9. 6. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 138/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 725/79 
as regards the granting of financial support for demonstration projects in the field of 
energy saving and the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation 
(EEC) No 726/79 as regards the granting of financial support for projects to exploit 
alternative energy sources 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 27 November 1980 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 
185th plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 February 1981. 
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 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request from the Council of the 
European Communities on 27 November 1980 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 725/79 as regards 
the granting of financial support for demonstration 
projects in the field of energy saving and the proposal 
for a Council Regulation amending Regulation 
(EEC) No 726/79 as regards the granting of financial support for projects to exploit alternative energy 
sources, 
Having regard to the decision of its Bureau on 
18 November 1980, instructing the Section for 
Energy and Nuclear Questions to draw up an 
opinion and a report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the above 
Section at its 61st meeting, held on 6 February 1981 
(rapporteur: Mr Drago), 
Having regard to its own discussions on 25 February 
1981 during its 185th plenary session, held on 25 and 
26 February 1981, 
No C 138/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 81 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1.1. The Committee is aware of the urgent need for 
a coordinated policy to achieve energy savings in 
accordance with the Community's energy policy 
aims for 1990 and the guidelines propounded by the 
European Council (on 9 June 1980). 
1.2. It regards the financial support for 
demonstration projects in the field of energy saving 
and for projects to exploit alternative energy sources 
as consistent with these aims, as stated by the 
Economic and Social Committee in its opinion on 
the proposal that culminated in Council Regulations 
(EEC) No 725/79 and (EEC) No 726/79. 
1.3. In view of the considerable interest these 
programmes have succeeded in arousing and the 
large number of high-quality projects submitted, the 
Commission now proposes — while these 
programmes are in progress — to amend the 
Regulations concerned so as roughly to double the 
maximum amount of aid fixed by the Council at the 
time: 
— as regards the four-year programme (1978 to 
1981) providing financial support for 
demonstration projects in the field of energy 
saving (Regulation (EEC) No 725/79), it is 
proposed to step up the maximum amount of aid 
from 55 million EUA to 110 million EUA; 
— for the five-year programme (1978 to 1982) 
providing support for projects to exploit 
alternative energy sources (Regulation (EEC) 
No 726/79), the ceiling would be increased from 
95 million EUA to 200 million EUA. 
1.4. Taking note of the increased appropriation 
involved, the Committee agreed that the above 
amendments are desirable so that the Community 
can pursue ongoing programmes and supplement the 
contracts already concluded. Nonetheless, it is in 
favour of assessing the procedures and criteria 
employed in respect of both merit and method. 
1.5. The pressing need for more funds is largely 
due, in the Committee's view, to the general interest 
in a policy encompassing energy saving and 
exploitation of alternative energy sources. It is 
therefore clear that more decisive and specific 
Done at Brussels, 25 February 1981. measures are urgently needed to ensure that in future 
adequate financial commitments are made in the 
Community budget. 
1.6. The Committee points out that its opinion is 
primarily based on the explanations, arguments and 
technical data received from the Commission as it 
has not had access to the report and assessment 
provided for in Articles 8 and 9 of Regulations 
(EEC) No 1302/78 and (EEC) No 1303/78 on 
account of the time factor. In the absence of such 
technical data, it has therefore been unable to 
evaluate whether the previous pro rata 
apportionment between the sectors of solar energy, 
geothermal energy, liquefaction and gasification of 
solid fuels should be retained. The Committee takes 
note of the Commission's intention to submit 
appropriate proposals for exploitation of wind 
power and the biomass; in view of increasing 
demand, it also wonders whether the appropriations 
proposed for solar and geothermal energy are 
adequate. 
1.7. As in its previous opinion (l), the Committee 
wishes to stress that particular attention should be 
given, in connection with both the programmes 
concerned, to a number of general criteria which 
projects must satisfy to be eligible for Community 
aid. By way of illustration, such criteria could relate 
to: 
— the size of the probable energy savings, 
— the speed with which the technique can be 
applied, 
— the number of consumers who might benefit, 
— the size of the Community's financial 
contribution. 
1.8. The Committee also agrees with the 
Commission that unilateral fixing by the Council of 
financial ceilings in the provisions of its Regulations 
and Decisions is neither advisable nor correct. 
However, it is irrational to state that a figure appears 
'only by way of illustration' when it represents an aid 
'ceiling'. The Commission is therefore requested to 
amend the proposed provisions so as to remove this 
anomaly. 
1.9. Lastly, the Committee wonders what follow-up 
is envisaged to its proposals regarding the 
composition of the Advisory Committees. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE 
(i) OJ No C 287, 30. 11. 1977, p. 7.