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.
31. 12. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 346/5
2. The Community has already completed three
research programmes in this field (1973 to 1975; 1976 to
1978 (2 • 7 million EUA) and 1979 to 1982 (10-3 million
EUA)). The Commission is now proposing a fourth
programme, to run for five years, with a budget of 34 • 7
million ECU. The Economic and Social Committee
believes that the proposed expansion is both justified and
necessary, because of the results obtained to date, and the
importance and scale of the problems. It therefore
endorses the programme submitted by the
Commission.
Specific comments
3. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the
Commission's explicit aim not to replace or compete with
the national and other international activities in this field,
but to back up and collaborate with other bodies on the
problems which are of particular importance in the
Community context.
4. The Economic and Social Committee notes with
satisfaction that the results of programmes on reference
materials, more especially inorganic reference materials,
are now firmly established. More complex problems may
arise with regard to organic reference materials, which
will need further work in the future. Practically-oriented
work will therefore be very important here.
5. In its opinion (J) on the last R & D programme
(1979 to 1982) in this area, the Economic and Social
Committee drew attention to the need for a
comprehensive information programme: 'It believes that
it is essential to back up the valuable research work being
done with a comprehensive information programme on
the materials available, so that the maximum practical
benefit may be derived from the Community's work.' The
Economic and Social Committee regrets that far too little
progress has been made in this area with the result that the
services and opportunities set up with Community money
could be utilized. The Economic and Social Committee
once again stresses the need for an information
programme of this type, and asks the Commission to
investigate whether the situation could be remedied by
increasing the support - drastically pruned two years
ago - which the programme receives from the JRC.
6. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the
Commission's intention, via the ACPM, to review and if
necessary adapt the programme after three years. It is very
important to ensure that users' views are taken into
account when this is done.
(•) OJNo C 128, 21. 5. 1979.
Done at Brussels, 24 November 1982.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Francois CEYRAC
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations (EEC) No 3164/76
and (EEC) No 2964/79 on the Community quota for the carriage of goods by road between
Member States
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European
Communities No C 247 of 21 September 1982, page 4.
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION
On 24 September 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and
Social Committee in accordance with Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community.
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy