No C 327/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 12. 90 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technological devel­
opment programme in the field of environment (1991 to 1994) (') 
COM(90) 592 final — SYN 263 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 30 November 
1990) 
(90/C 327/13) 
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 Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas, by Decision 90/221/Euratom/EEC (2), the 
Council adopted a third framework programme for 
Community activities in the field of research and techno­
logical development (1991 to 1994), specifying inter alia 
the activities to be pursued for developing the scientific 
knowledge and technical know-how needed by the 
Community, in particular to carry out its role relating to 
the environment according to Part Three, Title VII of 
the Treaty; whereas this decision should be taken in the 
light of the grounds set out in the preamble of that 
Decision; 
Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty stipulates that the 
framework programme is to be implemented through 
specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas the Joint Research Centre shall contribute 
through its own programme to the implementation of the 
aforesaid activities; 
Whereas fundamental research must be specifically 
encouraged Community-wide in each of the strategic 
research sectors of the framework programme; Whereas, in addition to the specific programme on 
human capital and mobility, training of researchers in 
each of the strategic research sectors of the framework 
programme must be ensured; 
Whereas an estimate should be made of the amount of 
Community financial resources needed to carry out this 
specific programme; whereas the definitive amounts will 
be fixed by the budgetary authority in line with the 
financial perspectives covering the period 1988 to 1992 
included in the interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 
1988 (3) and with any future financial perspectives 
covering the period 1993 to 1994; 
Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 of and Annex I to 
Decision 90/221/Euratom/EEC, the amount deemed 
necessary for the whole framework programme includes 
an amount of ECU 57 million for the centralized 
dissemination and exploitation of results, drawn propor­
tionally from the amount provided for each activity; 
whereas by virtue of the size of this specific programme 
within the 'environment' action the estimate of means 
necessary for this programme is to be reduced by ECU 
2,6 million, which amount is to be allocated to the said 
centralized action in order to comply with the provision 
of Article 130p (2), second sentence, of the Treaty; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented by the 
Commission; whereas, to help accomplish this, the 
Member States are bound, pursuant to Article 5 of the 
Treaty, to facilitate the achievement of its tasks, where 
necessary, notably within a committee; 
Whereas this programme must be implemented essen­
tially by the selection of research and development 
projects to enable them to benefit from Community 
participation; whereas the Commission should encourage 
(') OJ No C 174, 16. 7. 1990, p. 40. 
O OJ No L 117, 8. 5. 1990, p. 28. O OJ No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 33. 
29. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/23 
the submission of such projects by the usual means of 
publishing calls for proposals in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities; whereas an exceptional 
procedure should also be devised to come into effect 
between calls for proposals so as to maintain a degree of 
flexibility enabling the Commission, in the face of tech­
nological progress, also to take into consideration spon­
taneous proposals consistent with the objectives of the 
programme; 
Whereas the projects to be carried out under the 
programme must be selected with special attention to the 
principles of economic and social cohesion in the 
Community, the transnational nature of the projects and 
to the support to be given to small and medium-sized 
enterprises; 
Whereas it is only in the light of experience gathered in 
the course of development of this programme that the 
Commission will be able to propose and the Council to 
adopt supplementary programmes by having recourse to 
the means provided for in Articles 1301, 130m or 130o of 
the Treaty, if they contribute to the achievement of the 
programme's objectives, in accordance with the option 
made available by Article 2 (2) of Decision 
90/221/Euratom/EEC; 
Whereas, in accordance with Article 130g of the Treaty, 
the Community's activities aimed at strengthening the 
scientific and technological basis of European industry 
and encouraging it to become more competitive in terms 
of ecological development include promoting 
cooperation on research and technological development 
with third countries and international organizations; 
whereas such cooperation may prove particularly 
beneficial to the development of this programme and 
should involve countries at various levels of devel­
opment; 
Whereas it is necessary, as Annex II to Decision 
90/221/Euratom/EEC provides, to take protection of 
the environment and the quality of life into account by 
directing research activities towards an understanding of 
the fundamental mechanisms of the environment, and 
the framing and implementation of integrated prevention 
strategies in all areas of human activity, while contri­
buting to the preparation of quality and safety standards; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (Crest) has given its opinion, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development 
programme for the European Economic Community in 
the field of environment, as defined in Annex I, is hereby 
adopted for the period from the date of publication of 
this decision in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities to 31 December 1994. 
Article 2 
1. The Community funds estimated as necessary for 
the execution of the programme under this Decision 
amount to ECU 414 million. This amount includes ECU 
260 million for the execution of the activities approved 
by the present decision, and ECU 154 million for the 
activities which the JRC will contribute to the 
programme and which will be the subject of a separate 
decision of the Council. 
2. From the above sum of ECU 260 million, an 
amount of ECU 2,6 million is drawn for the centralized 
action of dissemination and exploitation. The funds thus 
reduced to ECU 257,4 million include staff costs, which 
may amount to a maximum of 4 °/o. 
3. An indicative allocation of funds is set out in An­
nex II. 
4. If the Council takes a decision pursuant to Article 
1 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom/EEC, this decision 
shall be adapted to take account of the abovementioned 
decision. 
5. The budgetary authority shall decide on the appro­
priations available for each financial year. 
Article 3 
Rules for the implementation of the programme are set 
out in Annex III. 
Article 4 
The rate of the Community financial contribution shall 
be laid down in accordance with Annex IV to Decision 
90/221/Euratom/EEC. 
Article 5 
1. During 1992, the Commission shall review the 
programme and address a report on the results of the 
review to the Council and to the European Parliament, 
together with proposals for any necessary changes. 
No C 327/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 12. 90 
2. At the end of the programme, the Commission shall 
assess the results obtained. It shall address a report 
thereon to the Council and the European Parliament. 
3. The reports shall be drawn up having regard to the 
objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision and in 
accordance with Article 2 (4) of Decision 
90/221/Euratom/EEC and shall assess the coherence of 
the programme's measurable implementation with the six 
major concerns set out in Annex II of Council Decision 
90/221 /Euratom, EEC. 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the 
execution of the programme. It shall be assisted by an 
advisory committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the 
Committee', composed of representatives of the Member 
States and chaired by a representative of the 
Commission. 
2. The contracts concluded by the Commission shall 
govern the rights and obligations of each party, 
including the procedures for disseminating, protecting 
and exploiting the research results, in accordance with 
the arrangements adopted pursuant to the second 
paragraph of Article 130k of the Treaty, and, where 
appropriate, procedures for training and evaluation. 
3. A work programme shall be drawn up at the start 
of the programme and shall be regularly revised. It shall 
set out the detailed objectives and types of projects to be 
undertaken and the financial arrangements to be made 
for them. The Commission shall make calls for proposals 
for projects on the basis of the work programme. 
Article 7 
1. In the cases referred to in Article 8 (1), the 
representative of the Commission shall submit to the 
Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The 
Committee shall deliver its opinion on this within a time 
limit which the Chairman may set in accordance with the 
urgency of the matter, if necessary by holding a vote. 
2. The opinion shall be entered in the minutes; in 
addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask 
for its position to appear in the minutes. 
3. The Commission shall take the fullest account of 
the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform 
the Committee of the way in which it has taken account 
of the opinion. Article 8 
The procedure laid down in Article 7 shall apply to: 
— the preparation and updating of the work programme 
referred to in Article 6 (3), 
— the contents of calls for proposals referred to in 
Annex III, 
— the participation in any project by non-Community 
organizations and enterprises referred to in Ar­
ticle 10, 
— any adaptation of the indicative breakdown of expen­
diture set out in Annex II, 
— evalutation of the projects referred to in Annex III, 
including those submitted through the exceptional 
procedure, 
— the measures to be undertaken to evaluate the 
programme, 
— accompanying measures and arrangements for the 
dissemination, protection and exploitation of the 
results of the research, for encouraging fundamental 
research, training of researchers and technological 
assessment carried out under the programme, 
— concerted actions, referred to in point 2 of Annex III. 
Article 9 
In implementing this programme, supplementary 
programmes within the meaning of Article 1301, partici­
pation within the meaning of Article 130m and joint 
undertakings or any other structures within the meaning 
of Article 130o of the Treaty may also be decided on as 
the need arises. 
Article 10 
Where cooperation with third countries and international 
organizations aiming at achieving the objectives of this 
programme requires legal undertakings between the 
Community and the third parties concerned, the 
Commission shall be authorized to negotiate, in 
accordance with Article 130n of the Treaty, international 
agreements laying down the terms of such cooperation. 
Priority will be given to cooperation with EFTA 
countries and European countries not members of the 
European Community, in accordance with the guidelines 
agreed between the Council and the European 
Parliament drawn up during the conciliation procedure 
29. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/25 
prior to the adoption of the third framework Decisions on the conclusion of such international 
programme. agreements shall be adopted in accordance with the 
procedure referred to in Article 130q (2) of the Treaty. 
The negotiations for such international agreements may 
only be initiated with third countries who are already 
signatories of a cooperation agreement with explicity Article 11 
cites research and technological development or scientific 
progress as one of the objectives of cooperation. This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX I 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT 
This specific programme fully reflects the approach embodied in the third framework programme in terms 
of the scientific and technical goals and the underlying aims which it pursues. 
Paragraphs 3A, 3B, 3D and 3E of Annex II to the framework programme form an integral part of the 
present specific programme. 
The actions envisaged will enable large projects to be undertaken to complement and strengthen the acti­
vities of the ongoing environment research programmes, the principal aim being to take the environment 
and the quality of life into account by directing research activities towards an understanding of the funda­
mental mechanisms of the environment and the framing and implementation of integrated prevention 
strategies in all areas of human activity and, in particular, to respond rapidly to the scientific challenges 
which arise from global change. 
Human life styles contribute to disruption of the various ecosystems. The acceleration of scientific, techno­
logical, economic and social development in the Community and throughout the world may put the 
biosphere and, consequently, mankind at risk. 
Thus, Community research must be aimed at identification of the risks, the better to avert these trends and 
thus bring them under control. Community research is therefore a driving force in the evolution of our 
system. Consequently, the Community must make provision for multidisciplinary research capable of 
studying every aspect of the biosphere and its historical development. Such research must also study man's 
relationship with the natural environment and with his economic, social and cultural environment etc., as 
they all form an indivisible whole. 
Such action is in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity: in fact, environmental research, which is 
fundamentally integrative, will come to full fruition in an international setting. By its very nature, the 
Community offers an advantageous framework for development. 
The following presents an analytical description of the content of the programme, based on and taking 
account of the above elements. 
Area 1: Participation in Global Change programmes 
The goal is to contribute to understanding the processes governing environmental change and to assess the 
impact of human activities. The knowledge of phenomena gained through the study of physical and 
chemical indicators will be supplemented to a considerable degree by the study of biological indicators, 
which have the advantage of providing an integrated response to all factors for change. Community partici­
pation will be concentrated on problems which will have an impact on environment policy and in areas 
where the Community is best placed to ensure European coordination in the framework of large inter­
national programmes whiie taking account of national programmes and avoiding competition with existing 
projects. 
No C 327/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 12. 90 
Natural climatic change 
The objective is to reconstruct and model the evolution of the climate system in the past in order to 
understand better how the system may evolve subject to forcing factors of human origin. 
Taking advantage of deep ice cores to be recovered in the next years, research will aim at the recon­
struction and modelling of the quaternary climatic cycles. In particular, the last climatic cycle should be 
accurately reconstructed, in order to understand and model the onset of the most recent glaciation. 
Anthropogenic climate change 
Research will be carried out to understand, describe and forecast climatic change brought about by human 
activities, in order to provide the scientific basis for preventive or adaptive measures. 
A major project will be launched on the development, testing and intercomparison of integrated high-
resolution global change models coupling the atmosphere (including clouds), the ocean, the biosphere and 
the cryosphere — and particularly exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere — taking advantage 
of modern supercomputer and computer-linking techniques. 
Climate change impacts 
The aim is to forecast the physical and human impacts of the foreseen climate change in the European 
Community. 
The emphasis will be on the quantitative assessment and modelling of the impacts of the foreseen climate 
change, especially the sea level rise and its consequences for European towns and low-lying coastal areas, 
and the impact on European agriculture, water resources and other sectors of the European economy 
(tourism, land use, energy, transport, etc.). 
Stratospheric ozone 
Work will aim at understanding and forecasting the processes and causes lying at the root of the depletion 
of stratospheric ozone. To that end, use will be made of the most modern scientific research techniques, 
both of the theoretical/mathematical and of the experimental type. 
New activities will include arctic campaigns in 1991/92 and 1992/93 to identify possible ozone depletion. 
In parallel, data collection from a network of ground measurement stations will be coordinated, 
complemented by measurements from mobile stations and by laboratory research on pertinent chemical and 
photochemical reactions. These activities will be accompanied by the modelling of stratospheric processes, 
including the consequences of emission scenarios, and by the assessment of the ecological and health 
effects of increased UV-B radiation. 
Tropospheric physics and chemistry 
Research will be carried out to elucidate important physico-chemical processes in the troposphere as a basis 
for the definition of preventive measures. New approaches to the understanding of tropospheric ozone, 
OH and NOy and HC (solid and gaseous phases) chemistry will include coordinated clean-air 
measurement campaigns as well as modelling work combining meteorological and chemical models. These 
activities will be extended to natural emissions such as terpenes and other hydrocarbons and sulphur and 
halogen containing compounds. 
Electromagnetic environment 
Work will aim to assess the impact on the climate, ecosystems and living things, in particular man, of 
changes in the electromagnetic environment as a result of human activities involving low-frequency 
radiation (50-60 hz). Hertzian radiation (radio, television) and microwaves (radar, satellite links, 
microwave ovens). 
29. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/27 
Biogeocbemical cycles 
Work will aim at deepening the understanding of biogeochemical cycles and their disturbances by human 
activities and providing the scientific basis for preventive and remedial actions. 
The material balance for chemical elements will be established in a network of inland catchment areas. The 
. activity will further be pursued in the form of research into the processes of diffusion and transformation 
of natural and anthropogenic substances in the European estuarine/coastal environment and will be 
extended from the Mediterranean to other coastal areas. This measure, whose nature will imply a need for 
close cooperation with the marine sciences and technologies programme, will focus chiefly on key topics 
with far-reaching environmental impact. 
Ecosystem dynamics 
The aim is to understand and forecast the interaction of global change and the dynamics of continental 
ecosystems and to provide a scientific basis for preventive and adaptive policies. The new element is the 
holistic approach to the investigation of important types of ecosystems such as wetlands and seminatural 
ecosystems. The global impact of exploitation and clearing of tropical forests and grassland and the loss of 
biological and genetic diversity will receive particular attention, in close coordination with the biotech­
nology programme. 
Area 2: Technologies and engineering for the environment 
The objective is to promote better environmental quality standards by encouraging technological inno­
vation at the pre-competitive level. The three main lines of research in this field will be environmental 
monitoring, including remote sensing applications, the enhancement of prevention through the decision of 
clean technologies and clean products, and the development of techniques and systems to protect and 
rehabilitate the environment. Support to the activities of the future European Environment Agency will be 
an important consideration in this research area. 
Assessment of environmental quality and monitoring 
Research will contribute to the study and design of new methodologies to measure the quality of the 
environment. Priority will be given to devising more effective and complete environmental monitoring 
systems and to developing measuring methods and instruments, both airborne and ground based. The 
measurement of atmospheric constituents, analysis of emissions, of waste, of water and of liquid effluents 
will receive particular attention, including the behaviour of pollutants in the subsoil down to groundwater. 
The development and testing of monitoring and alert systems for natural hazards such as seismic and 
volcanic phenomena, landslides, storms and floods, and forest fires will also be covered. 
Finally, advanced monitoring systems will be developed (e.g. chemical assessment of masses of micro-
pollutants, used to localize sources) to monitor air quality in urban areas and assess the quantitative 
relationship between polluters and sources (transport, heating, industrial emissions, etc.). 
Technologies for protecting and rehabilitating the environment 
Work will be carried out to contribute to the development of technologies for protecting and rehabilitating 
the environment including all the main aspects of urban environment and rehabilitating soils. Research 
concerned with the treatment and chemical, physical or biological disposal of toxic waste and of liquid 
effluents and the recycling of urban and industrial wastes will be complemented by the development of 
low-emission and low-waste technologies for selected industrial sectors. Studies will therefore be 
undertaken on the microbiological regeneration of pollution areas. Research aiming at the prevention of 
major industrial and transport accidents through a greater understanding of hazard phenomena will be 
widened to include the validation of methodologies of assessing risk, particular account being taken of the 
social and institutional factors; it will also be widened to include the development of low-risk alternative 
technologies and sophisticated process control and detection systems. For the monuments and objects 
which are components of European cultural heritage, research will quantify the causes and mechanisms of 
No C 327/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 12. 90 
deterioration; new methods of condition assessment will be developed, and the scientific basis for 
treatments and materials for conservation will be strengthened. 
Activities in this area will be coordinated with the Eureka project Euro-Environ and research teams funded 
by the programme will participate in the Eureka project Eurocare. 
Area 3: Research on economic and social aspects of environmental issues 
Economic and social change pose a major future threat to the environment. By putting science as a whole 
— the exact sciences and the human sciences — at the service of an interdisciplinary approach, research 
will help establish a lasting trend. 
Thus the general objective is to improve knowledge and understanding of existing and potential interaction 
between man's natural, health, legal, social, economic, ethical and cultural environment and the devel­
opment of this interaction over a period of time. Research will make use of the social and economic 
sciences and any other discipline capable of elucidating environmental problems and will range from basic 
development of methods and concepts and their application to environmental issues, to their incorporation 
into specific Community sectoral policies and environmental research programmes. 
Particular attention will be given to the integration of R&D carried out in the Member States and to the 
establishment of close cooperation with international programmes covering the same ground. 
Research into socio-economic factors of change in the environment 
The objective is to investigate, at a first stage, potential causes of change in man's environment in the 
changes in the economic, social and cultural systems, etc., then, at a second stage, to list ways in which the 
social and economic sciences and any other discipline might help in establishing a lasting trend and in 
decision-making in a situation of uncertainty. 
Topics to be covered will include: 
1. the environmental impact of demographic trends and historical aspects of soil use; 
2. taking account of the relationship between economics and the environment in constructing models and 
scenarios, national accounting and the study of economic policy instruments; interaction between 
economics, energy and the environment; resource assessment and the linking of this programme with 
Community research into energy sources and their use; 
3. social ecology (urban growth and town planning, research into social innovation); 
4. political and natural science; the role of law, institutions and international state and local authorities; 
the importance of transferring concepts from the exact sciences to the human sciences (uncertainty and 
the unexpected); 
5. ethics and the environment; public support for and involvement in sustainable development (awareness, 
behaviour, motivation); the role of the media and information; 
6. education concerning the role of and changes connected with the development of science and tech­
nology, increased awareness of ecological problems; 
29. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/29 
7. consideration of North-South imbalances and consideration of the adoption of a growth model by the 
countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 
Socio-economic impact of environmental policies and research 
The objective is to incorporate environmental socio-economic factors into Community policies and to 
provide a socio-economic dimension for Community environmental R&D. 
Work within this tehme is intended to ensure that, in line with the provisions of the Single Act, environ­
mental factors are sufficiently taken into account in Community sectoral policies and supporting R&D. 
Furthermore, as scientific and socio-economic parameters are closely interdependent in a number of 
research topics of the present programme, work under this theme will ensure that socio-economic consider­
ations and parameters are properly incorporated into relevant coordinated research projects. 
Illustrative examples include: integrated waste recycling systems within the internal market; ecological 
consequences of demographic and population changes (e.g. Alps and other mountain regions); environ­
mental impacts of tourism. 
Area 4: Integrated research projects 
A multidisciplinary approach is essential to deal with the complexities of the environmental problem, to 
bridge traditional scientific divisions, which form a barrier to an overall understanding of environmental 
problems. 
The objective is to help solve broad problems of transnational interest through a systems approach and 
interdisciplinary research. Integrated projects will address regional issues or issues of immediate relevance 
to the Community environmental policy. 
Examples are: 
Natural risks 
Work will aim at understanding the causes, mechanisms and consequences of hazardous environmental 
phenomena, and providing the scientific basis for disaster management (preparedness, prediction, alert, 
mitigation or prevention, recovery and redevelopment). 
Integrated research in this area will provide a European contribution to the international Decade for 
Natrual Hazard Reduction. It will cover telluric, meteorological and hydrogeological hazards, including 
research on forest fires, floods and slope instability and the phenomenology of extreme hazardous meteo­
rological events. 
Research on telluric hazards (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) will consist mainly of theoretical studies 
of telluric phenomena and of the behaviour of structures during these phenomena and will aim at the 
setting-up of field measurement sites and of rapid intervention networks in selected active zones in the 
Community. 
Technological risks 
The aim is to understand the consequences of human activities, technologies and products on human health 
and on the environment as a basis for preventive Community policies and legislation. 
Research in this area will cover the development and validation of systems for testing and assessment of 
chemicals for health and ecological effects. It will be complemented by studies of the effect of environ­
mental pollution on human health. Furthermore, the risks from agricultural technologies and land-use 
practices to soil and groundwater quality will be investigated. This work will extend to regional aspects of 
ecosystem protection including the eutrophication of coastal seas (in liaison with the specific programme 
on marine science and technology), the protection and conservation of habitats, forest dieback and the 
acidification of water bodies. 
Desertification in the Mediterranean area 
Research will be carried out to assess the natural and human causes, the mechanisms and the impacts of the 
spread of desertification in the Mediterranean area. Research will deal with the history, causes (human and 
climatic) and consequences of desertification. Strategies to combat desertification will be developed and 
their application to selected test zones will be envisaged. 
No C 327/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 12. 90 
ANNEX II 
INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES 
for the period 1991 to 1994 
(in %) 
Area 1: Participation in Global Change programmes 35-45 
Area 2: Technologies and engineering for the environment 20-25 
Area 3: Research on economic and social aspects of environmental issues 8-12 
Area 4: Integrated research projects 23-33 
The breakdown between different areas does not exclude the possibility that projects could cover several 
areas. 
1. An amount of ECU 25,7 million, equivalent to 10 % of the total, is the minimum estimated necessary 
for projects encouraging fundamental research: these projects should be clearly identified. 
2. An amount of ECU 5,1 million, equivalent to 2 % of the total, is esteemed necessary for projects 
encouraging the training of researchers in the fields covered by this specific programme. 
ANNEX III 
RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES FOR DISSEMINATING 
AND EXPLOITING THE RESULTS 
1. The Commission shall implement the programme on the basis of the scientific and technical content 
described in Annex I. 
2. The rules of implementing the programme, referred to in Article 3, comprise research and technological 
development projects, accompanying measures and concerted actions. 
The direct research activities carried out by the JRC will be the subject of a separate Council Decision. 
The projects shall be the subject of shared-cost research and technological development contracts. 
In the field of training, emphasis will be put on an interdisciplinary approach. Owing to the lack of 
multidisciplinary researchers in Europe, the Community must encourage multidisciplinary environmental 
research training. Recognized researchers will train in one or more additional fields outside their own 
discipline, to broaden their approach to the environment. 
Coordination within the programme will be the responsibility of integrating groups. Those taking part in 
the programme must be able to obtain rapid, regular information on other projects financed under the 
programme; to allow the cross-fertilization needed to confront the complexity and scale of ecological 
problems. A select group of thinkers and scientists chosen by the Commission for their universally 
recognized abilities will have the task of creating suitable interactions between Community research 
activities. 
The accompanying measures consist of applying the means to ensure proper technical execution, 
management and evaluation of the programme as well as adequate dissemination and accessibility of the 
results, and coordination, training and conciousness-raising of the participants in the programme. 
The concerted actions are those defined in Article 92 of the Financial Regulations. 
3. The participants in the projects must be natural or legal persons established in the Community, such as 
universities, research organizations and industrial firms, including small and medium-sized enterprises, 
or associations thereof, in particular European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIGs). 
29. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/31 
Natural or legal persons established in countries which have concluded agreements with the Community 
foreseeing scientific and technical research, may, based on the criterion of mutual advantage, take part 
in the projects undertaken in the context of this programme. The contracting parties under such 
arrangements shall not benefit from Community funding under the framework programme. They shall 
contribute to the general administrative costs. 
4. The choice of projects shall be carried out according to the following order of priority, the first method 
being the rule, the second the exception. 
The participants in the projects shall be selected on the basis of the ordinary procedure of calls for 
proposals referred to in Article 6 (3) and published in the Journal of the European Communities, 
Where other criteria of scientific excellence are satisfied, and in accordance with the guidelines agreed 
between the Council and the European Parliament, in the case of a number of project proposals of 
equal scientific value, preference shall be given: 
(i) to project proposals whose implementation involves project participants in less-developed regions 
and/or regions in industrial decline as defined by Articles 8 and 9 of Council'Regulation (EEC) No 
2052/88; 
(ii) to project proposals involving small and medium-sized enterprises or an association of such enter­
prises. 
The Commission shall determine in each case whether the management of the programme, or parts 
thereof, can be entrusted to organizations outside the Commission, without delegating its decisional 
powers. 
The Commission may also accept proposals according to an exceptional procedure and under the 
conditions mentioned below, when they make a particularly promising and significant contribution as 
regards the originality of the theme proposed, the novelty of the scientific and technical approach and 
the methodology of execution, also taking into account the particular nature of the proposers. 
A favourable technical evaluation of such proposals shall not by itself be a sufficient justification for 
accepting a project; this exceptional procedure may only apply after verification that the nature of the 
project, as defined above, does not justify the use of the normal procedure for calls for proposals. 
The exceptional procedure shall commence after the first call for proposals and must be completed 
before the ordinary procedure in such a way that the available amount for the Community's financial 
participation in projects retained by the ordinary procedure can be determined precisely. The closing 
date for the exceptional procedure shall be published each year in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. 
The amount of the financial participation of the Community for all the projects retained by the excep­
tional procedure will be decided each year, in relation to the projects selected according to particularly 
strict criteria of excellence. In any case, this amount may not exceed 10 %; it may be revised each year 
in the light of experience. 
The Commission shall draw up a vade mecum setting out all the rules applicable to this exceptional 
procedure in order to guarantee full transparency. 
5. The projects must provide for participation by at least two mutually independent partners established in 
different Member States. 
6. The Commission may encourage the participants to form a European Economic Interest Grouping 
(EEIG) or make other arrangements for carrying out projects, such as those on a large scale permitting 
decentralized management adapted to the specific requirements of the project. 
7. The knowledge acquired during the course of the projects shall be disseminated on the one hand within 
the specific programme and on the other hand by means of a centralized activity, pursuant to the 
Decision referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 4 of Decision 90/221/Euratom/EEC.