No C 124/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 5. 83 
quota arrangements and far in excess of the statutory 
10% laid down for operations of this nature. 
4. At this stage, the Commission should either abide 
by all the stipulations contained in the abovementioned 
Done at Brussels, 23 March 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council on 
1 December 1982 for an opinion on the abovementioned 
proposal ('), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
23 November 1982 instructing the Section for Regional 
Development to draw up an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to trfe opinion issued by the Section for 
Regional Development at its 52nd meeting held on 11 
March 1983, 
Having regard to the report presented by the rapporteur, 
Mr Pearson, 
Having regard to the discussions on 23 March 1983 
during the 206th plenary session held on 23 and 24 
March 1983 (meeting of 23 March 1983), 
Whereas these proposals concerning the use of the quota 
free section of the ERDF follow on from the first series of minutes, or, as it has done hitherto, it should allow 
Regulation (EEC) No 458/80 (the only instrument with 
legal validity) to take free effect. The Committee would, 
incidentally, indicate its preference for the latter option, 
and requests the Commission to modify its proposal 
accordingly. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
measures adopted in October 1980, on which the 
Committee has already given its views (2), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a unanimous vote: 
1. Introductory remarks 
1.1. The Committee reiterates its strong support, 
expressed on many occasions, for a strong quota-free 
section of the ERDF. 
1.2. The Committee recalls the approval of the 
Committee (3) for the Commission proposal on ERDF 
reform and notably the increase in concentration of the 
quota section and in the size of the quota-free section. It 
deplores the failure of the Council to approve these 
proposals. It further criticizes the fact the public opinion 
has been insufficiently informed of the development of 
attitudes within the Council. The Committee approves Opinion on the second series of specific Community regional development measures under 
Article 13 of the Fund Regulation (Quota Free Section) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 15 of 19 January 1983, pages 10 to 30. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 1 December 1982, the Council, acting under the optional consultation clause of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community, decided to ask the Economic and Social 
Committee for an opinion on the abovementioned matter. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 206th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 23 and 24 March 1983. 
(») OJ No C 15, 19. 1. 1983, pp. 10 to 30. (2) OJ No C 83, 2. 4. 1980, p. 4. 
(3) OJ No C 178, 15. 7. 1982, p. 38. 
9. 5. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 124/3 
the fact that the Commission has made proposals for 
more than the 5 % authorized by the current Regulation 
but regrets that it has, at this stage, felt able to propose 
only 710 million ECUs (plus a further amount foreseen 
for Ireland and Northern Ireland) to be allocated to the 
second series of quota-free specific Community regional 
development measures. 
1.3. The Committee considers that it has not been 
sufficiently informed of all the specific criteria used by the 
Commission to identify areas eligible for quota-free 
measures. The Committee is prepared to consider these 
criteria and draw up comments - for the attention of the 
Commission - on their relevance. 
1.4. The Committee restates its conviction that the 
Community should be able to intervene quickly and 
efficiently and to have the discretion to employ a wide 
range of measures where regions are faced with a sudden 
rundown of their basic industries (1). This implies that a 
part of the quota-free section should be set aside for such 
emergency actions. 
2. General comments 
The Committee welcomes the proposed new measures 
and in particular: 
2.1. The stated intent to introduce greater flexibility 
and simplification into the payments mechanisms. 
2.2. The strengthening of multiannual 
programming. 
2.3. The widening of the scope for new investment 
aids. 
2.4. That the link between the quota-free section of 
the ERDF and other Community policies has been made 
explicit and direct. 
2.5. That the Committee's request, in its 1979 
opinion, for a specific action to tackle the consequences of 
loss of jobs in the textile industry, has now been acted 
upon by the Commission. 
2.6. That two-thirds of the funds are to be devoted to 
the development of areas affected by significant industrial 
decline such as that of the steel, shipbuilding and textile 
industries. 
