4. 8. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 203/5 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision instituting a specific multiannual programme for the research 
and development of statistical expert systems (Doses) 
COM(88) 410 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 26 July 1988) 
(88/C 203/06) 
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 Article 130K of the Treaty provides that the 
framework programme shall be implemented through 
specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas statistical information can be of use in defining 
and monitoring economic activity and expansion, one of 
the tasks assigned to the Community in Article 2 of the 
Treaty; 
Whereas, in Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC of 28 
September 1987 concerning the framework programme 
for Community activities in the field of research and 
technological development (1987 to 1991) (l), the 
Council approved the development of statistical tools as 
the objective of the work on 'Forecasting and assessment 
and other back-up measures (including statistics)'; 
Whereas it is necessary to encourage undertakings, 
research centres and universities in their research and 
technological development activities as well as to support 
their efforts to cooperate with one another; 
(l) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. Whereas it is desirable to promote basic or applied 
research whose value for the development of statistics is 
unquestionable but whose short-term viability is 
uncertain; 
Whereas coordination between Member States makes it 
possible to limit incompatibilities, overlapping and 
redundancy; 
Whereas in the present state of development of infor­
mation systems and in particular statistical systems, the 
development of statistical tools appears a useful and 
indeed essential aid to the optimum use of information; 
Whereas the development of statistical tools will enable 
work productivity to be increased; 
Whereas it is desirable to render the use of statistical 
information more common by making access to it easie 
Whereas it is appropriate to promote balanced scientific 
and technical development within the Community in 
order to reinforce its economic and social cohesion; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (Crest) has been consulted, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific programme on research into and the devel­
opment of statistical expert systems for the European 
Economic Community is hereby adopted as defined in 
the Annex for a period of four years starting on 1 
January 1989. 
No C 203/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 8. 88 
nation (CCAC) created pursuant to Council Decision 
84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC ('). 
Article 5 
In accordance with Article 130N of the EEC Treaty, the 
Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate 
agreements with European third countries and with 
international organizations, particularly the OECD and 
its member countries, with a view to their full or partial 
integration into the programme. 
Article 6 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
0) OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25. 
ANNEX I 
Technical Annex 
SUMMARY OF THE WORK PROGRAMME 
The actions address the exploitation of advanced information technologies in the field of statistics: in 
particular, the application of expert systems technology to the whole chain of statistical data processing. 
The actions are oriented to develop knowledge and expert systems rules, which can constitute the base for 
the development of expert sytems in the various domains of the statistics field. 
The programme shall consist of two parts: Part I comprises the organization of coordinated projects and 
Part II comprises research and development projects regarded as meriting priority in the field of official 
statistics. It is (sub)divided into four parts. 
PART I 
Coordinated projects 
The coordinated projects shall consist in coordination at Community level of activities which are of general 
interest to the Member States and satisfy the criteria laid down in the section 'Coordinated projects' of 
Annex I. The Commission shall provide a framework within which projects can be selected on the basis of 
proposals submitted by the interested parties and financial assistance can be provided for the organization 
of these projects. 
The following are suitable for coordinated projects: 
— subjects which are intrinsically international in character; 
— problems arising in a similar manner in the various Member States (and possibly within the 
Commission) which may therefore benefit from a coordinated approach; 
— problems which have to be solved for purposes of harmonization. Article 2 
The budgetary appropriations necessary for the 
implementation of the programme are estimated at four 
million ECU, including the staff costs, relating to a 
complement of one person (starting in 1990). 
Article 3 
The programme implementation procedures are set out 
in the Annex. 
Article 4 
The Commission shall be responsible for the implemen­
tation of the programme and shall be assisted by a 
Consultative Committee for Administration and Co-ordi-
4. 8. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 203/7 
The main featrue of these projects is thus that a minimum number of participants coordinate their work on 
fields of common interest and exchange their findings. 
The emphasis will be on projects able to produce results in a relatively short time (two to three years). 
The participants will fund their own share of the work to be done but will be informed of all the results. 
PART II 
Jointly funded projects 
The research will be carried out under the terms of joint funding contracts to be concluded with the 
research bodies, companies and other organizations in the Community. As a general rule, the Community 
will meet at the most 50 % of the costs, the rest normally being borne by the contractors. As an alternative 
solution in the case of universities and research bodies carrying out projects or actions, the Community 
may meet up to 100 % of the additional cost of their implementation. Work will be carried out in the 
following areas: 
Theme 1: Vertical study: preparation of a complete system for automated information processing, from 
collection to dissemination, in a specific field (as a prototype for other fields and a reference 
framework for the other themes); 
Theme 2: Documentation of data and statistical methods; 
Theme 3: Access to statistical information; 
Theme 4: Forecasting. 
Implementation procedures 
Contracts under Part I shall be awarded by means of restricted invitations to tender. 
Contracts under Part II shall be awarded by means of public invitations to tender. They shall involve the 
participation of at least two partners, who are independent of each other and who may not be established 
in the same Member State. Public invitation to tender shall be published in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
ANNEX II 
Internal distribution of funds (for guidance only) 
(1989 to 1992) 
(Million ECU) 
Part I: Coordinated projects 0,5 
Part II: Jointly funded projects 3,0 
Staff and administrative costs 0,5 
Total 4,0