22.1.76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 15/5 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
The following  amendments  were  rejected  during  the discussion: 
1. Add  an item  4 (a) worded  as follows: 
'4. (a) In all cases  where  there  is a definitive  undertaking  not to replant  grubbed-up  areas, 
the premium  should  be 2 500 units  of account'. 
Outcome  of the voting: 
For: 8, against:  18, abstentions:  14, 
2. The  following  passage  in the Section  opinion  was  amended.  Voting:  for:  27, against:  14, 
abstentions:  5. 
'1. First  of all, the Section  considers  that  any  measures  to discourage  or reduce  surpluses 
should  cover  all sectors  where  there  are surpluses  and not just  the wine  sector,  especially  as 
it is not iyet certain  whether  the wine  lake  is a structural  or purely  cyclical  surplus.  But it 
regrets  having  been  given  such  an extremely  tight  deadline  for drawing  up an opinion.  This 
has prevented  it commenting  adequately  on measures  which  can play  an important  part  in 
restructuring  the Community's  wine-producing  sector'. 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Regulation  establishing  a system  of aid  to 
organizations  of silkworm  rearers 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  was  published  in Official  journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 210  of 12 September  1975,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 16 July  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 
134th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 October  1975. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
No C 15/6 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 1. 76 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 16 July  1975, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, the establishment  and  expansion  of organizations  of 
silkworm  rearers. 
1.3. A  multiannual,  EEC-backed  investment  plan  is 
part of the  current  drive  to restructure  silkworm 
rearing.  This  plan  can  make  silkworm  rearing  an 
up-to-date  type  of intensive  farming. 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
15 July  1975,  instructing  the Section  for Agriculture 
to prepare  the Committee's  work  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
Rapporteur,  Mr Rainero, 1.4. In  the  Committee's  view,  however,  all the 
restructuring  measures  considered  by the Commission 
(including  the present  one)  are  liable  to be abortive 
unless  additional  action  is taken  without  delay  in 
respect  of silkworm  rearing. 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 2 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 134th  plenary 
session  held  on 29 and  30 October  1975  (meeting  of 
29 October  1975), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by unanimous  vote: 
The Committee  approves  the Commission's  proposal, 
subject  to the following  comments. 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  would  draw  attention  to a 
point  it stressed  in its  opinion  of 23  February 
1972  (*). Silkworm  rearing  once  played  a vital  part  in 
providing  many  family  farms  with  employment  and 
income.  It should  be  preserved  in certain  EEC 
regions,  such  as the  underprivileged  and  upland 
areas.  It should  be  capable  of providing  full 
employment  for  a highly-skilled  workforce,  and  a 
supplementary  occupation  for underemployed  family 
labour. 
1.2. From  this  point  of view,  the  Committee 
therefore  welcomes  the Commission's  move  to foster 
(*) OJ No C 61, 10. 6. 1972. 1.5. The  products  of sericulture  are not  explicitly 
mentioned  in Annex  II to the Treaty.  Nevertheless,  in 
the Committee's  belief,  it is within  the Commission's 
remit  to study  how  the  EEC  may  intervene  more 
effectively  in this  sector  so  that  the  following 
objectives  can be achieved: 
(a) an efficient  organization  of production; 
(b) a price  level  which  ensures  a fair  return  on 
labour  and  capital. 
1.6. In  addition,  the  current  modernization  drive 
should  be supplemented  by an increase  in the  aid 
granted  per  box  of silkworm  eggs,  and/or  the 
introduction  of a stockpiling  premium.  The  object  of 
this is to counteract  the  difficulties  which  have 
suddenly  materialized  on the  market  as a result  of 
imports  from  certain  non-member  countries,  which 
have  entered  the  Community  under  abnormal 
conditions  and  have  not  been  subject  to sufficient 
controls. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  Z (1), line  two 
To be consistent  with  Article  1 (b) in particular,  the 
term  'marketing  of cocoons'  must  cover  the products 
resulting  from  the first  drawing  operation. 
22. 1. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 15/7 
2.2. Article  2 (bb) 2.3. Article  4 
It is stated  that  members  must  join  for  an initial 
period  of at least  three  years.  This  period  is too long 
and is likely  to be  an  obstacle  to a larger 
membership. The second  paragraph  should  be deleted. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 October  1975. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  amending,  for  the  fourth  time, 
Directive  73/241/EEC  on the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States  relating 
to cocoa  and  chocolate  products  intended  for human  consumption 
The text  referred  to the Committee  was  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 198  of 29 August  1975,  page  5. 
On 4 August  1975,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  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 
134th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 October  1975. 
The full text  of the opinion  is as follows: A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, Agriculture  to prepare  the Committee's  work  on the 
matter, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  on 4 August  1975, Having  regard  to the  oral  report  made  by the 
Rapporteur,  Miss  Mackie, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  100  thereof, Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section 
for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 2 October  1975, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 134th  plenary 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on session,  held  on 29 and  30 October  1975  (meeting  of 
23 September  1975,  instructing  the  Section  for  29  October),