COUNCIL DECISION of 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out by means of direct actions for the European Community (1998 to 2002) by the Joint Research Centre (1999/174/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130i(4) 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),
(1) Whereas by Decision No 182/1999/EC (4), the European Parliament and the Council adopted the fifth framework programme of the European Community (hereinafter referred to as the fifth framework programme) for research, technological development and demonstration (hereinafter referred to as RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 2002 setting out the general outlines and scientific and technological objectives of the activities to be carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for the European Community;
(2) Whereas Article 130i(3) of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity under the framework programme, and that each specific programme shall define the detailed rules for implementing it, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary;
(3) Whereas, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision No 1110/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 April 1994 concerning the fourth framework programme of the European Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (1994 to 1998) (5) and Article 7(3) of the Council Decision on the specific programmes implementing the direct actions of the fourth framework programme, the Commission has arranged for an external assessment to be conducted which it has transmitted to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions together with its conclusions and comments;
(4) Whereas, in accordance with Article 130j of the Treaty, Council Decision 1999/65/EC of 22 December 1998 concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of research results for the implementation of the fifth framework programme of the European Community (1998 to 2002) (6) (hereinafter referred to as 'the rules for participation and dissemination`) applies to this specific programme as regards dissemination of research results; whereas these rules allow the participation of the Joint Research Centre in the indirect actions covered by this specific programme;
(5) Whereas, for the purpose of implementing this programme, in addition to cooperation covered by the Agreement on the European Economic Area or by an Association Agreement, it may be appropriate to engage in international cooperation activities, in particular on the basis of Article 130m of the Treaty, with third countries or international organisations;
(6) Whereas implementation of this programme will also comprise activities and mechanisms aimed at stimulating, disseminating and exploiting RTD results, in particular vis-à-vis small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and activities to stimulate the mobility and training of researchers;
(7) Whereas research activities under the fifth framework programme should also be geared towards innovation in order to contribute, inter alia, to the objectives of the first action plan for innovation; whereas the JRC should actively pursue activities in innovation and technology transfer;
(8) Whereas the equal opportunities policy of the Community must be taken into account in the implementation of this programme;
(9) Whereas the implementation of this programme should be monitored with a view to adapting it, where appropriate, to scientific and technological developments and needs; whereas in due course there should also be an assessment of progress with the programme by independent experts;
(10) Whereas, in the implementation of this programme, the Board of Governors of the JRC is consulted by the Commission in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Commission Decision concerning the organisation of the JRC; whereas the current provisions are set out in Commission Decision 96/282/Euratom (7);
(11) Whereas the Board of Governors of the JRC has been consulted on the scientific and technological content of this specific programme,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
In accordance with Article 3(1) of the fifth framework programme, a specific programme related to direct actions of research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out by the JRC (hereinafter referred to as the specific programme) is hereby adopted for the period from 25 January 1999 to 31 December 2002.
Article 2
1. The amount deemed necessary for the execution of direct actions by the JRC under this programme is EUR 739 million.
An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex I.
2. Of the amount in paragraph 1:
- EUR 189 million is for the period 1998 to 1999,
and
- EUR 550 million is for the period 2000 to 2002.
In the case referred to in Article 2(1)(c) of the fifth framework programme, the Council shall adapt the latter figure in accordance with Article 2(1)(c), second indent of the fifth framework programme. Pending a decision by the Council, this specific programme shall not be implemented beyond the provision of the first indent.
3. The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the scientific and technological objectives and priorities laid down in this Decision, set the appropriations for each financial year taking into account the availability of resources within the multiannual financial perspective.
Article 3
1. The general outlines, the scientific and technological objectives and the priorities for the specific programme are set out in Annex II. They are consistent with the principles and the three categories of selection criteria indicated in Annex I to the fifth framework programme.
2. The rules for dissemination of results shall apply to this specific programme.
3. The detailed rules for financial participation by the Community in the specific programme are those referred to in Article 4 of the fifth framework programme.
Direct RTD actions are defined in Annexes II and IV to the fifth framework programme.
Specific rules for implementing the programme are set out in Annex III to this Decision.
Article 4
In the light of the criteria referred to in Article 3(1), and the scientific and technological objectives and priorities set out in Annex II, the Commission:
(a) shall monitor, with appropriate assistance from independent external experts, the implementation of the specific programme and, where appropriate, submit proposals to the Council for adapting it, in accordance with Article 5(1) of the fifth framework programme;
(b) shall arrange for the external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the fifth framework programme to be conducted concerning the activities carried out in the fields covered by the specific programme.
Article 5
1. The Commission shall draw up a work programme specifying:
(a) in greater detail, the objectives and RTD priorities of Annex II;
(b) the indicative timetable for the implementation of the specific programme.
2. The work programme shall be updated where appropriate and be made available by the Commission to all interested parties in a user-friendly form, including in electronic form.
Article 6
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of this specific programme, carried out by the JRC.
2. The Board of Governors of the JRC (hereinafter referred to as the Board of Governors) shall be consulted by the Commission in this task, in accordance with the relevant provisions concerning the organisation of the JRC.
3. The Commission shall regularly inform the Board of Governors of the implementation of this specific programme.
Article 7
The Commission may request the JRC to execute, on the basis of the criterion of mutual benefit, projects with legal entities established in third countries when this contributes effectively to the execution of direct actions.
Article 8
In accordance with Article 5(4) of the fifth framework programme, the Commission shall regularly inform the Council and the European Parliament of the overall progress of the implementation of the programme.
Article 9
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 25 January 1999.