Draft COMMISSION DECISION on the granting of financial aid for technical coal research projects pursuant to Article 55, . 2(c) of the ECSC Treaty

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 55 thereof,

After consultation of the ECSC Consultative Committee and with the assent of the Council,

Whereas:

(1) Article 55, paragraph 2, subparagraph (c) of the ECSC Treaty offers, for the promotion of research, the possibility of using funds arising from the levy in accordance with Article 50.

(2) The Commission has laid down a programme of action in the field of technical coal research in its document "Medium-term Guidelines for Technical Coal Research" [1];

[1] OJ C 67 of 4.3.1994.

(3) The Commission published an invitation to submit collaborative project proposals on certain specific topics for the 2002 ECSC Technical Coal Research Programme [2];

[2] OJ C 102 of 31.3.2001.

(4) On the basis of the criteria laid down in the aforementioned Medium-term Guidelines and invitation to submit proposals, the most deserving projects have been selected, particular importance being given to improving the competitive position of coal, the rational utilization of Community resources and, above all to the efficient protection of the environment.

(5) By its Decision No. 2537/2001/ECSC of 21 December 2001 [3] drawing up the ECSC operating budget for the budgetary year 2002, it has established a total of 20 000 000 EUR for coal research (heading 3.2.),

[3] OJ L 341 of 22.12.2001.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A sum of 19 899 750 EUR shall be granted as financial aid to the coal research projects listed in Annexe I. This sum and the amounts referred to in subsequent Articles shall be charged to heading B.3.2. of the ECSC operating budget for the budgetary year 2002.

Article 2

A sum of 100 250 EUR may be used to cover the additional costs associated with the research and, in particular, those associated with the dissemination of information by all appropriate means, and with the costs of taking out and maintaining patents.

Article 3

Credits totalling 20 000 000 EUR shall be set aside to cover the cost of the aid granted to the projects listed in Annexe I and the additional costs mentioned in Article 2.

Article 4

Financial aid may be granted to the projects listed in Annexe II insofar as reallocated or supplementary appropriations may become available during the current budgetary year.

Article 5

Financial support granted by the Community must not affect conditions of competition in such a way as to be incompatible with the provisions of the Treaty.

Done at Brussels,

For the Commission

L. DE PALACIO Vice-President of the Commission

ANNEX I

to the Commission Decision on

TECHNICAL COAL RESEARCH 2002

under the terms of Article 55 2 c) of the ECSC Treaty

Main Programme

This annex contains the research projects classed in priority I. The selection of projects was made by the Commission's services after consultation with members of the ECSC coal research programme's expert committees and the ECSC Coal Research Committee.

In making the selection, the Commission's services were guided by the broad general aims of the technical coal research programme, as laid down in the Medium-term Guidelines for Technical Coal Research [4], i.e.,

[4] OJ C 67 of 4.3.1994.

- Efficient protection of the environment and improvement of public understanding of the role of coal as an energy source;

- Improving the competitive position of coal;

- Rational utilisation of Community resources;

- Improving occupational health and safety in the coal industry,

as well as by the general criteria of the Medium-term Guidelines and the terms and conditions of the invitation to submit project proposals for the 2002 research programme [5] under which, in particular, the Commission asked for proposals for international collaborative projects on certain specific topics.

[5] OJ C 102 of 31.3.2001.

Questions of health, safety and improved working conditions in mines have been taken into consideration and the environmental aspect of coal mining and utilisation has been given particular prominence : in the following table of priority I projects, research projects relating to health and safety in mines are marked with the letter "S", and those relating to the environment with the letter "E".

(see p. 1 ff in separate annex)

ANNEX II

to the Commission Decision on

TECHNICAL COAL RESEARCH 2002

under the terms of Article 55 2 c) of the ECSC Treaty

Supplementary Programme

This annex contains the research projects classed in priority II. These are considered to deserve financial support, but are judged to be of lower priority than the projects of the main programme. The supplementary programme therefore represents a reserve list from which projects can be financed later in the year with the aid of supplementary or residual budgetary means.

The projects comprising the supplementary programme were selected in accordance with the same procedures and criteria as those adopted for the main programme. The order in which the projects are listed reflects their technical content and does not indicate an order of priority.

(see p. 6 in separate annex)

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