2.7. The continuing attempts, to which the 
Committee attaches particular value, to provide 
(•) OJ No C 178, 15. 7. 1982 (cf. paragraph 5.1, page 41). information, advice and assistance, to small and 
medium-sized enterprises in the areas concerned and the 
proposed encouragement of local initiative for the 
regeneration of depressed regions. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The Committee notes that delays were 
encountered in the implementation of the first series of 
measures due to the necessity of introducing new national 
regulations in some Member States to take account of 
Article 13 requirements. Even if they are not yet working 
satisfactorily in some Member States, there should now 
be no justification for delays of this kind to occur with the 
implementation of this second series of measures. 
Improved coordination of the aims and resources of the 
Community, the Member States and the regions would 
certainly expedite implementation. 
3.2. The Committee is of the opinion that in order to 
provide maximum scope for indigenous growth in the 
regions the provisions proposed for aid to the 
establishment of new information and advisory service 
are to be commended but that use should be made, where 
appropriate, of existing agencies. 
3.3. The Committee considers that mechanisms to 
offset the special disadvantages of border areas including 
those adjoining non-member countries should be 
included in the reform of the ERDF. 
3.4. The Committee is of the opinion that it should be 
quite clear that the proposed assistance to SMEs is not 
confined to those in the industrial sector but also includes 
those in the service sector, including tourism. 
3.5. The Committee is concerned that the indicative 
breakdown by operation of the overall allocation for each 
programme has no mandatory force. While it accepts that 
the precise amounts cannot be finalized until the 
Commission receives the special programmes from the 
Member States, it nonetheless insists that no significant 
deviations from the allocations proposed should be 
allowed. 
4. Proposed Regulation on certain zones adversely 
affected by the restructuring of the textiles and 
clothing industries 
4.1. Although this measure is described, in the 
explanatory memorandum, as relating to 'the principal 
textile areas in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the 
Netherlands and the United Kingdom where the 
Commission has been able to establish that there have 
been significant job losses to date' it should more correctly 
be described as relating to areas where the textile industry 
No C 124/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 5. 83 
is important relative to other economic activities and /or 
which have been most seriously affected in an adverse 
fashion by Community policies which promote the 
restructuring of the textile industry. The Committee 
however feels that it is not in a position to express an 
opinion on the areas actually selected because it is not 
sufficiently informed of all the criteria which the 
Commission has applied throughout the Community. 
Done at Brussels, 23 March 1983. 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 126 and 
127 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 11 November 1982 for an 
opinion on the review of the European Social Fund. 
Having regard to the decision taken by the chairman, 
confirmed by the Bureau, instructing the Section for 
Social Questions to draw up an opinion and a report on 
the matter (decision of 28 July 1982), 
Having regard to the opinion drawn up by the 
aforementioned Section on 10 March 1983, 5. Proposed amending Regulation on certain zones 
adversely affected by the restructuring of (a) the 
shipbuilding industry and (b) the steel industry 
5.1. The Committee considers that there are 
some areas other than those identified in the 
proposals which should qualify for inclusion in the 
special measure. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC 
Having regard to the report submitted by the rapporteur, 
Mr Beretta, 
Having regard to the discussions on 23 March 1983 at its 
206th plenary session held on 23 and 24 March 1983, 
Whereas the progressive deterioration of the 
international economic situation has had a dramatic 
effect on the social situation, and more especially on the 
labour market, 
Whereas Community social policy has proved 
inadequate, due both to its limited scope and to the 
problems faced by Member States, 
Whereas the rise in unemployment is particularly 
alarming and coincides (a) with the introduction of Opinion on the review of the European Social Fund 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 308 of 25 November 1982, pages 4 to 10: Proposal for I. Council Decision 
82/0000/EEC on the tasks of the European Social Fund. II. a Council Regulation concerning 
the implementation of Council Decision 82/0000/EEC on the tasks of the European Social 
Fund; III. a Council Decision on the rules of the Commitee of the European Social Fund. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 11 November 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned matter to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Articles 126 and 127 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 206th 
plenary session held in Brussels on 23 and 24 March 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: