No C 346/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 82
2. However, the Committee points out that the
proposed Regulation refers only to strong moral
objections. The Committee would draw attention to the
fact that the hunting of adult seals may create problems
for the survival of the species and the preservation of a
healthy ecological balance. Further research is needed
into these aspects.
3. While regretting that contact at Community level
with the countries involved has not succeeded in bringing
about an agreement to prohibit the killing of baby seals,
the Committee recognizes that the only option open to the
Commission was to propose a ban on imports for
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1982.
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 100
thereof,
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the
European Communities on 27 April 1982 for an opinion
on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Council
Directive 70/220/EEC relating to measures to be taken
against air pollution by gases from positive-ignition
engines of motor vehicles,
Having regard to the decision taken by the Committee
Bureau on 27 April 1982 instructing the Section for the
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion on the
commercial purposes; the resulting restriction of the
market should make hunting less profitable.
4. The Committee notes furthermore that the
proposed Regulation, based as it is on the common
commercial policy, cannot have a decisive effect. It
therefore asks the Commission to continue negotiations
with Norway and Canada to seek a satisfactory solution
to the problem. If the import ban to be imposed by this
proposed Regulation is ineffective in restricting the killing
of baby seals, the Commission should encourage similar
action at international level to induce either a moratorium
or a total ban.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Francis CEYRAC
Having regard to the Committee opinion on the draft
action programme of the European Communities on the
environment (1982 to 1986), adopted on 27 May
1982,
Having regard to the discussions at the 71 st meeting of the
Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health
and Consumer Affairs, held on 11 November 1982,
Having regard to the report made by the rapporteur,
Mr von der Decken,
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on
24 November 1982 (202nd plenary session of 24 and
25 November 1982),
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC on
the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air
pollution by gases from positive-ignition engines of motor vehicles
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 April 1982 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 202nd
plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 November 1982.
matter , (i) OJ No C 205, 9. 8. 1982, p. 28.
31. 12. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 346/3
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION
unanimously:
I. General comments
1. The Committee endorses the Commission's
commitment to reduce air pollution caused by motor
vehicles' engine gases. These emissions are a major cause
of air pollution in urban areas, and can contribute to the
formation of photochemical smog.
Bearing in mind that such areas are densely populated,
and that the level of motor traffic is still generally on the
increase, so that pollution is spreading to new areas, the
Committee agrees with the Commission that effective
measures are urgently needed in this area, to safeguard
public health and the environment.
These measures are made easier both by technological
progress in the Community motor industry, and by the
very strict rules already in force in some non-member
competitor countries.
2. The Committee emphasizes that the abatement of
air pollution caused by motor vehicles' engines not only
requires specific measures on engine gases, but other
measures too.
In particular, it notes that this type of air pollution could
be reduced by adequate town-planning provisions, and
by provisions to regulate vehicular traffic, particularly an
improvement in periodic checks on vehicles, which
should be made compulsory. The Committee also asks
the Commission to study the possible effects of tax
incentives on the production and use of less polluting
engine/fuel combinations.
3. The Committee notes the Commission's belief that,
in addition to the moves to introduce overall rules in this
area, a specific measure is urgently needed (a) to achieve,
in relation to the limits laid down in Directive
78/665/EEC, a 2 3 % reduction in carbon monoxide
(CO) emissions and a 20 % to 30 % reduction according
to weight category, in the combined unburnt
hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NO
x) emissions,
from vehicles with petrol engines and (b) to extend the
same limit values to diesel-engined cars and light
commercial vehicles (categories M j and Nj) .
In any case, the Committee feels that the overall approach
adopted by the Commission in 1981 must be urgently
applied. In the context of this approach, the problem of
lead-free petrol can be tackled, as has already been done
in certain non-Member States, in order to permit the
introduction of techniques capable of reducing emissions
of noxious gases which have been applied to certain
non-Member States.
4. The Committee supports its recent opinion on the
third action programme on the environment which states
in point 4.9 that 'substantial work has still to be done in
the field of motor vehicle pollution technology, and the
Committee is of the opinion that vehicle manufacturers in
the Community should intensify their efforts to produce
less polluting engines, and to stay abreast of technological
developments in this field' (J).
In this context, the Committee trusts that research will be
intensified in all Member States for the use of alternatives
to conventional fuels, with the aim not only of reducing
the Community's dependence on imported fuels, but also
of reducing air pollution. This research should be more
closely coordinated at Community level, and could be
incorporated in the Cost 304 programme (Cost:
European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and
Technical Research).
5. The Community vehicle maufacturing industry
acknowledges that the proposed measures will mean an
increase of production costs for petrol engines by an
average of less than 3 % and an increase in fuel
consumption of not more than 5 %.
II. Specific comments
1. The Committee is pleased that the sampling and
analysis methods already employed in the USA, Japan
and Sweden have been adopted in the Community.
2. The Committee supports the proposal to extend
Council Directive 70/220/EEC to cover diesel-engined
light vehicles, but requests the Commission to formulate a
Directive for gas emissions from diesel vehicles of over
3 500 kg weight, and heavy duty diesel-powered
construction equipment.
3. Experts in the Member States believe that the
deadlines proposed by the Commission for the
enforcement of this Directive can be observed without
creating insurmountable difficulties for national
authorities or vehicle manufacturers. The Committee
(') OJ No C 205, 9. 8. 1982, p. 28.
No C 346/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 82
approves these dates, although it would prefer an earlier
deadline.
4. The Committee takes note that the technical
provisions of the Annexes conform to the standards of the
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1982.
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 Articles 235 and
198 thereof,
Having regard to the request made by the Council of the
European Communities on 6 July 1982 for an opinion on
the proposal for a five-year research and development
programme in the field of applied metrology and
reference materials (non-nuclear indirect action) (1983 to
1987) (>),
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman on
19 August 1982 instructing the Section for Energy and
Nuclear Questions to draw up an opinion on the
matter,
Having regard to the Community programme for this
area for 1979 to 1982 (2), and the relevant ESC
opinion (3),
Having regard to the 1981 assessment report concerning
the applied metrology and reference materials
programme (4),
(») OJ No C 187, 22. 7. 1982, p. 8.
(2) OJNoL 258, 13. 10. 1979.
(3) OJNo C 128, 21. 5. 1979.
(4) EUR 7811.
UN Economic Commission for Europe (the 04 series of
amendments to regulation 15). The Committee feels that
they can be approved as the best possible solution, given
the present state of technical knowledge.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Francis CEYRAC
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the
above-named Section at its 75th meeting held on
5 November 1982,
Having regard to the oral report made by the rapporteur,
Mr von der Decken,
Having regard to the discussions on 24 November 1982
during the 202nd plenary session held on 24 and
25 November 1982,
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION
unanimously:
1. The Economic and Social Committee has on several
occasions endorsed R & D programmes in this area. It
would like once again to stress the importance of
reference materials and methods as well as applied
metrology in many areas of economic and social activity.
Progressive harmonization is of vital importance for
industry, commerce, public health, environmental
protection, agriculture, and so on. Divergence in
measuring methods and results can create considerable
obstacles to trade, for example, and can jeopardize the
correct implementation of Community guidelines.
Opinion on the proposal for a five-year research and development programme in the field of
applied metrology and reference materials (non-nuclear indirect action) (1983 to 1987)
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European
Communities No C 187 of 22 July 1982, page 8.
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION
On 6 July 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and Social
Committee in accordance with Articles 235 and 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
202nd plenary session held in Brussels on 24 and 25 November 1982.
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy