No C 146/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 6. 88 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision on a Community programme in the field of road 
transport informatics — DRIVE (Dedicated road infrastructure for vehicle safety in Europe) (*) 
COM(88) 167 final 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to the third paragraph of Article 149 of the EEC Treaty on 
24 March 1988) 
(88/C 146/10) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community and in particular 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 the Community has as its task, by establishing a 
common market and progressively approximating the 
economic policies of Member States, inter alia to 
promote throughout the Community a hormonious 
development of economic activity and closer relations 
between the Member States belonging to it; 
Whereas the Heads of State and Government 
emphasized the importance of road transport efficiency, 
safety and environmental compatibility as a major factor 
for economic growth and social development within the 
framework laid down in the Treaty of Rome, 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of 
the situation and development of road transport, stressed 
its role for the future political, social and economic 
development of the Community and made particular 
reference to the need to develop electronic road safety 
aids (2) and by its adoption (3) of the report (4) of its 
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and 
Industrial Policy on the European Community Auto­
mobile Industry demonstrated the European dimension 
of this industry; 
(») OJ No C 355, 31. 12. 1987, p. 1. 
(2) Resolution of the European Parliament on the adoption of a 
programme of Community measures to promote road safety, 
OJ No C 104, 27. 4. 1984, p. 38. 
(') Resolution of the European Parliament on 23 January 1987. 
(4) Document A 2-171/86 of 8 December 1986, rapporteur M. 
Peter Beazley. Whereas the Council in its resolution of 19 December 
1984 on road safety invited the Commission to submit 
proposals (5); 
Whereas the Single European Act provides a new 
political and legal base for the development of a 
scientific and technological strategy with particular 
importance being given to the goal of promoting 
industrial competitiveness; 
Whereas, by Decision 87/516/Euratom/EEC (6), the 
Council adopted a framework programme of 
Community activities in the field of research and techno­
logical development (1987 to 1991) providing for 
research to be undertaken in the field of the application 
of information technology, telecommunications and 
broadcasting to meet common social needs and in 
particular road transport; 
Whereas the Council has recognized the importance of 
standardization in the field of information technology 
and telecommunications (7); whereas cooperation in pre-
normative and pre-competitive R&D towards the devel­
opment of standards can make a major contribution, 
notably by facilitating the evolution towards future more 
efficient and safer road transport at regional and local 
levels; 
Whereas the Commission intends also to propose 
Community programmes in the area of the application of 
information technologies and telecommunications in 
other transport sectors such as rail, sea and air transport; 
Whereas the Economic and Social Committee made 
particular reference to electronic traffic aids on major 
roads (8) and to the implementation of a Community 
programme on road safety (9); 
(*) OJ No C 341, 21. 12. 1984, p. 1. 
(') OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. 
O Council Decision of 22 December 1986, OJ No L 36, 
7. 2. 1987, p. 31. 
(8) Opinion of 27 and 28 April 1977, OJ No C 126, 28. 5. 1977, 
p. 20. 
O Opinion of 24 May 1984, OJ No C 206, 6. 8. 1984, p. 60. 
3. 6. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 146/19 
Whereas the Commission in its proposal for a medium-
term transport infrastructure programme (') made 
specific reference to the importance of stimulating tech­
nological developments for improving transport 
performance and likely to be of value to exports and to 
the enlargement of the internal market for new tech­
nologies for European industry which will offer the 
security of future increases in productivity and competi­
tiveness; 
Whereas the Council Decision of 28 September 1987 
concerning the Framework Programme for Community 
activities in the field of R & T & D provides that a 
particular aim of Community research shall be to 
strengthen the scientific and technological basis of 
European industry especially in strategic areas of high 
technology and to encourage it to become more 
competitive at international level and whereas the same 
Decision further provides that Community action is 
justified where research contributes inter alia to the 
strengthening of the economic and social cohesion of the 
Community and the promotion of its overall harmonious 
development, while being consistent with the pursuit of 
scientific and technical quality; whereas it is intended 
that the DRIVE programme should contribute to the 
achievement of these objectives; 
Whereas with the emergence of mobile communication 
services and the progressive introduction of computing in 
automobiles, the conditions for major improvements for 
traffic management, reduction of environmental impact 
of road transport and road safety are emerging; 
Whereas developments in road transport efficiency and 
safety will benefit the international competitiveness of 
the European economies in general and of industries in 
particular; 
Whereas advances in road transport efficiency and safety 
will contribute to resolving the problem of intolerable 
social and other consequences of road accidents; 
Whereas the concerted efforts in this domain will 
contribute to the creation of the internal market and 
prevent the formation of new internal frontiers to road 
safety; 
Whereas the development of common functional specifi­
cations for equipment and services will strengthen 
cohesion and permit the less developed regions to benefit 
fully from the efforts of Member States leading to the 
(') COM(86) 340 final, June 1986. improvements of the transport and traffic management 
infrastructure developments in the Community; 
Whereas the development of the road transport infra­
structure technology and services offers a wide range of 
opportunities for small and medium-sized companies in 
the manufacture of equipment and in the provision of 
specialized services within the Community; 
Whereas it is appropriate for projects carried out in the 
context of Eureka and specific activities undertaken 
within the Framework Programme to complement and 
support each other when pre-competitive research which 
will strengthen European technology is involved; 
Whereas the Commission has declared at the second 
Eureka Ministerial Meeting at London (June 1986) its 
wish to support projects relating to road safety and navi­
gation; 
Whereas the constitution or consolidation of a specifi­
cally European industrial potential in the technologies 
concerned is an urgent necessity; whereas its bene­
ficiaries must be industry, network/broadcasting 
operators, research establishments, undertakings, 
including small and medium-sized enterprises and other 
bodies established in the Community which are best 
suited to attain these objectives; 
Whereas exploratory investigations at Community level 
have confirmed the requests of participants of Eureka to 
take advantage of Community cooperation in this field; 
Whereas the definition phase of Prometheus (Eureka) 
has established the reliance of those parties to that 
cooperation agreement on the Community for definition 
of pre-normative and pre-competitive work relating to 
road infrastructure systems and further pre-competitive 
research by the Community in shared cost programmes; 
Whereas it is necessary that enterprises in the 
Community not taking part in the DRrVE programme 
or in related Eureka programmes shall be capable of 
benefitting from the results of DRIVE projects as will 
companies participating only in related Eureka projects; 
Whereas it is essential that any pre-competitive work in a 
project carried out in coordination with an Community 
technology project for pre-competitive research shall 
adhere to the principles for Community shared cost 
projects, especially with regard to the cross-frontier 
cooperation and inclusion of small and medium-sized 
enterprises; 
No C 146/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 6. 88 
Whereas it is in the Community's interest to consolidate 
the scientific and financial basis of European research by 
means of the involvement to a greater extent of 
participants from European third countries in certain 
Community programmes and particularly in programmes 
involving cooperation in research and development of 
road transport technology; 
Whereas the DRIVE programme will benefit from the 
results of Esprit and RACE as well as the on-going 
efforts in standardization; 
Whereas the implementation of concerted actions in the 
COST framework is an essential element to complement 
industrially-oriented R&D projects; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (CREST) has expressed its opinion, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
1. A Community programme in the field of road 
transport informatics, called DRIVE, is adopted for an 
initial period of 30 months commencing 1 June 1988. 
2. The programme is designed, in concertation with 
public and private actions in the field of road transport 
informatics undertaken at national and international 
level, to promote the competitiveness of the 
Community's industries, operators and service providers 
in order to make available to the final users, at minimum 
cost and with minimum delay, the improvements in road 
transport efficiency and safety as well as minimizing the 
environmental impact of road transport, thereby contri­
buting to social as well as economic objectives. 
3. The programme includes Community activity 
relevant to the Eureka actions (') in this field with 
respect to standardization and common functional speci­
fications relating to the development of advanced infra­
structure systems. 
Article 2 
The programme, as set out in more detail in Annex I, 
shall consist of the development of a common conceptual 
framework for cooperation, pre-normative work and 
(') In particular Prometheus, Europolis and Carminat. technology exploration and the investigation of the non-
technological factors as required for the objective of 
concerting European efforts in improving road transport 
efficiency, road safety and reduction of environmental 
impact. The work includes the following parts: 
I. RTI technologies, 
II. Evaluation of strategic options, 
III. Specifications, protocols and standardization 
proposals. 
The programme summary and objectives are set out in 
more detail in Annex II. 
Article 3 
1. Projects relating to the programme shall be 
executed by means of shared cost contracts. Contractors 
shall be expected to bear a substantial proportion of the 
costs, which should normally be at least 50 % of the 
total expenditure. 
Alternatively, in respect of universities and research 
institutes carrying out projects or actions, the 
Community may bear up to 100 % of the additional 
expenditure involved. 
2. The proposals for projects shall, as a rule, be 
submitted in reply to an open invitation to tender and 
involve the participation of at least two independent 
partners not all established in the same Member State. At 
least one of the partners shall be an industrial under­
taking. The invitation to tender shall be published in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
3. In exceptional cases concerning projects indis­
pensable for implementing key requirements of the 
workplan: 
— where a proposal would involve 
(i) unreasonable burden on the participants, 
particularly small and medium-sized enterprises 
and research establishments; 
(ii) only one independent partner; 
(iii) only independent partners established in the 
same Member State, 
or 
— where an open tendering procedure would be unjus­
tified on grounds of cost or efficiency, 
or 
— where the amount of Community's contribution to 
the cost does not exceed 1 million ECU, 
it may be decided, in accordance with the procedures 
laid down in Article 8, to depart from the general 
provisions set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article. 
3. 6. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 146/21 
4. The contracts for all parts of the action programme 
shall be concluded with network operators, research 
establishments, universities, undertakings, including small 
and medium-sized enterprises, and other bodies estab­
lished in the Community. 
Article 4 
Where Framework Agreements for scientific and 
technical cooperation between non-Community 
European countries and the European Community have 
been concluded, organizations and enterprises estab­
lished in these countries may, in accordance with the 
procedures laid down in Article 8, become partners to a 
project undertaken within this programme. 
Article 5 
1. The funds estimated as necessary for the 
Community contribution to the execution of the 
programme amount to payment of 60 million ECU over 
the period adopted for the Framework Programme, 
including expenditure on staff (11 A, 3 B, 8 C temporary 
officials). 
The total amount of appropriations shall be calculated 
definitively on the basis of the appropriations allocated 
annually by the Budgetary Authority in the light of 
actual requirements. 
2. The indicative allocation of these funds is set out in 
Annex I. 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall ensure that the programme 
is properly performed and establish the appropriate 
implementation measures. 
2. The Commission shall ensure that procedures are 
set up to allow for appropriate cooperation with COST 
activities related to the areas of research covered by the 
programme, by ensuring regular exchanges of infor­
mation between the Committee referred to in Article 7 
and the relevant COST Management Committees. 
3. The Commission shall establish for each year and 
update as required a draft workplan defining the detailed 
objectives, the type of projects and actions to be 
undertaken and the corresponding financial plans. The 
Commission shall keep the European Parliament 
informed of the progress of the annual workplans. 
4. The procedure laid down in Article 8 shall apply 
to: 
— the establishment and updating of the annual 
workplan referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, 
— any departure from the general conditions laid down 
in Article 3 (1) and (2), — the evaluation of work undertaken in the execution 
of the programme by appropriate organizations, 
groups and other bodies, 
— the assessment of the proposed projects for the 
implementation and the estimated amount of the 
Community financial contribution for a project when 
this contribution is in excess of 2,5 million ECU, 
— the participation in any project by European organiz­
ations and enterprises not established in the 
Community as provided for in Article 4. 
5. The Commission may consult the Committee 
referred to in Article 7 on any matter falling within the 
scope of this Decision. 
