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COM (84) 488 
 
 
 
Vol. 1984/0 198 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C O M (84) 488 fin a l  
Brussels, 14 September 1984
C O M M IS S IO N  O PINIO N 
of 1 1  September 1984
on the rules of procedure of the committee of the 
European Social Fund
C O M (84) 488 fin al

C O M M IS S IO N  OPINION 
of 1 1  September 1984
on the rules of procedure of the 
committee of the European Social Fund
1. A rticle 17 of Council Decision 83/517/EEC of 17 October 1983
(1 )on the rules of the committee of the European Social Fund 
provides that the committee shall draw up its  rules of procedure, 
and that the rules of procedure shall be approved by the Council 
after consultation with the Commission.
2. During its  meeting on 22 June 1984 the committee adopted 
the rules of procedure annexed to the present opinion.
3. These rules of procedure are intended to replace the rules of 
procedure of the committee of the European Social Fund dated 
3  July 1961, which w as established according to a rtic le  14 of 
Council Decision of 25 August 1960 concerning the statute of 
the committee of the European Social Fund. This Decision 
w as cancelled by virtue of a rticle  18 of Decision 83/516/EEC.
4. In view of the fact that the rules of procedure of 22 June 1984 
are in conformity with the rules of Community law, in particular 
A rticle  124 of the Treaty and Decision 83/517/EEC, and are like ly 
to ensure the e fficie n t operation of the committee, the Commission 
gives a  favourable opinion, and invites the Council to give its  
approval.
D one in Brussels, 1 1  September 1984 By the Commission
(1)O J  No. L 289 of 22.10.1983, p. 42.

RULES OF PROCEDURE
of the Committee of the European Social Fund
of 22 June 1984
THE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
Having regard to Article 17 of Council Decision 83/517/EEC of  
17 October 1983 on the rules of the Committee of the European  
Social Fund (1)
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. Before 1 October each year, the Chairman shall inform Member  
States and Members of the Committee of the dates of the  
meetings in the following year at which the applications for  
assistance from the European Social Fund will be considered,
2. The Chairman shall issue notices of meetings to each member  
of the Committee not less than fifteen days in advance, and  
shall at the same time advise each alternate of the date of  
the meeting in question. He shall also send each member and  
alternate a list of the matters to be considered, and all  
supporting documents.
3. In an emergency, the Chairman may take the above action less  
than fifteen, but in any event not less than seven,days in  
advance.
4. Should a request that the Committee be convened be made by  
members in accordance with Article 9 of Decision 83/517/EEC,  
the Chairman shall comply therewith within one month, in  
accordance with paragraph 2 .
Article 2
1. At the beginning of each meeting the Committee shall approve  
the agenda.
2. Requests by members for a matter to be placed on the agenda  
must be submitted to the Chairman in writing, with reasons  
therefor, before or at the beginning of a meeting. Members  
may also in the course of a meeting move that a matter be  
placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
(1) OJ No L 289, of22.10.1983, p. 42.

-  2 -
Article 3
1. The Committee's proceedings and papers shall be confidential.
2. The following, in addition to the Chairman and to mentoers  
and alternates, may attend:
- experts invited by the Chairman,
- technical advisers whose attendance has been requested by  
merrbers or alternates in writing at least ten days before  
the meeting and agreed to in writing by the Chairman,
- observers from Oojnnunity-wide trade union and employers' organi­
zations invited by the Chairman,
- Ooirmission officials invited by the Chairman.
3. Merrbers should indicate to the Chairman in writing at least  
one day in advance of a meeting that they will be replaced  
by their alternate at the meeting of the Committee or of
a  working party.
4. The Chairman may call upon experts or Conmission officials to  
address the meeting.
Article 4
The approved travelling expenses,  travelling time and subsistence  
allowances will be paid in respect of attendance at meetings of  
the Cormittee or working parties of mentoers, alternate members  
when they are replacing a member, and experts invited by the  
Chairman.
Article 5
1. The Oonmittee's deliberations shall be valid .  where more than one 
half of the members are present and each category as referred to in 
A rticle 2  of Decision 83/517/EEC is represented.
2. Where such is not the case, the Chairman shall terminate the  
proceedings and arrange for the Committee to meet acfain at an
appropriate time. The deliberations shall then be va lid , 
irrespective of the number of mentoers present and the categories  
represented, as regards the matters on the list which accompanied  
the notice of the original meeting, or on the agenda thereof if  
already approved. In an emergency the Chairman m ay convene the 
the Committee immmediately, provide each category is represented.

- 3 -
Article 6
Where several proposals are tabled on the same m atter, they shall be  
put to the vote in the order chosen by the President.
Article 7
W hen a proposal is put to the vote, the Chairman m ay authorize members  
w ho so request to explain b rieflx^ ih y  they are voting as they are.
Article 8
1. Alternate members may vote only where they are replacing one or both 
of th e ir principals or they are voting by proxy pursuant to A rticle  9(2).
2. Where an alternate replaces qne of his princinals pursuant to A rtic le  3(2) 
of Decision 83/517/EEC, he "Shall have one vote> where he replaces both  
of his p rin cip als, he shall have two votes.
Article 9
1. Any member who is unable to attend a meeting and cannot arrange  
for his alternate to replace for him may give a proxy to any  
other meirber or alternate in his own category. He shall inform  
the Chairman in w ritin g ’ one'dày before the meeting. '
2. No member or alternate may be given more than one proxy.
Alternates who are entitled to two votes pursuant to A rticle  3(2) 
of Decision 83/517/EEC m ay not accept any proxy.
3. Proxies shall be valid only at the meeting for which they have been
given. *
Article 10
1. Minutes shall be taken of. each meeting, and shall be approved by 
the Committee.
2. The minutes shall comprise:
- a summary record of the proceedings;
- opinions and conclusions put to the vote in the course of  
the meeting, with the re su lts.
3. Proposed amendments to draft minutes.must be submitted· in w riting in 
advance of the meeting at which the draft minutes are to be  
approved.

Article 11
1. The Ooimittee may set up working parties with specified terms  
of reference from among its members.
2. Working parties shall have as their chairman the Chairman of  
the Committee or a Commission official designated by him.
3. Working parties may hear experts, upon a motion from the chair.
4. Any m em ber of a  working party who is. unable to attend a  meeting m ay
arrange, after informing his chairman in writing, for a full  
member or alternate in his own category :to replace him at that 
meeting. ' r  - ;  t ·
5. W oere a  m em ber of a  working party applies in w riting to cO P se to serve, 
he shall continue to do so until the Committee appoints a  
successor at its next meeting.
6. The preparatory documents for working parties'sha ll be sent to 
all members and alternates.
Done at Brussels, The Chairman
/