February  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made 
by the Council  of the European  Communities  on 
3 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in par-
ticular  Article  198  thereof, Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw 
up an opinion  and  a report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the 
Section  for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Ser-
vices  at its meeting  on 4 February  1976, 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  submitted  by the 
rapporteur,  Mr de Ferranti, 
Having  regard  to the previous  opinions  issued  by 
the Economic  and  Social  Committee  in the field 
of data-processing('), 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau 
on 28 October  1975,  instructing  the Section  for 0) OJ No  C 255,  7. 11.  1975  and  OJ  No  C 263, 
17. 11. 1975. 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 131/9 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 137th 
plenary  session,  held  on 25 and  26 February 
1976  (meeting  of 25 February  1976), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  is concerned  that  in view  of the 
rapidly  changing  technology,  there  is a need  for a 
revised  policy  statement.  There  are now  two  sets 
of proposals  in front  of the Council  and  it would 
be helpful  for  the  Council  to adopt  a clearly 
defined  policy  as soon  as possible.  In advance  of 
an anticipated  statement  by  the  Commission, 
some  overall  view  of the  scope  of such  a policy 
would  seem  appropriate  at the  start  of this 
opinion. 
1. Policy  for informatics:  the essentials 1.1. The  appropriate  level  of investment  in infor-
matics 
Informatics  is now  used  in a vast  range  of 
technical,  administrative  and  scientific  fields  from 
control  of motorcar  carburettors  right  through  to 
weather  forecasts  and  will  become  basic  to all 
forms  of industry  and  commerce,  materially 
affecting  levels  of efficiency  and productivity  and 
therefore  the standard  of living  and  of employ-
ment  in the Community. 
At present,  although  the  rate  of growth  of 
informatics  is higher  in Europe  than  America,  the 
overall  level  of installed  capacity  is still  much 
lower.  Analysis  is required  to determine  the 
proportion  of the  European  gross  national  pro-
duct  which  it is appropriate  to invest  in informat-
ics, and  a strategy  is required  to achieve  this  level. 
On the  assumption  that  such  an analysis  would 
show  that  there  are  economic  benefits  to be 
obtained  from  an increased  level  of investment, 
the strategy  should  indicate  the actions  and  the 
appropriate  level  of expenditure  by the Commun-
ity to promote  the  use  of informatics,  for 
instance,  through  education  and  advisory  ser-
vices,  and  by the  provision  of finance,  and  by 
legislation.  The  Committee  anticipates  that  such 
an analysis  would  justify  the increased  level  of 
expenditure  implied  in section  2 of this  opinion. 
The industry  is of great  importance.  It covers  not 
only  the  familiar  systems  for  the  provision  of 
management  data  but  the rapidly  growing  sector 
where,  thanks  to the  reducing  cost  and  size  of 
reliable  electronics,  computers  are  used  for  the 
direct  control  of 'real  time'  operations.  The 
Committee  believes,  therefore,  that  the  word 
'informatics'  is now  more  descriptive  than  'data-
processing'.  Recognition  of this  wider  aspect  and 
the consequently  rapidly  changing  nature  of the 
business  itself  lie  behind  a shift  in emphasis 
towards  the  creation  and  administration  of a 
European-wide  market  and  the encouragement  of 
companies,  both  large  and  small,  across  the 
whole  spectrum  of informatics.  Previous  ESC 
opinions  have  reflected  this  and  the  Committee 
welcomes  the change  in emphasis  in the Commis-
sion's  proposal.  Overall,  any  policy  must  be 
medium  term  in timescale,  should  be defined  in 
scale  and  significance  in comparison  with  other 
Community  policies,  and  should  cover  the follo-
wing  five  aspects: 1.2. Reasons  for supporting  informatics 
The industry  is important  because  it stimulates 
innovation,  creates  jobs  and  reduces  dependence 
on imports,  because  on the basis  of technological 
excellence  it has export  potential  and  because  it is 
required  to provide  technological  independence. 
The principal  objectives  of the  Community 
should  be to create  a freer  market  for informatics 
products,  to harmonize  national  policies,  to 
encourage  industrial  cooperation  within  Europe, 
and to promote  those  aspects  of the  industry 
which  can  make  the greatest  social  and  economic 
contribution  to the Community  in the long  term. 
The rapid  reduction  in the cost  of computing  is 
changing  the pattern  of usage  and  the structure  of 
the industry.  The  development  of concepts  like 
distributed  computing  creates  new  market  oppor-
tunities  where  the  Community  can  compete  on 
more  equal  terms. 
No C 131/10 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
The question  of support  to the industry  must  be 
seen as separate  to the promotion  of informatics 
as a whole.  Indeed,  action  to support  the industry 
may not  be in the  short-term  interest  of the 
promotion  of the  use  of informatics.  Neverthe-
less, if the  industry  is to be successful,  support 
must  be provided  in parallel  with  the promotion 
of informatics. 
Some  Member  States  support  their  industry  on a 
considerable  scale  by a variety  of methods.  The 
Committee  is of the opinion  that  support  should 
be gradually  transferred  to the Community. 
1.3. Standardization 
In the  future  an increasing  proportion  of all 
information  will  be maintained  in computers.  To 
avoid  inefficiency,  it will  be necessary  to have 
adequate  standardization  of the representation  of 
information  and  of the methods  of interchanging 
information  between  computers.  Regrettably,  the 
need  for compatibility  caused  by the high  cost  of 
conversion  means  that  standards  may  persist  long 
after  they  become  inappropriate.  Accordingly,  the 
objective  of the  Commission  should  be  to 
establish  a long-term  policy  on standardization, 
together  with  the  means  to implement  such  a 
policy. 
