NoC 15/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1.91 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technological devel­
opment programme in the field of life sciences and technologies for developing countries (1990 
to 1994) (') 
COM(90) 678 final — SYN 268 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 14 December 
1990) 
(91/C 15/14) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
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, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas, by its Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC (2), the 
Council adopted a third framework programme for 
Community activities in the field of research and techno­
logical development (1990 to 1994), specifying inter alia 
the activities to be pursued in the area of life sciences 
and technologies for developing countries; 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 shall be implemented through 
specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas an estimate should be made of the amount of 
Community financial resources needed to carry out this 
specific programme; whereas the definitive amounts will 
be fixed by the budgetary authority in line with the 
financial perspectives covering the period 1988 to 1992 
included in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 
1988 (3) and with any future financial perspectives 
covering the period 1993 to 1994; 
0) OJ No C 174, 16. 7. 1990, p. 72. 
O OJ No L 117, 8. 5. 1990, p. 28. 
(J) OJ No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 33. Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 and Annex I' of Decision 
90/221 /Euratom, EEC, the amount deemed necessary 
for the whole of the framework programme includes an 
amount of ECU 57 million for the centralized dissemi­
nation and exploitation of results, to be divided up in 
proportion to the amount envisaged for each activity; 
whereas in view of the importance of this specific 
programme within the 'Life sciences and technologies' 
action the estimate of the financial resources needed by 
this programme is to be reduced by ECU 1,11 million, 
which amount is to be allocated to centralized activities 
in order to comply with the second sentence of Article 
130p (2) of the Treaty; 
Whereas fundamental research must also be taken into 
account throughout the Community and the developing 
countries; 
Whereas, in addition to the specific programme on 
human capital and mobility, training of researchers in 
each of the strategic research sectors of the framework 
programme must be ensured; 
Whereas the economic and social (human and environ­
mental) impact of the programme must be assessed by an 
independent panel, and technology and risk assessment 
be undertaken; 
Whereas, in order to widen the scientific base and 
strengthen the research capacity of the Community, 
encouragement must be given to the involvement in this 
programme of the scientific and research institutes which 
have not traditionally been involved in this field; whereas 
the developing countries will benefit insofar as it will be 
possible for Community measures to be extended to 
areas of the world which have not hitherto been able to 
participate to a sufficient degree in previous 
programmes; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented by the 
Commission; whereas to help accomplish this, the 
23. 1. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 15/13 
Member States are bound, pursuant to Article 5 of the 
Treaty, to facilitate the achievement of its tasks where 
necessary, notably within a committee; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented essen­
tially by the selection of research and development 
projects, jointly drawn up by institutions in the North 
and South, to enable them to benefit from Community 
participation; whereas the Commission should encourage 
the submission of such projects by the usual means of 
publishing calls for proposals in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities; whereas an exceptional 
procedure should also be devised to come into effect 
between calls for proposals so as to maintain a degree of 
flexibility enabling the Commission, in the face of 
continuous evolution and gradual acceleration of techno­
logical progress, also to take into consideration spon­
taneous proposals consistent with the objectives of the 
programme; 
Whereas support for the international competitiveness of 
European industry, through Community research and 
technological development programmes, is linked with 
the Community's external relations policy based on the 
principle of 'the global equilibrium of opportunities', and 
that it is also in the light of this policy that participation 
of European companies owned by citizens of 
non-Community countries must be considered; 
Whereas the projects to be carried out under the 
programme must be selected with special attention to the 
principle of economic and social cohesion in the 
Community, the transnational nature of the projects and 
the support to be given to small and medium-sized enter­
prises; 
Whereas it is only in the light of experience gathered in 
the course of this programme that the Commission will 
be able to propose and the Council to adopt 
supplementary programmes by having recourse to the 
means provided for in Articles 1301, 130m or 130o of the 
Treaty if they contribute to the achievement of the 
programme's objectives, in accordance with the option 
made available by Article 2 (2) of the Decision 
90/221/Euratom, EEC; 
Whereas, in accordance with Article 130g of the Treaty, 
the Community's activities aimed at strengthening the 
scientific and technological basis of European industry 
and encouraging it to become more competitive include 
promoting cooperation on research and technological 
development with third countries and international 
organizations; whereas such cooperation may prove 
particularly beneficial to the development of this 
programme; 
Whereas it is necessary, as Annex II to Decision 
90/221 /Euratom, EEC, provides, to increase 
cooperation between European scientists and those from 
developing countries in order to facilitate complemen­tarity of research and methods and to improve access to 
the different networks of scientific relationships estab­
lished by the Member States with the developing 
countries in the areas of agriculture and health; whereas 
this programme should have as its aim to promote devel­
opment of the research capacity of these developing 
countries while encouraging the strengthening of that 
existing in the Member States; whereas special rules 
should be drawn up for the dissemination of knowledge 
resulting from the implementation of this programme; 
Whereas the interface between agriculture and health is 
of great significance in the specific situation of the 
developing countries; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (Crest) has been consulted, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development 
programme for the European Economic Community in 
the field of life sciences and technologies for developing 
countries, as defined in Annex I, open to all developing 
countries, is hereby adopted for the period from the date 
of publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities to 31 December 1994. 
Article 2 
1. The Community funds estimated as necessary for 
the execution of the programme under this Decision 
amount to ECU 111 million. Of this amount ECU 1,11 
million is drawn for the centralized dissemination and 
exploitation of results. The amount thus reduced to ECU 
109,89 million includes staff costs which may not exceed 
5 %. An indicative breakdown of expenditure is set out 
in Annex II. 
2. Should the Council take a decision in implemen­
tation of Article 1 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, 
EEC, this Decision shall be adapted to take account of 
the abovementioned decision. 
3. The budgetary authority shall decide on the appro­
priations available for each financial year. 
Article 3 
Rules for the implementation of the programme are set 
out in Annex III. 
No C 15/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1. 91 
Article 4 
The rate of the Community financial contribution shall 
be laid down in accordance with Annex IV to Decision 
90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
Article 5 
1. During the third year of implementation, the 
Commission shall review the programme and address a 
report on the results of the review to the Council and the 
European Parliament, together with proposals for any 
necessary changes. 
2. At the end of the programme the Commission shall 
assess the results obtained. It shall address a report 
thereon to the Council and the European Parliament. 
3. The reports shall be drawn up 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 6 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the 
execution of the programme. It shall be assisted by an 
advisory committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the 
committee', composed of the representatives of the 
Member States, and chaired by a representative of the 
Commission. 
2. The contracts concluded by the Commission shall 
govern the rights and obligations of each party, 
including the procedures for disseminating, protecting 
and exploiting the research results, in accordance with 
the arrangements adopted pursuant to the second 
paragraph of Article 130k of the Treaty and where 
appropriate procedures for training and evaluation. 
3. A work programme shall be drawn up at the start 
of the programme and shall be regularly revised. It shall 
set out the detailed objectives and the types of projects 
to be undertaken, and the financial arrangements to be 
made for them. The Commission shall make calls for 
proposals for projects on the basis of the work 
programmes. 
Article 7 
1. In the cases referred to in Article 8 (1), the 
representative of the Commission shall submit to the 
committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The 
committee shall deliver its opinion on this within a time 
limit which the chairman may set in accordance with the 
urgency of the matter, if necessary by holding a vote. 
2. The opinion shall be entered in the minutes; in 
addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask 
for its position to appear in the minutes. 3. The Commission shall take the fullest account of 
the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform 
the committee of the way in which it has taken account 
of the opinion. 
Article 8 
The procedure laid down in Article 7 shall apply to: 
— the preparation and updating of the work 
programmes referred to in Article 6 (3), 
— the contents of calls for proposals, referred to in 
Article 6 (3), 
— derogations to the general rules for Community 
participation, set out in Annex IV to Council 
Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, with particular 
reference to participants in the developing countries 
for whom a higher rate of Community funding in 
shared-cost projects may prove appropriate, 
— the participation in any project by non-Community 
organizations and enterprises referred to in Annex III 
point 3, 
— any adaptation of the indicative breakdown of funds 
set out in Annex II, 
— the measures to be undertaken to evaluate the 
programme and those projects submitted through the 
exceptional procedure, 
— accompanying measures and arrangements for the 
dissemination, protection and exploitation of the 
results of the research, for encouraging fundamental 
research, training of researchers and technological 
assessment carried out under the programme, 
— concerted actions referred to in point 2 of Annex III. 
Article 9 
In implementing this programme, supplementary 
programmes within the meaning of Article 1301, partici­
pation within the meaning of Article 130m and joint 
undertakings or any other structures within the meaning 
of Article 130o of the Treaty may also be decided on as 
the need arises. 
Article 10 
Where cooperation with developed third countries and 
international organizations aiming at achieving the 
objectives of the programme requires legal undertakings 
between the Community and the third parties concerned, 
23. 1. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 15/15 
the Commission shall be authorized to negotiate, in 
accordance with Article 130n of the Treaty, international 
agreements establishing the arrangements for such 
cooperation. 
Priority will also be given to cooperation with EFTA 
countries and European countries not members of the 
European Communities ('). 
The negotiations for such international agreements may 
only be initiated with developed third countries who are 
(') Conforming, where necessary, with the agreed orientations 
between the Council and the European Parliament during 
the consultation procedure which preceded the adoption of 
the third framework programme. already signatories of an agreement with the Community 
which explicitly cites research and technological devel­
opment or scientific progress as one of the objectives of 
cooperation. 
The Decision on the conclusion of such agreements shall 
be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to 
in Article 130q (2) of the Treaty. 
Article 11 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX I 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT 
The orientations of the third framework programme, its scientific and technical objectives, and the moti­
vations which have inspired it, form an integral part of this specific programme. 
Paragraph 4D of Annex II to the framework programme is an integral part of this specific programme. 
The programme's specific objectives may be defined as follows: 
— further strengthening of research capacity in both the developing countries and in the Community 
Member States in areas defined as having priority for Third World development (agriculture, health 
and the environment in tropical and subtropical areas), by means of joint research projects, 
— improved coordination at European level of the development of North-South cooperation and consoli­
dation, strengthening and extension of the links between partners in the North and South, created in 
the first two stages of the programme, 
— significant progress on themes associated with development needs, including environmental protection 
and the rational management of natural resources to help improve living standards and health in the 
developing countries, particularly in the poorest developing countries, 
— making use of certain European teams used in other programmes in the Community S&T framework 
programme, by offering them the opportunity of extending their field of investigation to the tropics and 
diversifying their methodological approach, 
— acquisition of added value by the various existing national initiatives in this field, owing to the 
programme's Community dimension. 
The following description of the content of this programme is presented under particular strategic themes 
in order to: 
— provide a better assessment of its impact on development, 
— facilitate an interdisciplinary approach, which is frequently essential for solving problems. 
NoC 15/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1.91 
The association of the two areas of research — agriculture and health — in a single programme provides 
an excellent opportunity to finance interface activities. Thus the programme will allow consideration of the 
appropriate interdisciplinary projects concerning, for instance, 
— nutrition, 
— zoonosis, and 
— irrigation. 
This multidisciplinary approach will also be encouraged within each of the areas, with reference, for 
example, to optimum use of natural resources or optimum environmental protection. 
Area 1: Improvement of living conditions 
Reduction of food shortages 
The aim is to increase agricultural plant and animal production by sustainable methods so as to improve 
food provision in regions where, for climatic, physical or human reasons, this problem is the first priority. 
The work will cover: 
— production systems; predominantly food production 
analysis of the operation and dynamics of these systems, with a view to determining the constraints to 
achieving sustainable and ecological agriculture, 
— plant production 
food plant breeding (improvement of their hardiness and yield), protection (diseases, parasites and 
weeds), with continuing care for the environment so that sustainable solutions are found, 
— animal production 
role of livestock farming in production systems, forage resources with attention to environmental 
protection, alternative types of livestock farming in fragile environments and protection of animal 
health, 
— fisheries and aquaculture 
rational management of resources for coastal fishing; improvement of primary production in a natural 
environment; nutrition from local products, pathology and breeding in aquaculture, 
— restoration of the environment 
the study of reforestation, the relation between agriculture, forestry and livestock fanning (agro-
forestry), the regeneration of pastureland, improved water management, soil protection, etc., 
— protection of natural environments 
research into the operation of buffer zones around areas of unspoilt nature, and research into the 
viability of non-disruptive commercial use of animal and plant products from such areas. 
The development of agricultural production of high economic value 
The aim is to provide a scientific and technical basis to assess agricultural activities that are of high 
economic value (including the utilization of the forest and the aquatic environment) at the local level and 
for exportation in regions where there is no substantial food shortage. 
23. 1. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 15/17 
The following forms of production come under this strategic theme: 
— main traditional export corps (groundnuts, cotton, coffee, rubber, palm oil, etc.), 
— secondary crops giving a product of a high added value. Priority will in particular be given to studies 
into ways of replacing crops used for the production of narcotics with products of high economic value, 
— food products (products of animal origin and vegetables) commanding a high price on urban markets 
or for regional export, 
— forests and forestry, 
— the production of bioenergy. 
The work will cover: 
— production systems and the marketing of cash corps 
analysis of how they operate, to improve their management and the products' economic impact, and 
socio-economic studies of the improvements introduced, 
— quantitative improvements 
improvement of plants or animal breeds, the reduction in losses before and after harvest, and improved 
farming, forestry and fish-breeding techniques, 
— qualitative improvements 
the development of techniques to bring these products up to international trade standards and to 
improve their commercial value (harvesting, transport, packaging, etc.), 
— feasibility studies of local processing 
— environmental protection 
impact of intensification of agriculture on the environment, ways of preventing or solving problems and 
possibilities for improving the natural environment while preserving or increasing its productivity. 
Area 2: Improvements in health 
Prevention and treatment of the predominant diseases in the developing countries 
The aim is to reduce the impact of the diseases which continue to be the major public health problem in 
most of the developing countries. 
Research will focus on: perfecting new methods of diagnosis and adapting existing methods to tropical 
conditions, using the most advanced techniques of molecular biology and immunology; developing new 
medicines with the help of innovative strategies for identifying biochemical targets for chemotherapy; 
preventing infectious diseases not only by developing vaccines but also by adapting existing vaccines to the 
specific needs of the developing countries. In the field of parasitology, the emphasis will be on a multi-
antigenic approach taking into account, in certain cases, the different stages in the biological cycle of the 
parasite; the biology of the vector and its control by combining the traditional methods with the new ones 
of molecular biology and genetics. 
Research into pandemic diseases such as haemoglobinoses, diarrhoea and the sexually transmitted diseases, 
especially AIDS, will be directed towards the study of possible intervention strategies, which will allow 
optimum prevention in the context of the developing countries' particular social and economic conditions. 
When dealing with aims under this heading, particular attention will regularly be given to concertation 
with other Community projects, such as the biomedical and health programme. 
NoC 15/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1.91 
Health care systems appropriate to the rural or urban environment of the developing countries 
The objective is to study ways of organizing health care taking into account the specific constraints and the 
socio-economic context of the developing countries (financial, human and material resources), and the new 
opportunities offered by the results of biomedical research. 
This research comprises a number of themes, such as the selection, evaluation and validation of health 
strategies, the management and financing of health services, the study of the optimum development of 
human resources, the prerequisites for the transfer of existing and new technologies, and the elucidation of 
the factors determining the participation of the population. 
Nutrition 
The aim of this research is to develop the scientific basis necessary for improving the nutritional condition 
of underprivileged populations by means of a multidisciplinary approach between medicine, agronomy, 
economics and the social sciences. This embraces research on nutritional interventions, specific shortages, 
and protection mechanisms in the event of food shortage at the individual, family and community levels. 
ANNEX II 
INDICATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES 
for the period 1990 to 1994 
in % 
Area 1: Improvement of living conditions 65 
Area 2: Improvements in health 35 
This financial breakdown takes account of experience acquired in the implementation of the two earlier 
stages of the programme and the sums allocated allow for similar effectiveness in each of the two 
sub-programmes. The agriculture programme covers a wider field than the medical programme, 
particularly in view of the growing role played by the environment. 
The breakdown between different areas does not exclude the possibility that certain interface projects 
could cover both areas: agriculture and medicine. These projects will be allocated 5 % of the total amount 
of the programme. 
23. 1.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 15/19 
ANNEX III 
RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES FOR DISSEMINATION 
AND EXPLOITATION OF THE RESULTS 
1. The Commission shall implement the programme on the basis of Article 1 and the scientific and 
technical content described in Annex I. 
The Commission shall ensure good coordination between this programme and all the other Community 
programmes and operations on behalf of the developing countries. 
2. The rules for implementing the programme, referred to in Article 3, comprise research and techno­
logical development projects, accompanying measures, concerted actions. 
The projects, which will be jointly worked out by the institutions in the North and the South, must deal 
with problems that are clearly of interest to the developing countries concerned, particularly regional 
problems. 
The projects shall be the subject of shared-cost research and technological development contracts. 
The accompanying measures shall consist of applying the means to ensure proper technical execution, 
management and evaluation of the programme, as well as adequate dissemination and accessibility of 
the results, and coordination, training and consciousness-raising of the participants in the programme, 
as defined in the work programme. 
The concerted actions are those defined in Article 92 of the Financial Regulation. 
3. The participants in the projects must be natural or legal persons established either in the Community or 
in developing countries, such as universities, research organizations and industrial firms, including small 
and medium-sized enterprises, or associations thereof, in particular European Economic Interest 
Groupings (EEIGs). 
Natural or legal persons established in countries other than developing countries which have concluded 
agreements with the Community foreseeing scientific and technical research, may, based on the criterion 
of mutual advantage, take part in the projects undertaken in the context of this programme. The 
contracting parties under such arrangements will not benefit from Community funding under the 
framework programme. They shall contribute to the general administrative costs. 
4. The choice of projects shall be carried out according to the following order of priority, the first method 
being the rule, the second the exception. 
The participants in the projects shall be selected on the basis of the ordinary procedure of calls for 
proposals referred to in Article 6 (3) and published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
The Commission may also accept proposals, according to an exceptional procedure and under the 
conditions mentioned below, when they make a particularly promising and. significant contribution as 
regards the originality of the theme proposed, the novelty of the scientific and technical approach and 
the methodology of execution, also taking into account the particular nature of the proposers. 
A favourable technical evaluation of such proposals shall not by itself be a sufficient justification for 
accepting a project; this exceptional procedure may only apply after verification that the nature of the 
project, as defined above, does not justify the use of the normal procedure of calls for proposals. 
The exceptional procedure shall come into effect after the first call for proposals and must be completed 
before the ordinary procedure in such a way that the amount available for the Community's financial 
participation in projects retained by the ordinary procedure can be determined precisely. The closing 
date for the exceptional procedure shall be published each year in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. 
No C 15/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 1.91 
When it submits the preliminary draft budget the Commission shall inform the budgetary authority 
whether the appropriations approved in the budget of the previous year have also financed projects 
retained by the exceptional procedure and the amounts allocated. Should these projects cover several 
programmes, it shall state the type of committee which assisted it. 
The amount of the financial participation of the Community for all the projects retained by the excep­
tional procedure will be decided each year, in relation to the projects selected according to particularly 
strict criteria of excellence. In any case this amount may not exceed 10 % of the annual budgetary 
allocation; it may be revised each year in the light of experience. 
The Commission shall draw up a vade mecum setting out all the rules applicable to this exceptional 
procedure in order to guarantee full transparency. 
5. The projects must provide for participation by at least two mutually independent partners established in 
different Member States, as well as at least one partner established in a developing country. 
6. The Commission may encourage the participants to form a European Economic Interest Grouping 
(EEIG) or to make other arrangements for carrying out projects, such as those on a large scale 
permitting decentralized management adapted to the specific requirements of the project. 
7. Experts in the developing countries, chosen on the basis of a fair geographical division and, with a view 
to international coordination, representatives of relevant international agencies (WHO, FAO, etc.) may 
be invited to attend Committee meetings when important aspects of the programme are on the agenda. 
Representatives of committees dealing with any of the Community programmes linked directly or indi­
rectly to this programme and representatives of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural 
Cooperation shall be invited to take part in the Committee's work as necessary. 
8. The knowledge acquired while developing the projects shall be disseminated on the one hand within the 
specific programme and on the other hand by means of a centralized activity, pursuant to the Decision 
referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 4 in Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
This dissemination and exploitation of the knowledge acquired shall be assured under the following 
conditions: knowledge and inventions, patentable or otherwise, resulting from research or work under 
contract, the rules governing ownership and the Community's and, where applicable, the contractor's 
obligations shall be defined in the contracts on a case-by-case basis. 
The Commission shall communicate the knowledge and inventions over which it has rights to the 
Member States and to individuals and undertakings who are engaged, on the territory of a Member 
State or a developing country, in research or production that would justify access to this knowledge. 
With the contractor's agreement, it may also communicate the knowledge to the developing countries, 
not only those with whom the Community has concluded association and cooperation agreements and 
non-associated developing countries that benefit from Community financial and technical aid, but also 
all developing countries that urgently need the knowledge and are in a position to use it. It shall lay 
down the conditons for the dissemination of the knowledge to research bodies outside the Community 
or the developing countries, in close cooperation with the beneficiaries of the results of the research, 
including the developing countries.