23. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 298/17 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technological development 
programme in the field of marine science and technology 
COM(88) 587 final — SYN 162 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 4 November 1988) 
(88/C 298/07) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 1302 (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 130 k of the Treaty provides that the 
framework programme shall be implemented through 
specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC ('), the 
Council has adopted a framework programme of 
Community research and technological development 
(1987 to 1991), providing inter alia for activities in 
exploitation of the seabed and use of marine resources; 
Whereas, for the selection of Community actions, the 
framework programme sets out criteria including that of 
contributing to the strengthening of economic and social 
cohesion of the Community, consistent with the pursuit 
of scientific and technical quality; 
Whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 10 
October 1986 (2) stresses the necessity for cooperation, 
coordination and complementarity of national policies in 
the field of oceanography and recommends that the 
Commission undertake a number of actions to that effect 
under the framework programme; 
Whereas other Community programmes (e.g. environ­
mental protection, climatology and natural hazards, 
fisheries, technological development in the hydrocarbons 
sector, non-nuclear energy and some activities of the 
JRC) have a bearing on topics in marine science and 
technology, but none are directed specifically at marine 
research; 
Whereas in the present context of expanding industrial­
ization, increasing pressure is being placed on the marine 
and especially the coastal environment; 
(') OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. 
O OJ No C 283, 10. 11. 1986, p. 104. Whereas it is widely recognized that a good knowledge 
base and reliable predictive techniques are essential for 
long term management and protection strategies for the 
marine environment; 
Whereas to achieve these objectives much can be gained 
from effective coordination of the research programmes 
of the Member States and joint execution of European 
projects in marine science and technology; 
Whereas participation by certain European non-member 
States in a Community R&D programme in marine 
science and technology would be beneficial; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (Crest) has been consulted on the following 
measures, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development 
programme for the European Economic Community in 
the field of marine science and technology, as defined in 
the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of three years, 
starting on 
Article 2 
The amount deemed necessary for the execution of the 
programme is 50 million ECU, including expenditure on 
a staff of 13. 
Article 3 
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme 
and the rate of the Community's financial participation 
are set out in the Annex. 
Article 4 
1. In the second year of the programme implemen­
tation, the Commission shall undertake a review of the 
programme and it shall report to the Council and the 
European Parliament on the results thereof, together, if 
necessary, with any proposals for modification of 
prolongation. 
2. An evaluation of the results achieved shall be 
conducted by the Commission, which shall report 
thereon to the Council and the European Parliament. 
No C 298/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 11. 88 
3. The abovementioned reports shall be established 
having regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to 
this Decision and in conformity with the provisions of 
Article 2 (2) of Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC. 
Article 5 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the 
execution of the programme and shall be assisted in its 
implementation by a Management and Coordination 
Advisory Committee (CGC), which shall be set up in 
accordance with the provisions laid down in Council 
Decision 84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC ('), and called 
the MAST Committee. 
2. The contracts entered into by the Commission shall 
regulate the rights and obligations of each party, 
including the methods of disseminating, protecting and 
exploiting the research results. 
(') OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25. Article 6 
1. The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate, 
in accordance with Article 130 N of the Treaty, 
agreements with non-member States and international 
organizations, in particular with those countries partici­
pating in European cooperation in the field of scientific 
and technological research (COST), and those having 
concluded framework agreements in scientific and 
technical cooperation with the Community with a view 
to associating them wholly or partly with the 
programme. 
2. Where framework agreements for scientific and 
technical cooperation between non-member States and 
the European Communities have been concluded, organ­
izations and enterprises established in those countries 
may participate in a project undertaken within this 
programme. 
Article 7 
This Deciiion is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX 
R&D PROGRAMME ON MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST) 
I. Objectives 
The objectives of the MAST programme are: 
— to contribute to better knowledge of the marine environment, especially of European coastal and 
regional seas (including the NE Atlantic), in order to improve their management and protection and to 
predict change, 
— to encourage the development of new technologies for the exploration, protection and exploitation of 
marine resources (with the exception of fisheries, hydrocarbons and renewable energy, which are 
addressed by other Community programmes), 
— to improve coordination and cooperation amongst national marine R&D programmes in the Member 
States, and to help increase the effectiveness of these programmes through better use of research 
facilities, 
— to strengthen industrial competitiveness in the relevant sectors, 
— to provide the technical basis for, and encourage the development of, common norms, standards and 
design guidelines, in view of the completion of the internal market in 1992, 
— to assist European participation in worldwide ocean programmes, 
— to facilitate training and exchange of personnel. 
The programme comprises four main headings: 
— Basic and applied marine science 
— Coastal zone science and engineering 
— Marine technology 
— Supporting initiatives. 
23. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 298/19 
II. Contents 
PART I —BASIC AND APPLIED MARINE SCIENCE 
1. Modelling 
1.1. Continental shelf and regional seas 
1.2. Coastal waters 
1.3. Ecosystem models 
1.4. Modelling coordination 
2. Oceanography 
2.1. Circulation and exchange of water masses 
2.2. Biogeochemical cycles and fluxes 
2.3. Interface and boundary processes 
2.4. Biological processes 
2.5. Sedimentary processes 
PART II — COASTAL ZONE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 
1. Coastal morphodynamics 
2. Coastal ecosystems 
3. Meteomarine predictions 
4. Coastal engineering 
PART III — MARINE TECHNOLOGY 
1. Instrumentation for science 
2. Generic enabling technologies 
3. Design aspects of large scale facilities 
4. Studies on the outlook for the 1990s 
PART IV — SUPPORTING INITIATIVES 
1. European ocean data and information network 
2. Research vessel and heavy equipment coordination 
3. Advanced training 
4. Surveying for resource evaluation 
5. Preparation of norms and standards 
6. Marine polar research, marine geoscientific lithospheric research 
III. Implementation 
The programme shall be implemented by means of (i) shared-cost research contracts, (ii) coordination 
activities (including concerted action), (iii) supporting initiatives, (iv) study contracts, and (v) training and 
exchange of staff. 
The programme is open to universities, research organizations and industrial companies, including small 
and medium-sized entreprises, individuals, or any combination thereof established in the Community. 
Shared-cost projects involving research centres (and/or universities) and industry are particularly welcome, 
and mandatory for Part III, Marine technology. In general projects must involve participants from more 
than one Member State. 
The association and involvement of non-member States, international and national organizations shall be 
founded on the criterion of mutual advantage. In the case of organizations and enterprises established in 
EFTA countries suitable arrangements shall be made on a case by case basis. 
For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will generally be 50 % of the total expenditure, but 
this percentage may be varied according to the nature and the stage of development of the research. In 
respect of universities and research institutes carrying out projects, the Community may bear up to 100 % 
of the additional expenditure involved.