1.4. Social  and  legal  consequences 
The introduction  of informatics  is comparable 
with  the  introduction  of mechanical  power  and 
the consequent  industrial  revolution.  If the social 
changes  generated  by  the  widespread  use  of 
informatics  are to be acceptable,  they  need  to be 
steered  by  judicious  and  far-sighted  policies, 
through  medium-term  programmes  involving  the 
various  parties  in each  sector,  especially  in the 
area of labour  mobility  and  job  retraining.  It 
should  be the task  of the Commission  to predict 
and advise  on the social  and  labour  implications 
of informatics  and  make  proposals  to ensure  that 
the Community  can  obtain  the maximum  benefit. 
For instance: 
1.4.1.  Considerable  attention  has been  given  to 
the important  issue  of privacy  in some  member 
countries.  There  is a need  to ensure  that  national 
legislation  does  not  conflict  and  cause  technical 
barriers  to trade. 1.4.2.  Of  equal  urgency  is the recognition  of 
the economic  value  of data.  Legislation,  par-
ticularly  in the area  of copyright  and  records  will 
need  to take  account  of the  increasing  use  of 
informatics. 
1.4.3.  The  Commission  should  be in a position 
to advise  on the  formulation  of new  legislation, 
acceptable  to Member  States,  in the informatics 
field. 
1.4.4.  These  are all important  issues  on which 
the Committee  expects  the Commission  to bring 
forward  proposals,  at which  time  the Committee 
will be able  to give  opinions  in greater  detail. 
1.5. Policy  on public  procurement 
Procurement  policy  is particularly  important  to 
informatics,  and  in this  context  the  Committee 
will soon  elaborate  an opinion  on its own  initia-
tive. The  continuing  evolution  of public  procure-
ment  policy  will  give  rise  to the need  for contin-
ued and  expert  attention  of the Commission. 
2. Administration  of policy 
The Commission  should  acquire  sufficient  staff 
and the  technical  and  financial  resources 
necessary  to establish  and  implement  a policy 
covering  the areas  mentioned.  Wherever  appro-
priate,  the  Commission  should  collaborate  with 
existing  national  organizations  and  not  duplicate 
their  function. 
It is essential  that  staff  of the highest  calibre  are 
attracted  as it will  be necessary  to gain  the respect 
and confidence  of all those  in the field. 
3. Comments  on proposals 
3.1. Standards  policy 
The emphasis  by the Commission  on the  use  of 
standards  to promote  informatics  is welcome. 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 131/11 
Care  must  be taken  that  the short-term  objective 
of creating  a freer  market  does  not  compromise 
the future  by creating  immutable  standards  which 
do not  properly  take  account  of the  long-term 
trend  in informatics.  Rather  than  involving 
itself  in individual  standards,  the  role  of the 
Commission  should  be to establish  a long-term 
standardization  policy,  and  the  administration 
to implement  this  policy.  In  so  far  as 
possible,  the administration  should  be based  on 
the use of the appropriate  national  organizations. 
3.2. Development  project  for  a  common 
language  for 'real  time'  programming 
The proposal  to develop  a 'real  time'  program-
ming  language  raises  questions  of the first  impor-
tance.  The  recent  contacts  with  the US Depart-
ment  of Defence  indicate  the  standing  of Eur-
opean  expertise  in this  area,  both  within  the 
LTPL-E  group  and  outside.  It is urgent  that  the 
Community  should  be in a position  to maintain  a 
strong  negotiating  position  with  the Americans: 
(a) It is extremely  desirable  that  any  new 
language  be developed  on a world-wide  basis, 
and not just  on a European  basis. 
'Real  time'  programming  languages  are 
relevant  to applications  like  process  control, 
avionics  and  telecommunications  and  will 
become  increasingly  important  as microcom-
puters  are  used  more  widely.  Because  such 
applications  involve  direct  communication 
between  the computer  and  the external  envi-
ronment,  they  pose  technical  problems  of 
synchronizing  parts  of a programme.  This 
problem  is the subject  of active  research,  but 
although  ad hoc  techniques  have  been  devel-
oped,  a systematic  solution  suitable  for incor-
poration  into  a programming  language  is not 
yet available. 
(b) The  Community  could  make  an important 
contribution  by ensuring  that  such  research  is pursued  on a coordinated  basis  within  Europe 
and that  it is adequately  funded. 
(c) In the  short  term,  the  Community  could 
promote  a freer  market  by ensuring  that  all 
the current  national  languages  for 'real  time' 
(Coral,  Pearl,  etc.)  are  treated  on an equal 
basis  in public  purchasing. 
3.3. Collaboration  between  national  centres  for 
research  and  support  to users 
The Committee  endorses  the  initiative  of the 
Commission  to encourage  collaboration  between 
national  centres  which  do basic  research  and 
provide  technical  support  to users. 
3.4. Applications 
The Commission,  in the current  document  and  in 
previous  proposals,  has  recommended  the devel-
opment  of a number  of applications.  These  indi-
vidual  proposals  are useful.  The  Committee  con-
siders,  however,  that  it would  be more  appro-
priate  if they  formed  part,  explicitly,  of a general 
policy. 
3.5. Leasing  finance 
The Commission's  intention  to promote  data-
processing  by the provision  of leasing  finance  is 
an important  development.  The  Committee  urges 
that the  Commission  place  priority  on  the 
preparation  of a formal  proposal.  The  virtue  of 
such  a proposal  will  depend  on its exact  drafting; 
the availability  of leasing  finance,  if properly 
directed,  could  be used  to stimulate  areas  of the 
data-processing  industry  and  specific  applica-
tions. 
Done  at Brussels,  25 February  1976. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE