COUNCIL DECISION of 29 April 1992 adopting specific research programmes to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre for the European Economic Community (1992-1994) (92/273/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130q (2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1) ,
In cooperation with the European Parliament(2) ,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3) ,
Whereas on 29 April 1992, the Council adopted a Resolution concerning the activities to be undertaken by the Joint Research Centre(4) ;
Whereas, by its Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC(5) , the Council adopted a third framework programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990-1994), specifying in particular the activities to be pursued concerning enabling technologies, the management of natural resources and the management of intellectual resources; whereas this Decision should be taken in the light of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision;
Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme is to be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity, whereas specific Community programmes implemented by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are carried out in parallel with the corresponding framework programmes;
Wheras the JRC, as set out in Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC and as reaffirmed in the Council Resolution of 29 April 1992, is called on to contribute to the implementation of the framework programme, particularly in those fields where it has the necessary competence to offer impartial and independent expertise for the benefit of all Community policies; whereas such activity should form part of a long-term strategy resulting in the JRC playing a significant role in European scientific cooperation with a view to meeting the international competitive challenge;
Wheras the JRC can contribute to the realization of the said activity, particularly in the fields of industrial and materials technologies, measurement and testing, human capital and mobility and in the field of the environment;
Whereas the JRC should contribute to research with a view to identifying options for combating the greenhouse effect and the major industrial risks facing the Community and should contribute to international cooperation in the fields of energy and environment with regard to worldwide climatic change;
Whereas the JRC should continue to play a role in examining the issues relating to renewable energy sources, with particular regard to the harmonization of standards;
Whereas the JRC with its laboratories and installations can provide an efficient focal point for the training and mobility of researchers, in particular young researchers; whereas, to this end, collaboration should be encouraged with public laboratories, scientific institutions and industry in all the Member States;
Whereas, in the context of all these programmes, it is desirable that an assessment be made of the economic, social and, where appropriate, ethical impact as well as of any technological risks;
Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 of, and Annex I to, Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, the funds estimated as necessary for the whole framework programme include an amount of ECU 57 million for the centralized action of dissemination and exploitation of results, to be divided up in proportion to the amount envisaged for each specific programme;
Whereas Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC provides that a particular aim of Community research must be to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European industry and to encourage it to become more competitive at international level; whereas that Decision also provides that Community action is justified where research contributes, inter alia to the strengthening of the economic and social cohesion of the Community and to the promotion of its overall harmonious development, while being consistent with the pursuit of scientific and technical excellence; whereas the programmes of the JRC should contribute to the achievement of these objectives;
Whereas the JRC could explore, and seek to benefit from, new perspectives for scientific and technical cooperation with certain third countries;
Whereas the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre plays a significant part, on one hand, in the administrative operation of the Centre and, on the other, in the implementation of its research programmes;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) has been consulted,
HAD ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. The specific research and development programmes to be executed by the JRC for the Community in the fields of industrial and materials technology, measurement and testing, environment, as well as in the field of human capital and mobility, as defined in Annex I, including exploratory research activities, are hereby adopted for a period running from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994. They shall be implemented in parallel with corresponding specific programmes of the third framework programme.
2. The JRC may take part, as appropriate, in the centralized action for the dissemination and exploitation of knowledge resulting from Community research activities, as provided for in the framework programme and in close coordination with the Committee set up under that action.
Article 2
1. The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the programmes amount to ECU 341,55 million.
2. An indicative allocation of funds is set out in Annex II.
3. Should the Council take a decision pursuant to Article 1 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, this Decision shall be adapted accordingly.
Article 3
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programmes are set out in Annex III.
Article 4
1. The Commission shall each year before 31 March present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of this Decision.
2. The report referred to in paragraph 1 shall be accompanied by the observations of the Board of Governors of the JRC (hereinafter referred to as the 'Board of Governors'). The latter may also present through the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a separate report on any aspect of the implementation of this Decision.
Article 5
1. Research carried out by the JRC will be evaluated by a group of independent external experts set up by the Commission after consulting the Board of Governors. An evaluation report on the subject shall be established at the end of the programmes.
2. The evaluation report referred to in paragraph 1, accompanied by the opinion of the Board of Governors, shall be forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
Article 6
The reports referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be established having regard to the objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision and in accordance with Article 2 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.
Article 7
1. The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors, shall be responsible for carrying out the programmes and to this end shall call upon the services of the JRC.
2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Board of Governors, shall ensure periodical consultation with relevant Committees to ensure close coordination between Community shared-cost actions, corresponding national activities and those of the JRC in the same areas with the aim of ensuring a coherent approach.
Article 8
The Commission shall decide on the terms of reference of the Board of Governors.
Article 9
1. The Commission is authorized to negotiate, in accordance with Article 130n of the Treaty, international agreements with third country members of COST, in particular member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Central and Eastern European countries, with a view to associating them with the JRC activities.
2. The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors, may, on the basis of the criterion of mutual benefit, request the JRC to execute projects with bodies and enterprises established in European third countries in the context of the specific programmes carried out by the JRC.
No contracting body based outside the Community and participating in an action undertaken within the arrangements of a programme shall benefit from the financing granted to the programme by the Community. Such a body shall contribute to the general administrative costs.
Article 10
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1992
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