9. 6. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 150/13 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation relating to a research and development programme 
in the field of science and technology for development 1987 to 1990 (*) 
(87/C 150/08) 
On 17 November 1986, the Council of the European Communities decided to consult the Economic 
and Social Committee under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Energy, Nuclear Questions and Research, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 6 March 1987 in the light of Mr Campbell's 
report. 
At its 245th plenary session (meeting of 14th April 1987) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted unanimously the following opinion: 
1. Introduction 
1.1. This draft Regulation concerns a four-year 
programme of research and development from 1987 to 1990. 
The programme will be confined to research in tropical 
agriculture (75% of the total) and tropical medicine (25% of 
the programme). 
1.2. The first research programme covered the period 
from 1983 to 1986 and consisted of some 400 contracts in 
total. The purpose of the new programme is to continue a 
number of worthwhile uncompleted projects from the 
previous programme, to undertake a number of new projects 
which have already been proposed and to allow for further 
projects, arising from the fact that Spain and Portugal have 
joined the Community. 
1.3. The objective of these programmes is to provide 
ways of improving the conditions of health and agriculture in 
developing countries, to assist research agencies in the 
Community and to form links between the experience and 
facilities of the Community, developed over a long period, 
and the agencies in developing countries which should be 
assisted to increase their capability to undertake much of 
such research with their own personnel and facilities. 
1.4. There are other agencies and sources of funds such as 
those provided unter the Lome Convention. Many of these 
sources of finance are concerned principally with 
development. This programme seeks to link essential and 
appropriate research to the development needs of the 
countries concerned. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee strongly supports, in general terms, 
the proposals contained in the draft Regulation. The long list 
of subjects for research contained in the document is 
(') OJ NoC 24, 31. 1. 1987, p. 9. indicative of the special problems which face countries in 
tropical parts of the world. The expenditure of money in this 
way not only helps to make better use of existing facilities in 
the Community but is a constructive form of aid which, allied 
to teaching, training and dissemination of information, will 
provide an invaluable support to the growth of scientific and 
technical independence in the developing countries. 
2.2. The Committee however, regrets that the first 
programme ended in 1986 and no continuing programme 
has yet been authorized. It will be some time before a decision 
is taken on the new proposals and these are implemented. 
Such a gap is bad planning, bad for effective productivity and 
bad for those who are committed to existing work both in the 
Community and in the developing countries. 
No effective group of projects can operate in this way. 
Proposals for new programmes should be submitted a year 
before the end of the old one to enable proper examination to 
take place and decisions to be taken in good time; either to 
continue the projects, or to stop or extend them. 
2.3. Despite its overall approval of this programme 
proposal, the Committee would make the following specific 
comments: 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The five objectives which were set out for the first 
programme were of a very generalized nature with 
aspirations which might be practical but were in fact not 
strong guidelines for the implementation of the programme. 
The three additional objectives contained in the proposed 
second programme are more specific and likely to lead to 
more effective projects and much better ties between the 
European Community and developing countries. This 
should contribute to better technology transfer to developing 
countries. 
No C 150/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 87 
3.2. The scope of the project lists in both tropical 
medicine and tropical agriculture is extensive and it is 
questionable whether action on all of these subjects can be 
contemplated in a programme of this size. It is appreciated 
that the lists are intended to give the greatest choice to 
contractors who are submitting project proposals and this 
should be continued. There is however a danger that the 
available funds will be spread too thinly on too many projects 
in an endeavour to satisfy everybody. At the same time with 
such large project lists the time taken to assess and decide 
upon the multitude of projects proposed is itself a major 
administrative burden. 
3.3. The Committee questions the meaning and the 
relevance of certain terms such as 'fundamental', 'basic' and 
'applied' research. Longer term research motivated solely by 
the search for principles is less appropriate to this 
programme. Projects within the programme may contain an 
element of basic research. They should, above all, however, 
have a clear objective of practicability, appropriate to the 
needs and capabilities of the developing countries. 
3.4. The Committee would support, for instance, more 
research in the developing countries and the Community on 
the nature and spread of a much-feared animal disease, viz. 
African swine fever. Such research would also be valuable as 
regards both epidemiology and other viruses. 
3.5. The Committee considers that the criteria used for 
assessing proposals for projects are good and is satisfied that 
consultation with other authorities such as the WHO, FAO, 
is thorough and that technical advice is being sought from 
many qualified individuals and agencies. 
3.6. The Committee questions whether too many 
projects were authorized in the first programme given the 
very limited resources available. The average Community 
contribution per project was about 60 000 ECU. The 
smallest must have been therefore only a nominal 
contribution. The Committee would see benefit in 
supporting fewer projects in a more positive way. This would 
also have the advantage of enabling the Commission to assess 
the projects more thoroughly. 
3.7. The Committee considers that the main purpose of 
the programme is a north to south flow of technical benefit 
with a progressively larger share of research work being 
undertaken in developing countries. Account must always, 
however, be taken of local technologies and methods in the 
sphere of agriculture and medicine. The concept of a north to 
south flow of technical benefit is not adequately defined in 
the Commission proposal. However, it is understood that, 
within the limits of human and physical capabilities, the 
longer term target is to allocate up to half of the work to 
agencies in developing countries. The Committee recognizes the progress being made towards achieving this target. It is 
important that the results of the research projects be 
disseminated as widely as possible in an appropriate way, in 
the countries concerned. 
Within the framework of existing agreements such as the 
Third Lome Convention, and in association with other 
European countries, such as the EFTA countries, the aim of 
this programme should be a positive endeavour to increase 
the level of scientific and technical independence and 
capability of developing countries. All projects must be 
implemented with the full involvement of developing 
countries' representatives. 
3.8. The number of contracts in the first programme that 
have so far been evaluated is limited. This is understandable 
as the first two years of the four-year programme were 
occupied in seeking project proposals, assessing these and 
letting contracts. An evaluation of the first programme as a 
whole is therefore subjective. The Committee wishes to see 
an objective system of assessment developed in the course of 
the next year, against which future programmes can be 
judged. The Committee would wish to see the results of such 
assessments including referees reports and lists of 
publications in international scientific journals. It is an 
inevitable element of any good reserarch programme that 
some projects will not meet their objectives. The 
Commission must exercise rigorous discipline in stopping 
such projects at the appropriate time in order that finance 
may be made available for more worthwhile projects. 
3.9. The Committee emphasizes the essential element of 
technology transfer. By this it means transfer of knowledge 
and expertise together with transfer of equipment. To 
achieve the first of these there is a need for a high standard of 
training and this is one of the elements in the proposed second 
progamme. Modern equipment is mostly complex and 
frequently computer based. Transfer of the hardware must 
go hand-in-hand with the transfer of operating and 
maintenance know-how, either from Community experts or, 
preferably, by well-trained local personnel. Transfer of 
machines without maintenance capability is a waste of 
money. 
3.10. The new programme envisages the establishment of 
research and information networks. This is a worthwhile 
proposal but the Committee would urge caution. 
Maintenance of bilateral links is difficult, maintenance of 
multilateral links is expensive and can be disastrous unless 
the system for maintaining the links is well-developed and 
efficient. 
3.11. Duplication can, in certain circumstances be 
wasteful. In others it can be helpful in allowing alternative 
approaches to a solution to be followed. There are many 
agencies engaged in these areas of research and it is unlikely 
that Community funds will be adequate to support any major 
9. 6. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 150/15 
projects on their own. The Community is more likely to be 
one among several contributors. The need for close 
consultation with other agencies is emphasized. 
3.12. The Committee notes the stated cost of 
administering the proposed programme of 80 million ECU 
over four years. This cost amounts to about 6 %, which is not 
excessive for a programme of this nature. It is understood 
that a great deal of unpaid assistance is given in assessing 
projects by academic establishments and other agencies, 
mostly in the Community. This is much to be commended 
and it is hoped that it may continue. 
3.13. The programme proposal for 1987 to 1990 is for a 
sum of 80 million ECU, twice the amount allocated to the 
Done at Brussels, 14 April 1987. 
1. The Economic and Social Committee, which is 
committed to the idea of a single Community market, 
welcomes every move in support of that idea. Mindful of the 
1992 target, the Committee also endorses every immediate 
step to help cross-frontier traffic. It certainly makes sense to 
transfer work from the office of exit to the office of entry 
when the latter is empowered in any case to repeat such 
work, especially as it is also a step towards the future 
(') OJ No C 282, 8. 11. 1986, p. 13. previous programme. The Committee considers that there 
are clear justifications for an increase but is unable to 
comment on the exact figure proposed. A substantial 
increase is required to continue existing successful projects, 
begin new projects and improve technology transfer through 
training, etc. The Committee welcomes the fact that the 
Commission will evaluate the programme during its third 
year. Programme expenditure in subsequent years will be 
dependent on this evaluation, which will require an objective 
project assessment system. 
3.14. The Committee reiterates the need for the 
Commission to make proposals for a third programme 
before the end of 1989 thus enabling the Council to take a 
decision in due time. 
abolition of all border checks. However, in the eyes of the 
Committee this does not justify the general provisions 
proposed by the Commission. 
2. The proposal would compel customs officials in the 
Member State of entry to apply the laws of the Member State 
of exit to a considerable extent. Even if these laws were 
available in translation, the officials would still not know 
how to interpret and apply them. The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee and Research 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the abolition of exit formalities at internal 
community frontiers — Introduction of common border posts (]) 
(87/C 150/09) 
On 7 November 1986, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Sociaal Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 4 March 1987 in the light of the report by Mr 
Broicher. 
At its 245th plenary session (meeting of 14 April 1987) the Committee adopted the following opinion 
by a unanimous vote: