COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM (89) 252 final-SYN 162 
Brussels, , June 1989 
RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
TO ADOPT A FIRST 
SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 
IN THE FIELD OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149-2 (d) 
of the EEC Treaty) 
6e^> lïlf 
PART I 
RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
TO ADOPT A FIRST 
SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 
IN THE FIELD OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149-2 (d) 
of the EEC Treaty) 
(original COM (88) 587 final - SYN 162, 27 October 1988) 
PART II 
COMMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS OF PARLIAMENT 
WHICH ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION 
PART I 
RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
TO ADOPT A FIRST 
SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 
IN THE FIELD OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST) 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 
on a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of Marine Science and Technology (MAST) 
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'1, 
In co-operation with the European Parliament2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee", 
Uhereas Article 130k of the Treaty states that the framework programme is to 
be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Uhereas, by its Decision 87/516/Euratom,EEC* as amended by Decision 
88/193/EEC,Euratom», the Council has adopted a framework programme for 
Community research and technological development (1987-1991), providing 
inter alia for activities in the exploitation of the seabed and the use of 
marine resources; 
Uhereas Decision 87/516/Euratom,EEC* stipulates that a particular aim of 
Community research must be to strengthen the scientific and technological 
basis of European industry, particularly in strategic sectors of advanced 
technology, and to encourage industry by making it more competitive at the 
international level, and whereas the same Decision also lays down that 
Community action is justified if it contributes, among other things, to 
strengthening the Community's economic and social cohesion and to promoting 
its overall harmonious development, while at the same time being consistent 
with the pursuit of scientific and technical excellence; whereas the MAST 
programme is planned to contribute to the pursuit of these objectives; 
OJ No. C298, 23.11.1988, p. 17. 
Opinion delivered on 15 February 1989 (not yet published in the 
Official Journal) and Decision of (not yet 
published in the Official Journal). 
Opinion delivered on 26 February 1989 (not yet published in the 
Official Journal). 
OJ No. L302, 24.10.1987, p. 1. 
OJ No. L 89, 06.04.1988, p.35. 
*f 
Uhereas the European Parliament has stressed the need for co-operation, co­
ordination and complementarity of national policies in the field of 
oceanography and marine technology and has recommended that the Commission 
should undertake a number of actions to that effect under the framework 
programme, including a specific programme for Marine Science and Technology; 
Uhereas other Community programmes (e.g. Environmental Protection, 
Climatology and Natural Hazards, Fisheries, Technological Development in the 
Hydrocarbons Sector, Non-Nuclear Energy and some activities of the Joint 
Research Centre (JRO) have a bearing on topics in Marine Science and 
Technology, but none is directed specifically at marine research; 
Uhereas in the present context of expanding industrialization, increasing 
pressure is being placed on the marine and especially the coastal 
environment; 
Uhereas 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; 
Uhereas to achieve these objectives much can be gained from effective co­
ordination of the research programmes of the Member States and joint 
execution of European projects in Marine Science and Technology; 
Uhereas participation by certain European third countries in a Community 
research and development programme in Marine Science and Technology would be 
beneficial; 
Uhereas 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 Marine Science and Technology (MAST), as 
defined in Annex I, is hereby adopted for a period of three years, starting 
on 
Article 2 
The funds estimated as necessary for the Community contribution to the 
execution of the programme amount to ECU 50 million, including expenditure 
on a staff of 13. 
An indicative breakdown of these funds is set out in Annex II. 
Article 3 
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme are set out in Annex 
III. 
Article 4 
During the second year of implementation, the Commission shall review the 
programme and send a report on the results of its review to the European 
Parliament and the Council. This report shall be accompanied where necessary 
by proposals for the amendment or extension of the programme. 
At the end of the programme, an evaluation of the results achieved shall be 
conducted by the Commission which shall report thereon to the European 
Parliament and the Council. 
The abovementioned reports shall be established having regard to the 
objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision and in accordance with 
Article 2(2) of Decision 87/516/Euratom,EEC. 
Article 5 
The Commission shall be responsible for the execution of the programme. 
The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature, 
hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", composed of the representatives 
of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 
Contracts concluded by the Commission shall govern the rights and 
obligations of each party, in particular arrangements for the dissemination, 
protection and exploitation of research results. 
Article 6, 
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 within a time limit which the Chairman may lay down according to 
urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 
2. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes of the Committee; in 
addition, each Member State shall have the right to have its opinion 
recorded in the minutes. 
3. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by 
the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its 
opinion has been taken into account. 
Article 7 
The procedures laid down in Article 6 shall apply in particular to: 
- the contents for the call for proposals; 
- the assessment of the proposed projects and the estimated amount of the 
Community's contribution to them; 
- departures from the general rules governing Community participation set 
out in Annex III; 
- the participation in any project by non-Community organizations and 
enterprises referred to in Article 8 ; 
- any adaptation of the indicative breakdown of funds set out in Annex II; 
- the measures to be undertaken to evaluate the programme; 
- arrangements for the dissemination, protection and exploitation of the 
results of research carried out under the programme. 
Article 8 
1. The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate, in accordance with 
Article 130n of the Treaty, agreements with international organizations, 
those third States participating in European Co-operation in the field of 
Scientific and Technical Research (COST), and those European countries 
having concluded framework agreements in scientific and technical co­
operation with the Community, with a view to associating them wholly or 
partly with the programme. 
2. Uhere framework agreements for scientific and technical co-operation 
between European third countries and the European Communities have been 
concluded, organizations and enterprises established in those countries 
may, on the basis of the criterion of mutual advantage, become partners 
in a project undertaken within the programme. 
3. No contractor established outside the Community who participates as a 
partner in a project undertaken within the programme shall be entitled to 
Community financing intended for the programme. The contractor will 
contribute to general administrative expenses. 
Article 9 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
Tr 
ANNEX I 
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES 
The objectives of the MAST programme are: 
- to contribute to better knowledge of the marine environment in order to 
improve its management and protection and to predict change; 
- to encourage the development of new technologies for the exploration, 
protection and exploitation of marine resources; 
- to improve co-ordination and co-operation and the exchange of information 
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 contribute to the economic and social cohesion of the Community by 
encouraging the involvement of scientists from all Member States thereby 
stimulating technology transfer and the joint and more efficient use of 
facilities and simultaneously strengthening the scientific and 
technological base of the Community, whilst being consistent with the 
pursuit of scientific and technical excellence; 
- 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 facilitate training and exchange of personnel; 
- to assist as far as possible Community participation in international 
ocean programmes. 
* 
ANNEX II 
PROGRAMME CONTENTS AND INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS 
Indicative 
Breakdown 
Part I: Basic and Applied Marine Science 30-35% 
Directed at the study of the structure, stability and dynamics of the marine 
environment, with reference inter alia to the quality of sea water and of 
fauna and flora. Emphasis will be on coastal waters and seas surrounding the 
Member States of the Community (Baltic, East Atlantic north of the tropic of 
Cancer, Irish, Mediterranean and North). 
1. Modelling 
The main aim is to establish decision support systems for better 
management. 
1.1. Continental shelf and regional seas 
To develop three dimensional physical models and fourth generation 
management systems for shelf and regional seas. 
1.2. Coastal waters 
To compare and improve models of coastal waters and currents and 
integrate these with models of regional seas. 
1.3. Ecosystem models 
To upgrade models of marine ecosystems in order to understand 
biological processes and thereby achieve more realistic management 
schemes. 
1.4. Modelling coordination within the Community 
2. Oceanography 
Uith emphasis on multidisciplinary studies of processes which contribute 
to a better understanding of marine systems. 
2.1. Circulation and exchange of water masses 
To determine the prevailing physical forces, the fate of inputs, and 
to evaluate exchanges at the shelf/ocean interface. 
2.2. Biogeochemical cycles and fluxes 
To establish the major pathways and reservoirs in biogeochemical 
processes. 
f 
2.3. Interface and boundary processes 
To understand the mechanisms governing exchange of matter and energy 
at the boundaries of the marine system. 
2.4. Biological processes 
To improve understanding of biological processes in the marine 
environment, particularly in relation to physical and chemical 
determinants. 
2.5. Sedimentary processes 
To obtain better information on sedimentary processes, for the 
balanced development of resources and uses of the sea floor and the 
coast. 
Part II: Coastal Zone Science and Engineering 15-2QA 
Concerned with coastal problems and processes (including coastal 
protection), and with the development of better design criteria for coastal 
engineering. 
1. coastal roorphotiynaroics 
To understand and predict changes in coastal morphology. 
2. Coastal ecosystems 
To improve knowledge of the predominant physical, chemical and biological 
processes in coastal waters. 
3. Meteomarine predictions 
To provide the basis for improved modelling and forecasting of waves, 
particularly for coastal engineering design requirements. 
4. Coastal engineering 
To study coastal protection problems (breakwaters and beach nourishment, 
etc.) and to prepare for the impact of the anticipated rise in sea level. 
