COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 506 final -SYN 152 
Brussels, 13 October 1989 
AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of competitiveness of agriculture 
and management of agricultural resources (1989-1993) 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of 
the EEC Treaty ) 
AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of competitiveness of agriculture 
and management of agricultural resources (1989-1993) 
COM (88) 459 final - SYN 152 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of 
the EEC Treaty ) 
(89/C .../ ) 
(1) O.J. N* C 146, 13.06.1989, p. 15 
i 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Subject: Amended Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a 
specific research and technological development 
programme in the field of competitiveness of 
agriculture and management of agricultural 
resources (1989-1993). 
The attached Amended Proposal largely takes account of the 
amendements proposed by the Parliament. It is in line with the 
position taken by the Commission in the Plenary Session of the 
Parliament on 24 May 1989. In reality of the 34 amendments 
proposed by the Parliament, 26 were accepted by the Commission, 5 
were partially accepted and 3 amendements were not taken up by 
the Commission. A recapitulative table, attached to this 
Explanatory Memorandum, indicates in detail the outcome of the 
amendments from the European Parliament in relation to the 
Amended Proposal from the Commission. 
In addition the form of the initial Proposal from the Commission 
has been modified to make it conform with the "harmonised text" 
for specific research programmes. The harmonised text was in fact 
announced after the initial proposal of the Commission was 
transmitted on 22 September 1988 to the Council and Parliament. 
3 
(pREC/FR/een) 
ANNEXE E - p. 1 
PROPOSITION DE DECISION 
DE DEVELOPPEMENT 
L'AGRI CULTURE ARRETAN1 
TECHNOLOGI QUE 
ET LA GESTION " UN 
DANS 
DES 
COM(88) 459 fi PROGRAMME 
; LE SPEC IFI QUE DE RECHERCHE 
DOMAINE DE LA COMPETITI V ITE DE 
RESSOURCES 
na I - SYN AGRI COLES 
152 (1989-1993) ET 
PARLEMENT 
DOC. A2 - 151/89 
PE 133.157 
du 24 mai 1989 
TITRE 
CONSIDERANTS 
CONS. 1 
CONS. 2 
CONS. 5 
CONS. 8 
CONS. 11 
CONS. 12 
CONS. 13 
DISPOSITIF 
ART. 1 S 1 
ART. 2 S 2 
ART. 1 § 4 
ART. 1 I 4 (nouveau) 
ART. 1 § 5 (nouveau) 
ART. 2 
ART. 3 § 1 
ART. 4 
ART. 4 § 4 (nouveau) AMEN-
DEMENT 
n* 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 CONTENU 
Programme specifiqu« de Recherche et Developpe-
nent Technologique 
Suppression 
Suppression 
Accroissement des ressourcee humaines et finan­
ciered 
Cohesion economique et sociaie, stabi1isateurs. 
regions mediterraneennes 
Adaptation oux changements et a 1'evolution de 
la PAC 
Coordination avec autres programmes (ECLAIR -
FLAIR) 
Suppression 
Duree et montont du programme 
Modalites d'application 
Couts supplemental res - Institute de recherche 
ou universites 
Coordination avec ECLAIR et FLAIR 
Procedure budgetaire 
Com!tologie 
Execution - Contrats 
Rapports et evaluation 
Evaluation : consequences ecologiques et eco­
nomique* ACCEP­
TABLE 
OUI/NON 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Partiel-
lement 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Out 
Oui 
Oui 
Non 
Non 
Partlel-
1emen t 
Oui 
Oui COMMISSION 
PROPOSITION MOOIFIEE 
COMMENTAIRES 
Considerant 5 
Considerants 2 et 6. La notion de stobi11sateur 
n'a pas ete retenue. 
Considerant 9 
Considerant 10 
Art. 1 et 2 
Annexe I "Modalites d'execution" § 1 et 2 
Annexe I "Modalitee d'execution" § 2 
Considerant 10 et Annexe I "Modalites d*execu­
tion" § 4 
Question horizontals inopproprlee 
Art. 5 et 6 : le Comite type II a) est coneidere 
comme etant plus approprie. 
Art. 5 et Annexe I "Modalitet d'execution" § 1. 
La reference aux projets pilotee n'est plus 
repr ise. 
