Resolution of the ECSC Consultative Committee

on the implementation of the Council resolutions of 20 July 1998 and 21 June 1999

(2000/C 209/02)

(Adopted unanimously during the 351st Session of 30 June 2000)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY,

Referring to the resolution on growth and employment of the European Council of 16 June 1997(1),

Referring to the European Commission communication COM(97) 506 of 8 October 1997 concerning Expiry of the ECSC Treaty - Financial Activities,

Referring to the resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Goverments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on 20 July 1998(2) concerning the expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community,

Referring to the resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 21 June 1999(3) concerning the expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community,

Recalling its resolution on the future of collaborative research in the coal and steel sectors adopted unanimously at the 336th session of 20 June 1997(4),

Recalling its resolution on the research fund decided on at the Amsterdam European Council of June 1997, adopted unanimously at its 337th session of 10 October 1997(5),

wishes to underline that the European Commission, in its communication COM(97) 506:

1. confirmed that the undoubted success of ECSC research is the result of the very close cooperation between researchers, producers, workers and users and of the effectiveness of the arrangements for implementing the programmes, which have ensured that all the sectors concerned are involved and that research projects actually reflect the real needs of producers, workers and users,

2. proposed that the arrangements for using amounts allocated to research should be based on existing procedures, which have proved satisfactory:

- two committees (Steel Research Committee and Coal Research Committee), made up of experts appointed by the Commission, would be consulted prior to the appraisal and selection of proposals,

- the Commission would take its formal decision after consulting the industries, through an ad hoc committee, which could be made up of members appointed by the Council, and the successor of the Consultative Committee,

- the expert groups and committees for monitoring and support of running projects would be retained,

recalls that the Council of Ministers in its resolution of 20 July 1998 clearly expressed its wish that:

1. the research programme should be managed along lines similar to the existing research programmes in close consultation with industry,

2. the guidelines should state clearly how industry experts are to be involved both in future research decisions and in the monitoring of projects,

3. the existing procedures concerning the adoption of individual research projects should be respected.

CONCLUSION:

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE therefore insists that the forthcoming Commission proposal for a Council Decision concerning measures necessary for the implementation of the Council resolutions of 20 July 1998 and 21 June 1999 contain clear and unambiguous provisions satisfying the Commission and Council requirements mentioned above.

(1) OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 3.

(2) OJ C 247, 7.8.1998, p. 5.

(3) OJ C 190, 7.7.1999, p. 1.

(4) OJ C 220, 19.7.1997, p. 12.

(5) OJ C 356, 22.11.1997, p. 6.