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COUNCIL DECISION
of 27 November 1984
adopting a Community programme for the development of the specialized information market in Europe
(84/567/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 (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, under Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community shall have as one of its tasks that of promoting throughout the Community the harmonious development of economic activities and a continuous and balanced expansion;
Whereas information has worldwide become one of the prime factors in economic activity, and the effective use of information is one of the essential ingredients of economic growth and competitiveness;
Whereas the European integration process is becoming increasingly dependent, among other factors, on the effective flow of and to information within and between all Member States;
Whereas, given the growing complexity of information needs for business and political decision-making, for scientific and technical development, for the professional, cultural, social and economic choices of individuals and groups of people, it is necessary to develop advanced solutions for a flexible and transparent specialized information market at Community level;
Whereas the development of the specialized information market in Europe aiming at better use of economies of scale and at adequate European independence in the specialized information area, is a challenge for the Community calling for appropriate Community support; whereas the fast developments in this area require an appropriate programme which offers considerable flexibility of priorities;
Whereas the development of international cooperation between Member States in areas of common interest becomes increasingly important with a view to strengthening the competitiveness of the European specialized information market;
Whereas Community efforts relating to the specialized information market and its development are a necessary complement to other related Community initiatives, in particular the ESPRIT programme to strengthen the European information technology industries through Commission support of cooperation among European manufacturers and Research and Development institutions in the development of advanced pre-competitive component technologies, the INSIS project for developing an advanced inter-institutional information and communication system for the institutions of the European Communities and those of the Member States, and the new Community initiatives (1983 to 1987) on vocational training and new information technologies;
Whereas it is primarily a matter for the Member States to create the basis for an efficient specialized information market by means of support programmes and policies; whereas such measures should be strengthened and supplemented through specific Community action in areas of common interest and value to initiate, accelerate and support developments in Europe which should lead to higher international competitiveness of the European information industries and to a more favourable information environment for the Community as a whole;
Whereas the results achieved and the experience built up in executing three successive action plans (1975 to 1983) in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation, and the need to strengthen and consolidate activities undertaken in this context and provide for continuity of Community action, justify a Community programme of activities which are needed to help to attain the long-term objective of developing a common market for specialized information in Europe; whereas it will be necessary, at the same time, regularly to evaluate the results obtained, and to coordinate actions in this field and in related fields at national and Community level;
Whereas the Treaty has not made provision for the specific powers which are required to attain these objectives;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Information and Documentation Committee (STIDC) and the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) have both delivered their opinions on the Commission proposal,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
A Community programme for the development of the specialized information market in Europe, as defined in Annex I, hereinafter referred to as 'the programme', is hereby adopted for a period of five years with effect from 1 January 1984.
Article 2
The appropriations needed for implementing the programme are estimated at 25 million ECU and shall be entered in the general budget of the European Communities. The appropriations needed for implementing the programme in 1984 and 1985 are estimated at 10 million ECU.
Article 3
The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme. In particular, it shall decide on the definition of detailed activities and on the type of projects to be undertaken. It shall establish each year and update as required a work programme.
Article 4
The Commission, while entirely responsible for all decisions and the management of the programme, shall be advised by the STIDC, whose duties and method of operation are defined in Annex II.
The STIDC shall be kept regularly informed by the Commission of the progress of the work in the field in question and in associated fields.
Article 5
The Commission shall ensure access to the knowledge resulting from the programme as well as its dissemination.
Article 6
1. In accordance with Article 228 of the Treaty, the Community may conclude cooperation agreements with third countries within the framework of the programme.
2. The Commission shall be authorized to negotiate the cooperation agreements referred to in paragraph 1 after having sought the opinion of the STIDC for this purpose in accordance with Annex II (3) (c).
Article 7
1. The Commission shall undertake a re-examination of the programme after 24 months. This reexamination may lead to a revision of the programme in accordance with the appropriate procedures, including a revision of the estimate of appropriations needed given in Article 2.
It shall inform the European Parliament of the results of this re-examination.
2. The programme may be extended following a proposal by the Commission to be forwarded to the Council.
3. Together with the proposal for the extension of the programme, the Commission, after consulting the STIDC, shall submit to the Council and the European Parliament an evaluation report on the performance and results of the programme.
Done at Brussels, 27 November 1984.