Part III: Marine Technology 3Q-35* 
Focussed mainly on encouraging the development of new instrumentation and 
generic enabling technology necessary for the advancement of marine science. 
1. instrumentâtion for science 
To promote the development of new sensors, instrument packages and 
systems, especially for long term in-situ and remote measurements. 
2. Generic enabling technologies 
To assist R&D in critical areas of underwater communication, imaging and 
robotics. 
/lo 
3. Design aspects cf large faciUtieg 
To carry out studies on the design of specialized facilities, e.g. 
research vessels and manned or unmanned long-range submersibles. 
4. Studies on the outlook for the 1990's (technology and resources) 
To carry out technical-economic feasibility studies assessing the 
benefits of future strategic initiatives. 
Part IV: Supporting Initiatives 10-15% 
Aimed at improving co-ordination, avoiding duplication of work, achieving 
more cost effective use of facilities, improving specialised training, 
assisting technology transfer, and contributing to pre-standardisâtion. 
1. European ocean data and information network 
To establish a common system linking existing ocean data centres in 
Europe. 
2. Research vessel co-orcUnaticn 
To set up a communication system for the co-ordination of research 
cruises and the shared use of equipment. 
3. Advanced training 
To establish advanced courses and encourage training and exchange of 
personnel. 
*. Surveying for resource evaluation 
To encourage co-operative new approaches to mapping, bathymétrie and 
hydrograph i c survey ing. 
5. Preparation of norms and standards 
To promote comparative testing and calibration of océanographie 
instruments and systems, taking into account the requirements for 
environmental protection. 
6. Marine polar and marine llthospheric research 
To support planning and possible co-ordination of European efforts. 
Staff and administration costs included in the implementation of the 
programme amount to 8,25%. 
M 
ANNEX III 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME 
The programme consists of activities carried out by means of shared-cost 
research contracts to be awarded following a selection procedure based on a 
call for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. The programme may also be carried out by means of study 
contracts, co-ordination projects, awards for training and mobility grants 
and dissemination activities, taking into account the necessary rules of 
protection. 
The participants may be industrial companies - including small and medium-
sized enterprises -, research institutions, universities, individuals or any 
combination thereof established in the Community. 
Shared-cost research projects involving research centres (and/or 
universities) and industry are particularly welcome and mandatory for Part 
III, Marine Technology. These projects should, in general, be carried out by 
participants from more that one Member State. 
For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will be up to 50% of 
the total expenditure. Alternatively, in respect of universities and 
research institutes carrying out projects, the Community may bear up to 100% 
of the additional expenditure involved. 
/ft 
PART II 
COMMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS OF PARLIAMENT 
UHICH ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION 
During its meeting of 24 May 1989, the European Parliament, in its second 
reading of the Common Position on a specific research and technological 
development programme in the field of Marine Science and Technology 
(MAST), adopted the attached two amendments. 
2. Although the Commission recognises, in principle, the opportunity to 
specify in research programme decisions the relationship between the term 
"the amount deemed necessary", the budgetary procedure, and the 
institutional agreement on budgetary discipline, it considers untimely 
the introduction of such a new provision for proposals already submitted, 
as this could delay the adoption of the programmes concerned. 
3. As Article 8 paragraph 1 does not refer to the participation of 
organizations and enterprises established in third countries, the 
Commission cannot accept amendment no. 2. It is Article 8 paragraph 2 
which is applicable. 
/i% 
ANNEX 
Amendment ne, 1 
Article 2 
Add the following to the end of Article 2: 
Each year, within the framework of the annual budgetary procedure, the 
Commission shall propose to the budgetary authority that it enter the. 
relevant appropriations for the programme with due regard for the actual 
reguirements in the financial year concerned and the financial estimates as 
laid down in the Inter-Institutional Agreement. 
Amendment no. 2 
Article 7, fourth indent 
Amend as follows: 
The participation in any project by npn-çomvroity organizations and 
enterprises referred to in Article 8 (1). 
M 

Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 252 final 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
to adopt a first specific research and technological development pro­
gramme in the field of marine science and technology (MAST) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(2)(d) of the EEC 
Treaty) 
1.6.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 — 14 pp. — Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-50892-2 
Catalogue number: CB-C0-89-241-EN-C 
ISSN 0254*1475 
COM(89) 252 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
to adopt a first specific research and 
technological development programme in the 
field of marine science and technology (MAST) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to 
Article 149(2)(d) of the EEC Treaty) 
16 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-241-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-50892-2 1.6.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES