8. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 34/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision on a Community programme in the field of 
telecommunications technologies — R & D in advanced communications technologies in Europe 
(RACE programme) 
COM(87) 618 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 149 (2) of 
the Treaty on 26 November 1987) 
(88/C 34/01) 
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 (x), 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee (2), 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Whereas the Community has as its task, by establishing a 
common market and progressively approximating the 
economic policies of Member States, to promote throughout 
the Community a harmonious development of economic 
activity and closer relations between the States belonging 
to it; 
Whereas the Heads of State and Government, meeting in 
Stuttgart, Athens, Fontainebleau and Brussels, emphasized 
the importance of telecommunications as a major source for 
economic growth and social development; 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of the 
situation and development of telecommunications, stressed 
(>) OJ No C 304, 28. 11. 1986, p 2. 
(2) OJ No C 68, 16. 3. 1987, p. 22. the key role of telecommunications for the future political, 
social and economic development of the Community; 
Whereas on 17 December 1984 the Council agreed on the 
main elements of a Community telecommunication policy in 
the field of advanced telecommunication services and 
networks involving actions at the Community level; 
Whereas, with the emergence of new services and the 
progressive convergence of telecommunications, data 
processing and wider public services, the trend is towards a 
Europe-wide integrated broadband network (integrated 
broadband communication, IBC) capable of supporting a 
wide range of customers and service providers; 
Whereas developments in telecommunications will benefit 
the international competitiveness of the European economies 
in general and of the telecommunications industries in 
particular; 
Whereas the option selected for advanced 
telecommunications technologies must be such that it does 
not increase regional disparities in the Community; whereas 
the development of common specifications for equipment 
and services is necessary but not sufficient to prevent further 
divergences in the regional development; 
Whereas the development of the IBC 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; 
No C 34/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 2. 88 
Whereas, in response to the requirement of using fully the 
economic and market potential of telecommunications, the 
Commission has submitted a programme of action which has 
been recognized by the Council as a basis for further 
work; 
Whereas cooperation in R & D and the development of 
standards can make a major contribution, notably by 
facilitating the evolution towards future IBC in terms of 
transnational connections and also at regional and local 
levels; 
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 the Research Council on 4 June 1985 recognized the 
importance of the rapid establishment of a definition phase 
for the RACE programme, in order to prepare a general 
European framework for the development of advanced 
systems of communications for the future and to promote 
technological and industrial cooperation; 
Whereas the Council adopted, by Decision 85/372/EEC(1), 
the RACE definition phase of 18 months on which to base the 
decision for the main programme by the end of 1986; 
Whereas, by its Decision of 28 September 1987, the Council 
has adopted a framework programme of Community 
activities in the field of research and technological 
development (1987 to 1991) providing for research to be 
undertaken leading towards a large market and an 
information and communications society, including 
telecommunications; 
Whereas the constitution or consolidation of a specifically 
European industrial potential in the technologies concerned 
is an urgent necessity; whereas its beneficiaries must be 
network 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 the RACE definition phase has produced the 
requisite conclusions; 
Whereas the RACE Management Committee has carried out 
an assessment and called for the necessary decisions to be 
taken in time to ensure the follow-up of the work; 
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 
H OJ No L 210, 7. 8. 1985, p. 24. and particularly in programmes involving cooperation 
in research and development of telecommunications 
technology; 
Whereas close coordination with Esprit is essential, since 
both programmes benefit from each other; 
Whereas good coordination with Eureka and /or other 
European transnational cooperation projects and national 
actions is essential to prevent duplication of effort; 
Whereas during the RACE main phase, numerous decisions 
will have to be taken which are extremely relevant to 
consumers, whether private individuals or businesses, such 
as those concerning the desired level of confidentiality and 
privacy of data transfer; 
Whereas one fundamental concern which has emerged from 
the RACE definition phase is the lack of attention to the 
consumer-oriented aspects of future telecommunications 
services; whereas quality requirements and costs are 
associated problems in respect of which ongoing decisions 
will have to be made during the RACE main phase; whereas, 
therefore, Parliament must be kept constantly informed of 
developments so that, where appropriate, it may 
intervene; 
Whereas the implementation of concerted acctions 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; 
Whereas, on the basis of results achieved, the programme 
may be extended for a second period of five years, following a 
proposal from the Commission, 
HAS ADOPTED THE DECISION: 
Article 1 
1. A Community programme in the field of 
telecommunication technologies (RACE), is hereby adopted 
for an initial period of five years commencing 1 June 
1987. 
2. The programme is designed, in concertation with 
public and private actions in the field of telecommunications 
technologies undertaken at national and international level, 
to promote the competitiveness of the Community's 
telecommunications industry, operators and service 
providers in order to make available to the final users, at 
minimum cost and with minimum delay, the services which 
will sustain the competitiveness of the European 
8. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 34/3 
economy over the coming decades and contribute to 
maintaining and creating employment in the Community. 
Article 2 
1. The programme summary and objectives, as set out in 
more detail in Annex II, shall consist of three parts: 
PARTI 
IBC Development and implementation strategies shall 
comprise work required for the development of functional 
specifications, systems and operations research towards the 
definition of proposals for Open Systems-conforming(]) 
standards, concepts and conventions and analytical work 
serving the objective of establishing inter-operability for 
IBC (2) equipment and services. This work is to be carried out 
by appropriate organizations, groups and other bodies 
including, where required, contract work. 
PART II 
IBC technologies shall comprise R&D cooperation in IBC 
technologies at the pre-competitive stage. 
PART III 
Pre-normative functional integration shall comprise 
pre-normative and pre-competitive R&D relating to 
cooperation in the realization of an 'open verification 
environment' designed to assess functions, operational 
concepts and experimental equipment with respect to 
functional specifications and standardization proposals 
arising from the work in Part I. 
Article 3 
1. Projects relating to the programme shall be executed, 
where required, 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. 
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 industrial partners 
(') Open systems-conformity stands for an international 
standardization effort to make equipment and services from 
different suppliers, operators and service providers 
inter-operable. 
(2) IBC = integrated broadband communication, which stands 
for advanced telecommunication services relying on high 
performance infrastructures. not all established in the same Member State. The invitation 
to tender shall be published in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
3. In exceptional cases concerning projects indispensable 
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 industrial partner, 
(iii) more than one independent industrial partner 
established in the same Member State, or 
— where an open tendering procedure would be unjustified 
on grounds of cost or efficiency, or 
— where the amount of Community's contribution to the 
cost does not exceed one 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 Article 3 (1) and (2). 
4. The contracts for all parts of the action programme 
shall be concluded with network operators, research 
establishments, undertakings, including small and 
medium-sized enterprises, and other bodies established in the 
Community. 
Article 4 
Where framework agreements for scientific and technical 
cooperation between non-Community European countries 
and the European Communities have been concluded, 
organizations and enterprises in these countries may, in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 3 and 8 $ 
become partners to a project undertaken within the 
programme. 
Article 5 
1. The funds estimated necessary for the Community's 
contribution to the implementation of the programme 
amounts to 550 million ECU over five years, including 
expenditure on a staff whose costs shall not exceed 4,5 % of 
the Community's contribution. 
2. The internal and 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. 
No C 34/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 2. 88 
2. The Commission shall ensure close coordination with 
the Esprit programme, Eureka projects and/or other 
European transnational cooperation projects and national 
actions and the setting up of procedures to allow for 
appropriate cooperation with COST activities related to the 
areas of research covered by the programme, by ensuring 
regular exchanges of information 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 Parliament informed of the progress of the 
draft 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 respect of each part 
of the programme by appropriate organizations, groups 
and other bodies, 
— the assessment of the proposed projects for the 
implementation of Parts I and HI and the Community 
financial contribution for a project when this 
contribution is in excess of 2,5 million ECU, 
— the assessment of the proposed projects for the 
implementation of Part II and the Community financial 
contribution for a project when this contribution is in 
excess of five million ECU, 
— the participation in any project by European 
organizations and enterprises not established in the 
Community. 
5. The Commission may consult the Committee referred 
to in Article 7, and shall consult it at the request of the 
representatives of at least four Member States 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 Management Committee, hereinafter referred to as 
'the Committee'. The Committee, consisting of two 
representatives 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, shall refer the draft of 
the measures to be adopted to the Committee. The 
Committee shall deliver an opinion within a time limit which 
shall normally be one month and shall in no case exceed two 
months. The opinion shall be 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 shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt the proposed measures 
if they are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee. 
If the proposed measures are not in accordance with the 
opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the 
Commission shall submit to the Council without delay a 
proposal. The Council shall act by a qualified majority. 
If the Council has not acted within a period which shall in no 
case exceed two months from the date on which the matter 
was referred to it, the proposed measure shall be adopted by 
the Commission for matters falling under Article 6 (4). 
Article 9 
1. The programme shall be reviewed after 30 months on 
the basis of an evaluation of the results achieved in relation to 
the precise objectives set out in Annex II to this Decision. The 
Commission shall inform the Council and European 
Parliament of the results of this review. 
2. If the Commission wishes to extend the programme it 
shall, after consulting the Committee, send a report on the 
operation and results of the programme to the Member States 
and to the European Parliament in good time. If no extension 
is required, this report shall be submitted at the end of the 
period under review. 
Article 10 
With regard to the coordination activities provided for in 
Article 1 (2), the Member States and the Commission shall 
exchange all appropriate information to which they have 
8. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 34/5 
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. 
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 
suppliers' request. 
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 (2), 
Whereas, under Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community has 
in particular the task of promoting a harmonious 
development of economic activities and continuous balanced 
expansion throughout the Community; whereas Article 3 of 
the Treaty provides inter alia that, for the purposes set out in 
Article 2, the activities of the Community shall include 
increased trade and the joint promotion of economic and 
social development in the developing countries; 
Whereas the resolution adopted by the Council on 18 
November 1980 underlines the importance of the 
development of research capacities oriented particularly 
towards food agriculture in the developing countries and of 
complementarity between the activities of the research 
centres established in the Community and the efforts 
undertaken in this field by the developing countries; Article 11 
This Decision shall apply from 1 June 1987. 
Article 12 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Whereas the Intergovernmental Committee for Science and 
Technology for Development (ICSTD) during its eighth 
session, from 2 to 6 June 1986, adopted a resolution which 
invited industrialized countries to increase their research and 
development efforts in the sector of agriculture and related 
fields, including joint projects with developing countries; 
Whereas developing countries have become aware of the 
place of science and technology in the process of economic 
and social development; whereas it is consequently 
important to facilitate the introduction of a scientific and 
technical dimension into the development activities of the 
Community; 
Whereas the research and development measures covered by 
this Decision relate to two particularly grave and urgent 
problems, food and health, which are bound up with the 
fundamental needs of the developing countries; 
Whereas it is necessary to establish greater cooperation 
among scientists in the various Member States and the 
developing countries with a view to facilitating the 
complementarity of research and methodologies and 
ensuring easier access to the different networks of scientific 
relationships established by the Member States with their 
third world partners; 
Whereas the Council adopted on 14 January 1974 a 
resolution on an initial outline programme of the European 
Communities in the field of science and technology (3); Amended proposal for a Council Decision relating to a research and development programme in the 
field of science and technology for development (1987 to 1991) 
COM(87) 634 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council pursuant to Article 149 (2) of the EEC Treaty on 
27 November 1987) 
(88/C 34/02) 
(») OJ No C 24, 31. 1. 1987, p. 9. 
(2) OJ No C 150, 9. 6. 1987, p. 13. (3) OJNoC7, 29. 1. 1974, p. 6.