24.12.77 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 334/29 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 12 December 1977 establishing a common procedure for the exchange of information on the quality of surface fresh water in the Community (77/795 /EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, ’ Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas the 1973 (3) and 1977 (4) programmes of ac- tion of the European Communities on the environment provide for the introduction of a procedure for the exchange of information between the pollution surveil- lance and monitoring networks; Whereas such a procedure is necessary to determine the pollution levels of the rivers in the Community and consequently to lay down guidelines for the control of pollution and nuisances, which is one of the Com- munity’s objectives in respect of the improvement of living conditions and the harmonious development of (1) OJ No C 178, 2. 8. 1976, p. 48. (3) O] No C 285, 2. 12. 1976, p. 10. (3) OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 3. ) OJ No C 139, 13. 6. 1977, p. 3. economic activities throughout the Community; whereas no provision is made in the Treaty for the specific powers required for this purpose; Whereas such an exchange of information on pollution levels is one of the means of monitoring the long-term trends and the improvements resulting from the appli- cation of current national and Community rules; Whereas the exchange of information provided for in this Decision should allow for as significant a compari- son as possible of the results obtained in the sampling and measuring stations; Whereas the exchange of information provided for in this Decision would lay the foundations for a system for monitoring surface fresh-water pollution at Community level and could constitute a component of the global environmental monitoring system provided for in the United Nations environment programme; Whereas to attain these objectives the Member States must forward to the Commission data relating to cer- tain parameters for surface fresh water; whereas the Commission will draw up a consolidated report which it will transmit to the Member States; Whereas the list of stations in Annex I may, with advan- tage, be modified by the Commission at the request of the Member State concerned, provided that certain criteria are fulfilled; Whereas technical progress requires that the technical specifications laid down in Annex II to this Decision should be adapted promptly; whereas, to facilitate the