Article 7 
The Commission shall be assisted in the performance of 
its tasks by a committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the 
Committee'. The Committee, consisting of two represen­
tatives of each Member State, shall be set up by the 
Commission on the basis of nominations by the Member 
States. 
Members of the Committee may be assisted by experts or 
advisors depending on the nature of the issues under 
consideration. 
The Committee shall be chaired by a Commission 
representative. 
The proceedings of the Committee shall be confidential. 
The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 
The secretarial services shall be provided by the 
Commission. 
Article 8 
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to 
be followed, the chairman shall refer the matter to the 
Committee, either on his own initiative or at the request 
of one of its members. 
2. Under this procedure, the representative of the 
Commission, who acts as chairman, refers the draft of 
the measures to be adopted to the Committee. The 
Committee delivers an opinion within a time limit which 
shall normally be one month and shall in no case exceed 
two months. The opinion is delivered by the majority 
specified in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty for decisions 
which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal 
from the Commission, the votes of the representatives of 
the Member States being weighted as indicated in that 
Article. The chairman does not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall 
apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in 
accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they 
shall be communicated by the Commission to the 
Council forthwith. In that event: 
No C 146/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 6. 88 
— the Commission may defer application of the 
measures which it has decided for a period of not 
more than one month from the date of such 
communication, 
— the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take 
a different decision within the time limit referred to 
in the previous paragraph. 
Article 9 
1. The result of the programme shall be reviewed by 
the Commission after 18 months. The Commission shall 
report to the Council and the European Parliament on 
the results of this review, (together with any proposals 
for modification or prolongation of the programme 
which the Commission deems appropriate). 
2. After the completion of the programme, the 
Commission shall send to Council and European 
Parliament a report on the performance and results of 
the programme. 
3. The abovementioned reports will be carried out in 
relation to the precise objectives set out in Annex II to 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaties establishing the European 
Communities, and in particular Articles 43 and 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Whereas the European Council has agreed that the 
Community must submit the use of its own resources to 
effective and legally binding discipline parallel to the 
efforts being made by the Member States in connection 
with their own budgets; 
Whereas the arrangements for budgetary discipline 
decided upon by the European Council at Fontainebleau 
must be strengthened in the light of experience; 
Whereas budgetary discipline must be applied to all the 
Community's expenditure; whereas it must cover both 
payment and commitment appropriations; this Decision and in conformity with the provisions of 
Article 2 paragraph 2 of the Framework Programme. 
Article 10 
1. With regard to the concertation activities provided 
for in Article 1 (2), the Member States and the 
Commission shall exchange all appropriate information 
to which they have access and which they are free to 
disclose concerning activities in the areas covered by this 
Decision, whether or not planned or carried out under 
their authority. 
2. Information shall be exchanged according to a 
procedure to be defined by the Commission after 
consulting the Committee, and shall be treated as 
confidential at the supplier's request. 
Article 11 
This Decision shall apply from 1 June 1988. 
Article 12 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Whereas rules on budgetary discipline as regards non-
compulsory expenditure will be laid down in a joint 
declaration by Parliament, the Council and the 
Commission; 
Whereas the European Council on 11, 12 and 13 
February agreed the principles of a guideline for the 
control of agricultural expenditure; 
Whereas the rate of progression of EAGGF Guarantee 
Section expenditure must not exceed 74 % of the rate of 
increase in Community GNP, this rate corresponding to 
that of 80 % of maximum EAGGF financing of set-aside 
is taken into consideration; 
Whereas the European Council has also agreed to mech­
anisms for the systematic depreciation of existing and 
future agricultural stocks so that the stock situation can 
be normalized by 1992; 
Whereas the stabilization mechanisms provided for in the 
provisions governing the common organization of 
markets should play a part in ensuring compliance with 
the agricultural guideline; 
Whereas the European Council has also agreed that the 
level of EAGGF Guarantee Section expenditure may be Proposal for a Council Decision concerning budgetary discipline 
COM(88) 257 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 27 April 1988) 
(88/C 146/11)