17.11.  75 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 263/23 
The second  paragraph  should  read  as follows: 
'This  should  be grounded  on a wide-ranging  debate  at all levels  in the  national  and 
Community  authorities,  especially  within  all the economic  and  social  bodies  which  fulfil 
a role  similar  to that  of the Economic  and Social  Committee  of the European  Communities'. 
The present  second  sentence:  'The  object  of such  a conference..becomes  the  third 
paragraph. 
Result  of the  vote 
For: 14; against:  39; abstentions:  28. 
II. In accordance  with  an amendment  adopted,  the following  passages  contained  in the Opinion 
of the Section  for Social  Questions  were  modified. 
Point  2.9. 
The complete  intertwining  of economic  and  social  aspects,  particularly  in the  field  of 
employment,  could  therefore  provide  an opportunity  to set  an example  in carrying  out 
interventions  to consult  and  cooperate  with  industry  and  its representatives.  In this  connection 
three  proposals  could  be made  to the Commission  and  the Council: 
Point  2.9  (a) 
(a) the convening  of an European  economic  and  social  conference  bringing  the two  sides  of 
industry  face-to-face  with  Government  ministers  responsible  for  economic  and  social 
affairs. 
Point  2.9  (b) 
(b) in keeping  with  the  views  expressed  at the conference  on future  European  social  policy, 
held on 16 December  1974,  and  at the  sixth  session  of the  Standing  Committee  on 
Employment,  held  on 17 February  1975,  and  in the light  of the  present  social  situation, 
which  is characterized  by a grave  deterioration  of the labour  market,  the Section  would  state 
its support  of the principle  of joint  sectoral  meetings  between  labour  and  management. 
Result  of the  vote 
For: 40; against:  38; abstentions:  11. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Decision  concerning  a programme  of pilot 
schemes  and  studies  to combat  poverty 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 101  of 3 May  1975,  page  10. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 29 April  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  under  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the  European 
Economic  Community. 
No C 263/24 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 17.11.75 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  drew  up its Opinion  at its 130th  plenary 
session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 May  1975. 
The Opinion  is published  below. 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community  and  in particular 
Article  198 thereof; 
Having  regard  to the referral  on 30 April  1975  by the 
Council  of the European  Communities  of a proposal 
for a Council  Decision  concerning  a programme  of 
pilot  schemes  and  studies  to combat  poverty; 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by the President 
of the  Committee  on 5 May  1975  by virtue  of the 
provisions  of Article  22 of the  Rules  of Procedure 
instructing  the Section  for Social  Questions  to draw 
up an Opinion  on the matter; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  of the Economic  and 
Social  Committee  adopted  at its plenary  session  on 
24 April  1975  on the Programme  of Pilot  Schemes  and 
Studies  to combat  Poverty  drawn  up in accordance 
with  the  Council  resolution  of 21 January  1974 
concerning  a Social  Action  Programme; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for Social  Questions  at its 95th  meeting  held 
on 15 May  1975  and  the oral  report  by Mr Carroll, 
the Rapporteur; 
Having  regard  to its discussions  at its 130th  plenary 
session  on 28 .and  29 May  1975,  sitting  of 28 May 
1975, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. The  Committee  directs  attention  to  its 
comprehensive  Opinion  on 24 April  1975  on the referral  of 23 January  1975  by the  Council  of the 
European  Communities  of the  Programme  of Pilot 
Schemes  and  Studies  to combat  Poverty. 
2. The  Committee  reaffirms  its position  as regards 
the appropriate  legal  form  in  which  the 
Commission's  proposal  should  be presented  to the 
Council  and  welcomes  the fact  that  the Commission 
has now  resubmitted  its proposals,  in the form  of a 
Council  Decision  in  accordance  with  the 
Committee's  views. 
3. The  Committee  also  welcomes  the requirement 
for the Commission  to submit  to the Council  and  to 
the European  Parliament  before  the end  of 1976,  a 
report  on its activities  concerning  pilot  schemes  and 
studies  promoted,  carried  out  or assisted  under  the 
Decision. 
4. Furthermore,  the  Committee  notes  the 
requirement  for  the  Commission  to submit  to the 
Council  and  the  European  Parliament  proposals  for 
future  initiatives  after  1976. 
5. This  double  requirement  accords  with  the view 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee,  as expressed 
in its first  Opinion,  and  the Committee  insists  that  it 
also should  receive  in  all  languages  the 
Commission's  report  and  initiative  proposals. 
Done  at Brussels,  28 May  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE