CELEX: 51973PC1171
Language: en
Date: 1973-07-25
Title: DRAFT DECISION BY THE COUNCIL ON THE CREATION OF A COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL POLICY (presented by the Commission to the Council)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (73) 1171
Vol. 1973/9009
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
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 ---pagebreak---     COMMISSION OF THE SUROPEAN CQMMUMTIES
I
                                                               COM(73)1171 final
                                                               Brussels , 25 July 1973
                                            DRAFT
                               DECISIONT BY THE COUNCIL ON THE
                        ^presented by the. Commission to the Council )
  1
      COM( 73 ) 1171 final                                                             4
 ---pagebreak---                    EXPLANATOHy STATEMENT
                   acOOMM               « ■
The Conference of -fche Heads of State or of Government xn
October 1972 recognised that the Community 's regional policy ,
as well as the Economic and Monetary Union , were necessary
elements in reinforcing the Community , and consequently decided
to give a high priority to the aim of correcting the structural
and regional imbalances which might affect the realisation of
Economic and Monetary Union .
The aim of the present draft is to set up the instrument
reqiiired to facilitate the coordination of these policies ,
namely a Committee for Regional Policy ,
It is important to ensure that the measures envisaged by Member
States in regional matters are in accordance with the
Community 's objectives , and that options are selected and
priorities ests,blished in a manner compatible with the gradual
alignment of the economic policies of Member States .     The
Community should therefore undertake an examination of the
regional development problems which arise at Community level ,
in order progressively to work out coordinated aims , means of
implementing joint action and an overall assessment of
regional development .
Consequently , a continuous comparison of the aims , means ,
methods ( especially statistical methods ) and experiences of
Member States as regards regional policy will have to be
undertaken .
The promotion of regional development implies the commitment
of substantial financial resources . .   It is therefore desirable
to be able to evaluate the financial means which the Member
States and the Community plan to make available for regional
development activities .
 ---pagebreak--- Regional aids should be compared so as to facilitate their
harmonisaticn , taking account of the severity and urgency of
regional development problems .
Equally a start should be made on the study of national measures
to discourage investment in congested areas , so as to develop a
coherent policy in this field .
The measures envisaged by Member States and the action of the
Community , both through the Regional Development Fund said
through other existing financial means , need to be concent rated
in a rational and effective manner in the regions suffering
from the greatest disadvantages .   It is therefore essential
that an examination is undertaken at Community level of the
position of these regions and that the Member States agree
progressively to sat up development programmes .     These
programmes should eventually constitute the framework for the
intervention of the Regional Development Fund .     At the same
time they will serve as an instrument for coordinating other
forms of intervention available to the Community .
Experience shows that investors capable of playing a part in
regional development do not always have at their disposal all
the information which they need to take a fully informed
decision on where to invest .   There is therefore good reason
to examine ways of providing both public and private investors
with better information about development prospects in priority
regions and the aids which are available to them .
The appropriate instrument to help in the coordination of the
regional policies of the Member States is a Committee
 established on the basis provided in the Treaty for the
Monetary Committee , with the Chairman being a representative
 of a Member State and the secretariat provided by the Commission ,
 This is in fact the structure used for the other Committees
 which cover different aspects of economic policy }   the
 Short-term and Medium–term Economic Policy Committees ,
 ---pagebreak---    Because of the special regional "tasks of the European
   Investment Bank , the Bank should be represented in the
   Comnittee "by an observer.    It also seems appropriate that
   the Committee should be able to hear evidence from the
   regions and the social partners .
   In so far as it affects coordination of regional policies
   of Member States , the present draft replaces the draft
   decision concerning the organisation of forms of Community
   regional development activity which the Commission presented
                                        *
   tc the Council on 17 October 1 $69 ,
   There is provision for consulting the European Parliament
   and the Economic and Social Committee .
OJ no C 152 , 28 November 19"9 *
 ---pagebreak---                                    mx
                            Draft Decision by the Council
                 on the creation -of a•
                  –-t–«          "ir* i yrvy . iSrw"7? my <r w * -'-fy ■ - ■ –*- ■■■-;
  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -
  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
  Community and in particular Article 145 thereof ,
  Having regard to the draft of tho Commission ,*
  Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,**
  Having regurd to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,***
  Whereas , at their Conference in October 1972 » tho IIead3 of State
  or of Government undertook to coordinate the regional policies of
  the Member States j
  Whereas to this end coordinated objectives , means of concerted
  action and overall assessments of regional development in the
  Community should be progressively defined ;
  Whereas it' is necessary to define the principal fields in which this
  coordination should be exercised ;
  Whereas it is necessary to establish a procedure for consultation on
  problems of regional policy and on the measures to be taken at
  Community level ;
  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
  * 0J
 ** 0J
*** 0J
 ---pagebreak---                               Article 1
With ?. view to oontfibvtin,^ to the . coordination of -the regional
policies of the Member States , a Committee for Regional Policy ,
attached to the Council and the Commission , is hereby set' up .
                      . .     Article c
( l ) The Committee *s task shall "be to examine , at the request of
      the Council cr of the Commission, or on its - own initiative ,
      problems relating to regional development .      Without
      prejudice to the provisions of the Treaties , it shall study
      in particular :
      (a ) the aims , means , methods and experiences of the Member
            States in the field of regional policy , takinar account
            of the Community 's other policies ;
      (b ) on a continuous basis , economic and social trends in
            the various regions of the Community ;
      ( c ) the development programmes cr specific development
            objectives presented by Member States , particularly in
            respect of the regions referred to in Article 3 of
            Council Regulation (EEC ) no ....... creating a European
            Regional Development Fund ;
      ( d ) the financial resources which Member States and the
            Community propose to provide for regional development
            over a period of years ;
      ( e ) the impact of Community financial instruments in
            r*-vional terms ;
      ( f ) the coordinated implementation of Community measures ,
            together with measures by Member States , with a view
            to facilitating the implementation of programmes or thq_
            achievement of specific objectives ;
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 6 -
        ( g) systems of aid which are regional in their purpose or
              incidence ;
        (h ) disincentive measures in regions of heavy concentration ;
        ( i ) the promotion of better information services for both
              public and private investors in the field of regional
              development .
( 2 )" The Committee shall report to the Council and to the Commission
      ; on the results of its work.
                              Article 3
( 1 ) The Member States and the Commission shall each appoint two
        members to the Committee .    They may appoint alternates .
        The members of the Committee , and the alternates , appointed
        by the Member States shall be selected froa among senior
        officials responsible for regional policy .
( 2 ) Except where the Commission shall decide otherwise , the
        members mry be accompanied by experts .
( 3 ) The European Investment Bank shall appoint an observer to
        the Committee .
                              Article 4
(1 ) The Committee shall by majority vote appoint its Chairman and
        Vice-Chairman from among its members for a period of two years .
        Their period of office may be renewed ,
( 2 ) The Committee may entrust the study of particular questions
        to working parties composed of certain of its members
        or alternates or experts .
                                                           • • •/ • • •
 ---pagebreak---   ( 3 ) The Committee f s secretariat shall be provided by the
        Commission .
  (4 ) The Committee shall draw up its own rules of procedure .
                              Article 5
■ The Committee may , m accordance with the provisions cf its rules
  of procedure , take evidence from interested parties from the
  regions and from trade union and business orenni sat ions .
 Done at                                        For the Council
                                                The Président