RESOLUTION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEEon the research programmes in the coal mining and the iron and steel industries(adopted unanimously at its 257th session of 20 June 1986)(86/C 257/02)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE 1. having carefully examined the ECSC research programmes and the means of financing them: (a) the steel programme: - the annual steel research programme, -the pilot demonstration programme; (b) the coal programme: -the annual coal research programme; (c) the social research programmes: -safety in mines, -health in mines, -effects on health of workers of physical and other occupational loads at the work place (medical research programme) , -technical control of nuisances in pollution at the place of work and in the environment of iron and steel works, -ergonomics programme; 2. having regard to Article 55 of the ECSC Treaty; 3. convinced that the three ECSC research programmes contribute considerably to the competitiveness of the coal and steel industries, to improving working conditions, health and safety of workers in both industries, and to taking into account the rapidly changing constraints imposed by the protection of the environment; consequently finds it of utmost importance that the research activities must be continued and with better funding, allowing for new and important activities in all three research areas; 4. aware of the fact that new and important technologies and research are needed in both the coal and the steel industries. Extra funding for these research programmes is deemed necessary; 5. is concerned that all three research programmes can not be carried on if the present deficit of one of them is not made up and the budgetary provisions of the others fall short in the future. The research programmes will be limited considerably with all the disadvantages this would entail; 6. considering that the ECSC budget can cover an extension of the traditional research budgets and of other forms of ECSC expenditure by having recourse to sources unused up to now for the operational budget and which are available or about to be (product of invested funds, fines, expiring aids) and that it would be legitimate, given the strategic importance for the whole economy of the research in progress, to call upon the general European Communities' budget or any other exceptional source of funds; 7. requests, in these circumstances: (a) in the field of technical research in the steel industry: (i) a substantial increase (6 million ECU) in the level of funds allocated to 'traditional' research, to enable in particular the adaptation of steel products to consumers' requirements and their promotion within the Community; (ii) the maintenance of the present level of funds for the 'pilot and demonstration projects', which are an effective way of promoting the industrial application of the research results; (iii) the introduction of a new element to finance strategic development projects, which are a vital necessity for the steel industry, but which are expensive and contain a large element of risk in return for a possible benefit felt only in the distant future; (b) in the field of technical research in the coal industry: a substantial increase also in the level of funds allocated to 'coal' research under Article 55 of the ECSC Treaty so that: (i) pursuant to the medium-term guidelines for 1986 to 1990, research can be continued into: - mining techniques, and - beneficiation of products, collaboration can be pursued between the national coal bodies responsible for research and the results of this work disseminated, and, in this context; (ii) support may be given to the efforts constantly made by the coal industry to: (a) maintain its cost of production, through additional rationalization and modernization measures and improved yield, at the lowest possible level; (b) improve the beneficiation and use of coal and adapt it as fully as possible to the specific requirements of the consumers; (c) develop coal consumption; (d) simultaneously improve safety and working conditions for the workforce by employing the most modern technologies; (c) in the field of social research in the coal and steel industries: (i) that by the allocation of sufficient funds to the ECSC budget it is guaranteed that the programme on social research which had been decided upon can continuously be carried through so that research activities do not risk being interrupted at the expense of the workers' safety and the companies' efforts of fulfilling their obligation to carefully protect workers against damaging their health; (ii) that at least 13,5 million ECU ought to be made available from the ECSC budget to continue funding for the already approved social research programmes and that ways should be found of increasing the sum of 9,5 million ECU set aside for social research in the 1986 budget; (iii) that future programmes on social research respect the principle that aid on research should only be granted if there is no doubt that introducing the results of this research into companies' normal practice is a real advantage to the workers. When allocating the financial means to future programmes it must also be ensured that research deemed urgently necessary from a practical point of view is not excluded from aid because the means to be budgeted are mainly reserved for the traditional fields of research.