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COUNCIL DECISION
of 19 March 1987
amending Decision 83/641/EEC adopting joint research programmes and programmes for coordinating agricultural research
(87/218/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 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 the Commission has stressed that current trends in respect of many agricultural products are inevitably tending to boost surpluses at heavy cost to the budget;
Whereas this situation entails an unjustified waste of resources and is generating a climate of uncertainty hampering the work and the decisions of Community farmers;
Whereas, accordingly, the Commission has stated its intention to step up sharply its commitment with regard to the promotion and coordination of agricultural research and experimenting, with a strengthening of the policy on agricultural research and more efficient organization of the transfer of technology;
Whereas these measures are contemplated as the best means of encouraging changes in production on the farm prompted by changes in the common agricultural policy;
Whereas, in this connection, farmers must be helped to adapt, by switching to other products, to the new conditions resulting from the surpluses combined with a policy of restrictive pricing;
Whereas, in this connection, production should be adapted to the qualities required by the markets and the consumers;
Whereas the efficiency of farms should be improved, given the need to control production and cut prices;
Whereas proper protection of the environment and the preservation of the countryside by conservation of soil and water resources must be ensured;
Whereas prompt and effective dissemination of information on research to farm counsellors and farmers is needed;
Whereas, however, present research, already contributing wholly or in part to the new approach, and which, of its nature, can be applied immediately in farming, should be continued;
Whereas the proposal with regard to agricultural research fits into the framework programme on scientific and technical activities of the Community;
Whereas coordination with the biotechnology programmes underway and being prepared on the agriculture/industry interface is fully ensured;
Whereas the aim is to supplement present research by pinpointing sectors in which a special effort is necessary for the development and pursuit of the policy;
Whereas the amount for the Community financial participation in the implementation of the said programmes, as provided for in Decision 83/641/EEC (4), should be adapted because of the increased need to use research and technical and technological development to provide a response to the challenges that the Community now has to contend with in the socio-economic field,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Sole Article
Decision 83/641/EEC is hereby amended as follows:
1. in Article 1 (3), '30 million ECU' is replaced by '50 million ECU';
2. the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex hereto.
Done at Brussels, 19 March 1987.