Art. 4 et Annexe I "Evaluation-
Annexe I "Evaluation" § 5 point 4 
-N 
(PREC/FR/een) 
ANNEXE E - P : 
PARLEMENT 
DOC. A2 - 151/89 
PE 133.157 
du 24 mai 1989 
ANNEXE 
TITRE 
PARAGRAPHE 1 
PAR. 1 alinea c) 
PAR. 1 olinea d) (nouveau) 
PAR. 2 alineas a) et b) 
PAR. 2 alinea f) 
PAR. 2 dernier alinea 
PARAGRAPHE 3 
PAR. 3 alinea a) (i) 
dernier tiret 
PAR. 3 alinea a) (1) 
nouveau tiret 
PAR. 3 alinea o) (i) 
nouveau tiret 
PAR. 3 alinea a) (ii) 
4eme tiret 
PAR. 3 alinea a) (iii) 
4eme tiret 
PAR. 3 alinea b) tltre et 
preambule 
PAR. 3 alinea b) deux 
dernteres phrases 
PAR. 3 alinea c) premiere 
phrase AMEN­
DMENT 
n# 
18 
19 
26 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 CONTENU 
Programme specif(que de Recherche et Developpe-
ment Technologique 
Oeveloppement et utilisation de la technologie 
StabiIisateurs, cohesion economique et sociole 
Environnement 
Technique de production, meilleure qua lite des 
produits 
Diffusion des resultats du programme 
Conform!te des Objectifs et du Contenu avec 
1'Annexe I du Programme-Cadre (1987-1991) 
Realisation des objectifs 
Criteres : preservation de la nature et pro­
tection de 1'environnement 
Amelioration des especee animates et vegetates. 
Techniques cellulaires et moleculaires. 
Aspects des innovations: methodes sclent ifIques, 
qua lite, parometre de qualite, onalyse socio-
economi que, consommati on 
Method* de diagnostic et de lutte contre les 
maladies, immunologic, biochimie et biologie 
molecu 1 aire 
Suppression du tiret 
Activitee pilotes ou prioritaires ACCEP­
TABLE 
OUI/NON 
Oui 
Oui 
Port iel-
lement 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Oui 
Partiel-
lement 
Non 
Partiel-
lement 
Oui COMMISSION 
PROPOSITION MOOIFIEE 
COMMENTAIRES 
Considerant 6, Annexe I, object if 3. La notion 
de stabi 1 isateur n'a pas ete retenue. 
Annexe I : Object ifs point 4 et Contenu point 1 
Annexe I : Contenu pointe 1 et 2 et Evaluation 
paragraphe 5 point 2 
Annexe I : Object ifs point 5, Contenu point 4 et 
Evaluation point 4 
Consideroats. Annexe I, Objectifs et Contenu 
Annexe I 
Annexe I : Contenu point 1 5eme tiret. Evaluation 
paragraphe 5 points 2 et 4 
Annexe I : Contenu point 1 1er tiret 
Coneiderations sortant du cadre de la proposition 
Annexe I : Contenu point 1 tiret 1. point 2 ti­
ret 5, Modalites d'execution 4eme paragraphe 
La proposition modifiee ne mentionne plus 
specifiquement les activitee pi lotee ou 
prlori tairee 
AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of competitiveness of agriculture 
and management of agricultural resources 1989 to 1993 
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 , 
(2) 
In cooperation with the European Parliament , 
(3) Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee , 
1. Whereas Article 130 K of the Treaty stipulates that the Framework Programme 
shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each 
activity; 
U) 
2. Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC , as amended by Decision 
88/193/EEC, Euratom , the Council adopted a framework programme for 
Community research and technological development (1987-1991) providing for 
activities to be implemented to ensure the exploitation and optimum use of 
biological resources; 
(1) OJ NO C 
(2 ; 0J No C .. 
(3) O: No C 56, 06.03.1989, p. 22 
(4) OJ No L 302, 24.10.1987, p. 1 
(5) 0.7 Ne L 89, 06.04.1988, p. 35 
2 -
3. Whereas the same Decision also lays down that Community action is justified 
if it contributes, inter alia, 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 specific research and technological 
development programme on the competitiveness of agriculture and management 
of agricultural resources is planned to contribute to the attainment of the 
objectives of the common agricultural policy; 
4. Whereas the Framework Programme foresees a specific research and 
technological development programme on the competitiveness of agriculture 
and management of agricultural resources to assist in increasing the 
efficiency of human and financial resources devoted to agriculture and in 
providing a response to the economic, social, environmental and regional 
challenges arising from the way farming and farming methods are changing 
rural areas; 
5. Whereas in the Community efforts are needed to overcome the problems of 
agricultural surpluses, production has to be adjusted in line with market 
demand, agricultural incomes have to be maintained at a reasonable level, 
agricultural structures have to be rationalised and modernised, and to 
assure competitiveness of agriculture in the European Communities on the 
world market, and at the same time to care for and improve the environment; 
6. Whereas efforts must be directed to the promotion and development of 
products which are in deficit in the Community, on the improvement of the 
quality of agricultural products and the development of new uses for 
traditional and novel agricultural products to give higher added value; 
7. Whereas numerous areas in the Community lag behind others in development 
and whereas there is therefore a need to define viable solutions, to meet 
existing opportunities, to reduce the economic and social disparities 
between the slower zones to develop, for example in the Mediterranean 
regions, and the economically more developed parts of the Community; 
> 
- 3 -
8. Whereas one of the major problems facing agricultural research will be 
confining the rapidly escalating costs of agricultural inputs by inter 
alia developing new production, processing and conservation systems aimed 
at reducing costs; 
9. Whereas the elaboration of long-term schemes in resource management can 
result in new ways of managing land and water to the advantage of 
agriculture, the environment and the countryside; 
10. Whereas the development of methods and services to disseminate 
agricultural research results will facilitate adaptation to change and to 
the evolution of the common agricultural policy; 
11. Whereas the programme will be developed and implemented in close 
coordination with the actions of the Framework Programme, in particular 
the ECLAIR and FLAIR programmes. 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development programme in the field of 
competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources is 
hereby adopted, in the form set out in Annex I, for a five year period 
beginning on 1989. 
Article 2 
The funds estimated as necessary for the Community contribution to the 
execution of the programme amount to ECU 55 million, including expenditure on 
an additional staff of 8 people. 
An indicative internal allocation of these funds is set out in Annex II. 
_ 4 _ 
Article 3 
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme are set out in Annex I 
Article 4 
During the third year of implementation, the Commission shall review the 
programme and send a report on the results 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 reports referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be established having 
regard to the objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision, and in 
conformity with the provisions of 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, hereinafter referred to as 
'the Committee', composed of the representatives of the Member States and 
chaired by a representative of the Commission. 
q 
- 5 -
Article 6 
The representative of the Commission shall submit to thé Committee a draft of 
the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the 
urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid 
down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the 
Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of 
the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be 
weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. 
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 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. 
\0 
.- 6 -
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States 
Done at Brussels For the Council 
The President 
A A 
The specific objectives are set out at the beginning of Annex I above. 
Two years after its implementation the programme will be assessed on the 
following : 
1. that new research has been conducted in selected agricultural production 
systems to improve the outlets, and whether there are indications that 
the results of this research have any benefits; 
2. that new research on quality has resulted in superior products, 
healthier crops and animals; 
3. that for regions lagging behind in development additional research has 
identified the constraints, how to begin to overcome the difficulties 
and how some specific actions might improve the economic and social 
cohesion of these regions; 
4. that in addition to the better use of the A6REP and EUR-AGRIS systems, 
development has taken place to assist the use of the new technology to 
improve the dissemination of the results of agricultural research 
particularly from this programme; 
5. that the coordination activities are consistent with the objectives of 
the programme, that they add to its utility and impact, and to the value 
of the important national research programmes in the Member States, that 
they are being widely promoted and appropriately monitored; 
6. that the work has been complementary and coordinated with other 
Community actions. 
Af> 
At the end of the programme the evaluation, in addition to reconsidering the 
above at that time will include an assessment to establish : 
1. that the results obtained from this specific Community research programme, 
might contribute solutions to some major problems encountered by the common 
agricultural policy; 
thai in exploiting biological resources for Community agriculture, the 
competitiveness of Community agriculture is enhanced, resources are well 
managed, harmful effects on health and the environment are reduced and that 
greater attention is accorded to protection and enhancement of nature and 
the rural society; 
3. that the programme has produced added value attributable to the 
multinational Community character of the shared-cost and coordinated 
act-or. s and has avoided duplication of research effort; 
4. that the results which can be applied have been assessed in terms of 
ecological, structural, social and economic consequences; 
5. that the dissemination of results has contributed to the transfer of 
methodologies and research activities into regions where the research was 
not conducted; 
6. that adequate consideration has been accorded to all the selection criteria 
set out in Annex III to Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC. 
<> 
- effects of residues, toxins and other noxious substances occuring in 
agricultural products, 
- preparation for and packaging of agricultural products to ensure better 
quality and environmental safety, 
- detecting and controlling crop and animal diseases that threaten the 
Community and improving the welfare of farm animals, 
- developing alternative uses and improving the quality of traditional 
products. 
3. Socio-economic aspects and specific actions for all regions in the 
Community lagging behind in development : 
- assessment of the structural, social and economic consequences of 
applying the agricultural policies of the Community in these regions, 
- investigation of constraints to development in these regions and 
orientation of subsequent research and development actions, 
- specific regional problems arising from the conversion, diversification 
and extensification of crop and animal production, 
- specific regional problems arising from conversion into woodland and 
forest production, 
- specific regional actions to overcome the problems posed by the poor 
composition, excess and/or lack of water, 
- actions to improve agricultural mechanisation in specific regions, 
- integrated rural development. 
