Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy'
Date: 1997-10-29
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: Baltic Sea, common fisheries policy, data transmission, fishing area, fishing controls

21. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 19/71

fresh, pasteurised milk (i.e. not UHT-milk), which
explains why these products have little relevance on
markets outside Finland and Sweden. The wording
suggested in the proposal does not prevent any other
Member State from marketing drinking milk in Finland
and Sweden provided that it satisfies the rules laid down
in Community legislation.

3. Special comments

Article 3(1) specifies the criteria to be met by
3.1.
drinking milk, with particular reference to fat content.
The ceiling authorized for skimmed milk is 0,3 %. One
way of increasing the consumer’s range of choice,
without any change in the current basic rules, would be

to authorize a variable rate of up to 0,5 %. For instance,
on the Swedish market drinking milk with a fat content
of between 0,3 % and 0,5 % accounts for as much as
17 % of total sale. The possibility of meeting this demand
has a very positive impact on the milk market.

Article 3(2)

3.2.
refers to the derogation from
Article 3(1) currently applicable to Finland and Sweden
and extends it for a further two years. In view of the
transitional rules from which other countries have
benefited in this matter, the ESC feels that a longer
transitional period of five years would be more appropri-
ate to enable the two countries to undertake the necessary
adjustments. By way of comparison, other Member
States have been granted a transitional period of con-
siderably more than two years for the purpose of
adaptation.

Brussels, 29 October 1997.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation
(EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the
common fisheries policy’ (1)

(98/C 19/21)

On 29 July 1997 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee,
under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the
above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Chagas as rapporteur-general
for its opinion.

At its 349th plenary session held on 29 and 30 October 1997 (meeting of 29 October) the
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion with 97 votes in favour and
one abstention.

1. The Commission proposal

In

1.1.
accordance with Council Regulation
No 779/97 introducing arrangements for the manage-
ment of fishing effort in the Baltic Sea (2), the Commission
is presenting a proposal to implement title IIA of Council

Regulation No 2847/93 (3) in the Baltic Sea. This deals
in particular with the recording and transmission of
data regarding fishing effort.

2. Comments

As the Committee has already had the oppor-
2.1.
tunity to state on a number of occasions, it is important
to guarantee compliance with Community provisions

(1) OJ C 267, 3. 9. 1997, p. 62.
(2) OJ L 113, 30. 4.1997, p. 1.

(3) Regulation establishing a control system applicable to the
common fisheries policy, OJ L 261, 20. 10. 1993, p. 1.

C 19/72

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Official Journal of the European Communities

21. 1. 98

regarding the management of fishing effort. Further-
more, this is also the view taken in the 1995 Commission
report on Monitoring the Common Fisheries Policy (1),
which states that:

‘the adoption of an effective monitoring system, at
all levels of responsibility, is a conditio sine qua non
for the successful implementation of the CFP.’

2.2.
The Committee thus supports the present Com-
mission proposal, which is pursuant to the provisions
of Regulation No 779/97.

2.3.
The Committee does, however, take the view
that the measures for monitoring the management of
fishing effort should be adopted in the EU in collabor-
ation with the International Baltic Sea Fishery Com-
mission, in order that they may be applied to all the
countries that fish there. This was pointed out in the
ESC opinion on the proposal for the introduction of
arrangements for the management of fishing effort in
the Baltic Sea (2).

(1) COM(97) 226 final.

(2) OJ C 296, 29. 9. 1997.

Brussels, 29 October 1997.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Communication from the Commission
to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions: A European initiative in electronic commerce’

(98/C 19/22)

On 21 April 1997 the European Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social
Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the
above-mentioned communication.

The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 8 October 1997. The rapporteur
was Mr Folias, and the co-rapporteur was Mr Skouby.

At its 349th plenary session of 29 and 30 October 1997 (meeting of 29 October 1997), the
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 99 votes to one with
one abstention.

I.

INTRODUCTION

II. A EUROPEAN INITIATIVE IN ELECTRONIC

COMMERCE

The Commission Communication ‘A European Initiat-
ive in Electronic Commerce’, responds to the challenges
of the times by seeking to lend new impetus to the
ongoing dialogue on the development of electronic
commerce, both within the European Union and, given
its international nature, at world level. The ESC particu-
larly welcomes this communication, which has stimu-
lated and motivated extensive discussion at every level.
(For ease of reference, the chapter headings, or titles, in
the text that follows have been kept exactly the same as
those in the Commission communication, as have the
paragraph numbers.)

1.1.
(§ 4) One fundamental parameter of electronic
commerce — the need for commerce, services and
distribution networks, and most of all SMEs, to make
greater use of it so that a critical mass of users is reached
— is not sufficiently emphasized in the basic points of
the communication. The introduction gives the —
possibly unintentional — impression of underestimating
the importance of the views of users (individuals and
firms), who are best placed to comment.