COUNCIL DECISION of 26 April 1994 concerning a framework programme of Community activities in the field of research and training for the European Atomic Energy Community (1994 to 1998) (94/268/Euratom)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas Community activities in the field of nuclear research and training can be the subject of a multiannual framework programme and of specific programmes both determined in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty;
Whereas by Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC (4) the Council adopted a third framework programme for the period 1990 to 1994 in the field of research and technological development (RTD) which is in the process of being implemented; whereas on 9 April 1992 the Commission presented an assessment of progress in implementing the third framework programme; whereas by Decision 93/167/Euratom, EEC (5) the Council provided for supplementary financing for the last two years of implementation of the third framework programme;
Whereas it has been judged appropriate to adopt a new framework programme on nuclear research and training for the period 1994 to 1998 in order to ensure the continuity of multiannual Community activities in this field;
Whereas, Article 4 (1) of the Treaty provides for Community nuclear research and training activities designed to complement the activities carried out by the Member States; whereas Community action should therefore allow value to be added to efforts undertaken by the Member States; whereas, furthermore, the Community RTD effort should concentrate on activities which are carefully selected in accordance with well-defined criteria;
Whereas Community research only envisages peaceful purposes, in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty;
Whereas Community research activities should continue to focus on generic and precompetitive research;
Whereas the Community shall only support research activities of high quality;
Whereas research activities in the fields of nuclear fission safety and controlled thermonuclear fusion should be pursued; whereas these activities are implemented by means of specific programmes based on cooperation with and between undertakings, research centres and universities;
Whereas cooperation in the field of Community research with third countries and international organizations should be promoted; whereas in this field of activity it is necessary that the Community continues to play an important international role in the area of nuclear fission safety, in particular, with the countries of central and eastern Europe and the States which have emerged from the former USSR; whereas it is also important to continue international cooperation activities with third countries in the field of controlled thermo-nuclear fusion where appropriate; whereas it is important systematically to reinforce complementarity and to improve links between Community activity and research activities undertaken in the framework of specialized international organizations; whereas synergy with other Community instruments (e.g Phare, Tacis) should be sought;
Whereas action should be taken to promote the dissemination and optimization of the results of Community research activities; whereas the Treaty contains precise provisions regarding the dissemination of know-how which apply principally to the nuclear research programmes;
Whereas action should also be taken to promote the stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers, particularly young researchers, in the Community;
Whereas the Joint Research Centre (JRC) contributes to the implementation of the framework programme, particularly in those fields where it has the appropriate competence to offer impartial and independent expertise for the benefit of Community policies; whereas the JRC will progressively compete for the funds available through indirect action;
Whereas the European Council of 12 December 1992 at Edinburgh stated that the development of expenditure on R& D should be consistent with the overall development of expenditure on internal policies under Category 3 of the Financial Perspective, remaining between one-half and two-thirds of the overall figure;
Whereas the framework programme is to be implemented through specific programmes;
Whereas assessment and monitoring operations should be intensified and expanded to maximize the effectiveness of RTD policy;
Whereas there should be continual and systematic monitoring of progress with the framework programme; whereas the Commission shall submit an annual report on the implementation of the activities carried out under this framework programme to the European Parliament and to the Council; whereas there should also be an independent assessment of management of the programme and of progress with the activities undertaken, before the presentation by the Commission of its proposal for the next framework programme;
Whereas, without prejudice to the entry of the amounts needed to implement the programmes under the annual budgetary procedure in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 7 of the Treaty, it is necessary to make an estimate of the Community financial means necessary for the realization of the activities envisaged;
Whereas, in order to ensure coherence between the research and training activities undertaken within this framework programme, and those undertaken by virtue of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the decision relating to the fourth framework programme of European Community activities in the field of RTD should be adopted simultaneously with this framework programme and for the same period;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Committee has been consulted by the Commission and has delivered its opinion,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. A multiannual framework programme for Community activities in the field of nuclear research and training is hereby adopted for the period 1994 to 1998.
2. The framework programme shall include all activities regarding research and technological development, including demonstration projects, international cooperation, dissemination and optimization of results, as well as training, in the fields of:
- nuclear fission safety,
- controlled thermonuclear fusion.
3. Without prejudice to the third paragraph of Article 7 of the Treaty, the amount deemed necessary for Community financial participation in this framework programme shall be ECU 1 254 million. Of this the indicative amount for the period 1994 to 1996 shall be ECU 617 million and the indicative amount for the period 1997 to 1998 shall be ECU 637 million. Not later than 30 June 1996, in the light of an assessment of the state of implementation of the framework programme, of its contribution to the competitiveness of Community industry at international level, of value for money and of the development of the financial perspectives of the European Union, the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7 of the Treaty, shall review the above amount, with the possibility of increasing it to ECU 1 359 million.
Annex I gives the indicative breakdown between the two fields mentioned above.
4. The selection criteria to be applied in the implementation of the framework programme are laid down in Annex II.
5. Annex III establishes the scientific and technological objectives to be achieved by the activities, in accordance with the abovementioned criteria, fixes the relevant priorities and indicates the broad lines of such activities.
Article 2
The framework programme shall be implemented through specific programmes. These programmes shall be adopted in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty. Each specific programme shall specify its precise objectives on the lines of the scientific and technological objectives in Annex III, define the detailed rules for implementing it, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary.
The implementation of this framework programme may also give rise to cooperation agreements with third countries or international organizations in accordance with Article 101 of the Treaty.
Article 3
The detailed rules for financial participation by the Community in this framework programme shall be those provided for by the specific provisions regarding RTD funding of the Financial Regulation applicable to the General Budget of the European Communities as supplemented by Annex IV to this Decision.
Article 4
1. The Commission shall continually and systematically monitor, with appropriate assistance from independent, external experts, the progress of the framework programme as regards the criteria and objectives set out in Annexes II and III. It shall examine in particular whether the objectives, priorities and financial resources are still appropriate to the changing situation. If necessary, it shall make proposals to adopt or supplement the framework programme according to the results of such monitoring.
The Commission shall submit an annual report on the implementation of the activities carried out under this framework programme to the European Parliament and to the Council.
2. The Commission shall have an external assessment conducted by independent qualified experts into the management of and progress with Community activities carried out during the five years preceding this assessment. It shall communicate this assessment and conclusions, accompanied by its comments, to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee prior to submitting its proposal for the next framework programme.
3. In order to help ensure, inter alia, cost-effective implementation of the framework programme, each specific programme shall provide for systematic monitoring with appropriate assistance from independent, external experts, and, on completion of the programme, independent evaluation against the precise objectives referred to in Article 2; the procedures for such valuation shall be laid down in each specific programme decision.
Done at Luxembourg, 26 April 1994.