4. Methods and services to disseminate agricultural research information 
particularly from this programme 
- integrating Community Agricultural Research Information Systems to 
improve access, to disseminate results to research and extension services 
and to respond to the needs of the common agricultural policy and the 
rural society; 
- developing agricultural information technology to avoid duplication, to 
improve the quality of agricultural research in the Comunity, and to 
increase its added value; 
- applying computers and information modelling to agricultural production 
systems to better identify the research and information needs of 
Community programmes. 
w 
Implementation 
The programme has 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 
participants may be public or private bodies such as research establishments 
and universities; industrial and agricultural enterprises; individuals, 
associations and cooperatives; or any combination thereof established in the 
Community. 
For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will be normally up to 
50% of the total expenditure. Alternatively, in respect of universities and 
research establishments carrying out projects, in the context of this 
programme, the Community may bear up to 100% of the additional expenditure 
involved. Contracts should, in general, be carried out by participants from 
more than one Member State. 
The programme also has coordination actions, and training and mobility 
grants. Meetings, seminars, workshops and grants will be well publicised and 
results from all the actions will be thoroughly promoted in the Community. 
In executing the programme, the Commission shall ensure close coordination 
with other research activities of the Community, in particular, the current 
programmes involving agriculture, biotechnology and the environment. 
Evaluation 
The Commission's communication to the Council concerning a Community plan of 
action relating to the evaluation of Community research and development 
activities states that the objectives of each research programme have to 
be set out in a testable form. 
The overall objective of this programme is to strengthen the competitiveness 
of agriculture and the management of agricultural resources. The programme 
responds to the needs of the common agricultural policy and the rural 
society. The programme promotes greater economic and social cohesion, and 
protection of the environment. 
(6) OJ No. C 14, 20.01.1987, p. 5 
4S 
ANNEX I 
Specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and 
management of agricultural resources (1989-1993) 
Objectives 
The research programme, in particular through the development and use of 
technology, will be directed at the following objectives : 
1. to help farmers to adapt to the new situation created by over-production 
and a restrictive policy on prices and markets; 
2. to maintain the incomes from holdings and encourage structural reform 
whilst controlling output and reducing production costs; 
3. to care for and improve the agricultural situation, in line with the market 
situation, in all regions with weak agricultural structures and which have 
been slow to develop, thus promoting greater economic and social cohesion 
in the Community; 
4. to conserve natural resources and the countryside, ensuring that an 
improved environment will result from the application of the technologies 
to be developed and from changes in production systems; 
5. to develop agricultural information services and infrastructures to improve 
the dissemination of research results within and between Member States. 
AZ 
Content 
The research activities have been divided into four sectors : 
1. Conversion, diversification, including extensification of production. 
reduction of costs and protection of the rural environment : 
- introduction of new and improved varieties of crops, out of season 
products, and by-products, especially to encourage higher added value; 
- alternative livestock systems to avoid surpluses involving in particular 
goats, sheep, suckler cows, horses and game; 
- examination of farm woodland production systems, integrated forest 
grazing systems, and the cultivation of a wider range of crops in 
woodland and forest undergrowth; 
- improved biological and integrated pest control, better utilisation and 
reduction in the use of fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides 
in farming systems; 
- development of alternative agricultural practices, especially of organic 
farming, aimed at conserving natural resources and the countryside; 
- support for the development of the common agricultural structures policy 
by providing the range of data necessary for its conception, evaluation 
and management; 
- identification of alterative uses for land which may no longer be 
required for agriculture, including the establishment, in environmentally 
sensitive areas, of systems of land and water use and management; 
2. Product quality, new uses for traditional products, and aspects of plant 
and animal health : 
- definition, measurement and determination of quality in agricultural 
products where market opportunities might exist especially where there 
are possibilities for higher added value, 
- pre and post-harvesting techniques, including transport and storage, to 
improve quality, 
4 5 
Annex II 
Indicative Internal Allocation of Funds % 
I. Contract actions 
1. Conversion, diversification, 
including extensification of production, 32.5 
reduction of costs, and protection of the 
rural environment 
2. Product quality, aspects of plant 
and animal health and new uses for 
traditional products 20.0 
3. Socio-economic aspects and specific actions 
for all regions lagging behind in development 17.5 
4. Improvement in the dissemination and 
application of results, particularly 
from this agricultural research programme 5.0 
II. Coordination actions 
Operating costs for meetings, seminars, 
publications, promotion of results, 
the permanent inventory of agricultural 
research, and programme evaluation 15.5 
III. Training and mobility grants 5.0 
:v Staff costs 4.5(1) 
100.0 
i percentage corresponds to a staff of 8 referred to in Article 2 of 
s Incision 
IB 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 506 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-462-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-53746-9 
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