Amended proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme in the field of targeted socio-economic research (1994 to 1998) (94/C 262/09) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(94) 243 final - 94/0091(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 A (2) of the EC Treaty on 6 June 1994)

The proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research targeted socio-economic research (1994 to 1998) (COM(94)68 final - 94/0091(CNS) is amended as follows:

Recital 4

Whereas in accordance with Article 130i (3), an estimate should be made of the financial resources needed to carry out this specific programme; whereas the final amounts will be decided upon by the budgetary authority in accordance with the resources available under the financial perspective and the relative priority assigned to the area covered by this programme within activity I under the fourth framework programme;

Recital 5a

(new)

Whereas any increase in the overall maximum amount of the framework programme will depend in particular on the evaluation of the progress made in implementing the programme; whereas the progress made in this programme will be deemed satisfactory only if the first commitments of appropriations are effected within a reasonable period following the adoption of the programme; whereas that period may not exceed 12 months;

Recital 10a

(new)

Whereas the Commission's efforts to simplify and accelerate the candidature and selection procedures and make them more transparent must be continued in order to support the implementation of the programme and to facilitate the action which firms, particularly SMEs, research centres and universities have to undertake in order to participate in a Community RTD activity;

Article 2 (1)

1. The amount deemed necessary for carrying out the programme is ECU 105 million, including a maximum of 25,70 % for staff and administrative expenditure.

The first appropriations shall be committed no later than 12 months following the adoption of the programme, unless good reason is given for exceeding this deadline.

Article 2 (4)

4. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year in accordance with the availability of resources under the financial perspective and the scientific and technological priorities set in the fourth framework programme.

ANNEX I

Area 2, Section 1 (b) (ii), second indent

- the socio-cultural challenges. Europeans' growing awareness of the environment, ethical problems and safety in all its forms, including health and safety at work, the emergence of new leisure pursuits or new cultural activities, adaptation of mentalities to the changes in production methods and the impact of these factors on consumption patterns will be evaluated with regard to the design, production and dissemination of new knowledge, products and processes. Special attention will also be paid to the relationships between technological development, employment and the organization of society. On the basis of the conclusions set out in the White Paper, and in close liaison with the specific programmes most concerned, special emphasis will be placed on the challenges arising from the emergence of the information society. Multidisciplinary studies will be carried out into the social impact of the spread of information and communication technologies and their interaction with private users so as to pinpoint policy options and experiments likely to bring about widespread acceptance of such technologies by the general public.