COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC91) 290 final-SYN 354 
Brussels, 25 July 1991 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the conclusion of a multilateral Cooperation Agreement "Community-
COST" on five concerted action projects in the field of research in biotechnology 
(BRIDGE programme) between the European Economic Community and COST third 
states. 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of a 
multilateral Cooperation Agreement "Community-COST" on five 
concerted action projects in the field of biotechnology - specific 
research and technological development programme : "BRIDGE" -
between the European Economic Community and COST/EFTA third 
states (Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, 
Turkey, Yugoslavia) 
1. Pursuant to a Decision1 in the field of research in biotechnology, two 
Community-COST concertation Agreements on two concerted action projects 
in the field of Aquatic primary biomass2 and Plant in vitro culture3 were 
previously concluded between the Community and several third COST states. 
The research carried out under these two Agreements, the latter of which 
expired on 31.12.1989, has produced very encouraging results. Consequently, 
the current objectives of these two projects, taking into account the past 
research and cooperation in theses sectors, are included in the BRIDGE 
programme. 
2. Furthermore, since 1986, three Memoranda of Understanding (M.O.U.) have 
been signed by various countries in the framework of COST (Member States 
and COST third states) to carry out European research projects in the 
respective fields of "Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae" (COST project 810), 
"Methods for early detection and identification of plant diseases" (COST 
project 88) and "Coccidioses and Development of vaccines" (COST project 
89). 
Since 1/01/90, the research topics of these 3 projects have been included in 
the "BRIDGE" programme. Consequently, these above-mentioned M.O.U. are 
due to expire on the entry into force of a "Community-COST' Cooperation 
Agreement between the contracting parties (Community and participating 
non-Member states) having the same aim as of the M.O.U.. 
3. By including these five concerted action projects in the BRIDGE programme, 
the Community has made it clear that it wishes to make the most of the 
cooperation in these five specific sectors where third state participation has 
already been substantial, in addition to the projects implemented by contracts 
and to training activities. 
1 85/195/EEC of 25.03.1985 
2 86/358/EEC of 14.07.1986 (COST 48) 
3 86/359/EEC of 14.07.1986 (COST 87) 
4. By its Decision of 27 November 1989, the Council adopted a specific 
technological development programme in the field of biotechnology 
("BRIDGE" programme 1.01.1990 - 31.12.1993) which part of it is carried out 
by means of five concerted action projects. 
5. Article 8 of this Decision authorises the Commission to negotiate Agreements 
with third countries involved in European cooperation in the field of scientific 
and technical research (COST) or having concluded bilateral framework 
Agreements4 for scientific and technical cooperation with the Community. 
6. As third COST-EFTA states expressed their interest to participate in some of 
the above-mentioned concerted action projects, the Commission has 
negotiated a draft Community-COST Cooperation Agreement on the following 
five concerted action projects: 
COST 48 : "Aquatic primary biomass (marine macroalgae)" 
COST 810 : "Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (V-A mycorrhizae)" 
COST 87 : "In vitro cultures for the purification and propagation of plants" 
COST 88 : "Methods for early detection and identification of plant diseases" 
COST 89 : "Basic research on coccidiosis of poultry and farm animals and 
development of vaccines using biotechnological procedures 
(short title : "coccidioses and development of vaccines") 
7. A formal meeting with invited representatives of the eight above-mentioned 
COST/EFTA third states, was held on 11 December 1990. During this 
meeting, the Commission proposed a multilateral Community-COST 
Agreement pattern introducing a new element "the Cooperation Committee" 
which did not exist in the S & T concertation Agreements previously 
concluded between the EC and third COST countries. At this meeting the 
same pattern was also proposed for the "FLAIR" programme (Draft 
Cooperation Agreement for concerted action projects). 
4 As an EFTA state, Iceland has concluded a S/T framework bilateral Agreement 
with the Community but has also formally requested to become a new Member of 
the COST framework (formal adhesion planned in 1991). 
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8. This new pattern allows the COST/EFTA third states to participate in the 
Community R&D programmes which are managed by Committees laid down 
in the Council Decision 87/373/EEC of 13 July 1987 and takes into account 
the three-phase procedure described in the statements included in the minutes 
of the Research Council meeting of 20 June 1989 when a common position 
on the BRIDGE programme was adopted. 
9. The Commission will endeavour to achieve consistency between the functions 
of the Cooperation Committee offered to individual third 
COST/EFTA states and the coordination requirement provided for in Article 
3.4 of the proposed draft Agreement. 
10. The COST/EFTA third states having accepted as a fundamental criterion of 
reference the principle that BRIDGE was, and has to remain, a Community 
programme in which the Community interests have to be safeguarded, this 
draft Agreement has been agreed on by the contracting parties. 
11. The draft Agreement, which is annexed to the attached proposal for a Council 
Decision, provides for : 
- the association of the interested COST/EFTA third states with the 
implementation of one or several concerted action projects of the 
Community programme; 
a financial contribution of each third state to each of the concerted action 
projects in which it participates, amounts to one twelth of the Community 
contribution to the project, i.e. for the period 1990-1993 : 
8500 Ecus per project per year. 
the establishment of a Cooperation Committee with representatives of the 
Community and of the participating third COST/EFTA States to ensure a 
proper implementation of the Agreement and mutual coordination and 
information on the development of the concerted projects of the BRIDGE 
programme. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 
12. In view of the nature of the cooperation, any additional expenditure paid 
from the Community budget (relevant budget heading B6-8004) resulting 
from the implementation of this draft Agreement will be covered by the 
financial contribution from the participating COST/EFTA third states. 
13. Several COST third states have already expressed their willingness to 
participate in one or more of the five concerted action projects. 
14. The Commission proposes that the Council adopt the attached proposal for a 
Decision. 
* 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the conclusion of a multilateral Community-COST Cooperation 
Agreement on five concerted action projects in the field of research in biotechnology 
("BRIDGE" programme) between the European Economic Community and COST 
third states. 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Commumty, and in 
particular Article 130 Q2 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3, 
WHEREAS by Decision 89/621/EEC4, the Council adopted a specific research and 
technological development programme in the field of biotechnology ("BRIDGE" 
programme) (1/01/1990 - 31/12/1993); whereas Article 8 of this Decision 
authorises the Commission to negotiate agreements with, third countries involved in 
European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research (COST) and 
those European countries having concluded framework agreements in scientific and 
technical cooperation with the Community, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS : 
Article 1 
The Community-COST Agreement between the European Community and COST 
third states on concerted action projects in the field of research in biotechnology is 
hereby approved on behalf of the European Economic Community. 
The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision. 
1 O.J. No C 
2 O.J. No C 
3 O.J. No C 
4 O.J. No L 360, 09.12.1989 - p.32 
6 
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons 
empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community. 
Done at 
For the Council 
The President 
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COOPERATION AGREEMENT 
"COMMUNITY-COST' 
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY 
AND COST THIRD STATES 
ON FIVE CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS 
IN THE FIELD OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 
(SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME "BRIDGE") 
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COOPERATION AGREEMENT "COMMUNITY-COST' ON 
FIVE CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 
(BRIDGE) 
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, hereinafter called "the Corfimunity" 
and 
THE SIGNATORY STATES TO THIS AGREEMENT, hereinafter called "the participating 
non-Member States", 
both hereinafter called "the Contracting Parties", 
WHEREAS two Community-COST concertation agreements on two concerted action 
projects in the research sectors of aquatic primary biomass (COST 48) and plant in 
vitro culture (COST 87) were concluded by the Council on 14 July 19861 and signed 
- respectively by Norway (COST 48) and Finland, Sweden, Switzerland (COST 87); 
WHEREAS a memorandum of understanding in the framework of COST for carrying 
out a European research project on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae 
(VA-MYCORRHIZHAE) (COST 810) entered into force on 26 January 1989 for a 
period extending until 25 January 1994 and was signed by Denmark, the Federal 
Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Finland and 
Switzerland; 
WHEREAS a memorandum of understanding in the framework of COST for carrying 
out a European research project on methods for early detection and identification of 
plant diseases (COST 88) entered into force on 27 November 1986 for a period 
extending until 26 November 1991 and was signed by Belgium, Denmark, the Federal 
Republic of Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, 
Austria, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey; 
WHEREAS a memorandum of understanding in the framework of COST for carrying 
out a European research project on coccidioses and development of vaccines (COST 
89) entered into force on 22 March 1989 for a period extending until 21 March 1994 
and was signed by Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Spain 
and Switzerland; 
WHEREAS a memorandum of understanding in the framework of COST may expire 
on the entry into force of a "Community-COST' Agreement between the contracting 
parties having the same aim as that of the memorandum of understanding; 
1 OJ N° L 216, 05.08.1986, p.12 and 18 
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WHEREAS, by its Decision of 27 November 19892, the Council of the European 
Communities adopted a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of biotechnology "BRIDGE" for the period 1/01/1990 - 31/12/1993, 
hereinafter called "the Commumty programme", covering among other possibilities, 
the implementation of concerted action projects; 
WHEREAS the Member States of the Commumty and the participating non-Member 
States intend, subject to the rules and procedures applicable to their national 
programmes, to carry out the research described in Annex A and are prepared to 
integrate such research into a process of concertation which they consider will be of 
mutual benefit, 
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS : 
ARTICLE 1 
The Contracting Parties shall participate for a period extending until 31 December 
1993 to one or several of the following concerted action projects : 
- COST 48 : Aquatic primary biomass (Marine Macroalgae) 
- COST 810 : Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VA-Mycorrhizae) 
- COST 87 : In vitro cultures for the purification and propagation of plants 
- COST 88 : Methods for early detection and identifications of plant diseases 
- COST 89 : Basic research on coccidioses of poultry and farm animals and 
development of vaccines using biotechnological procedures (short 
title : Coccidioses and Development of Vaccines) 
These projects consist in concertation between the Community concerted action 
projects and the corresponding programmes of the participating non-Member States. 
The content of research topics covered by this Agreement is specified in Annex A. 
The Member and non-Member States of the Commumty shall remain entirely 
responsible for the research carried out by their own institutions or bodies. 
OJ N° L 360, 09.12.1989, p. 32 
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ARTICLE 2 
The estimated financial contributions of the Contracting Parties to the coordination 
costs for the period referred to in the first paragraph of Article 1 shall be, for each 
of the five concerted action projects : 
- COST 48 : 400,000 ecus from the Commumty 
34,000 ecus from each participating non-Member State 
- COST 810 : 400,000 ecus from the Community 
34,000 ecus from each participating non-Member State 
- COST 87 : 400,000 ecus from the Community 
34,000 ecus from each participating non-Member State 
- COST 88 : 400,000 ecus from the Community 
34,000 ecus from each participating non-Member State 
- COST 89 : 400,000 ecus from the Community 
34,000 ecus from each participating non-Member State 
The rules governing the financing of this Agreement and the timetable of the 
commitment estimates are set out in Annex B. 
ARTICLE 3 
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Cooperation Committee to assist the 
Commission in the implementation of the concerted action projects of the specific 
research and technological development programme in the field of biotechnology 
("BRIDGE" programme), adopted by Decision of the Council of the European 
Communities of 27 November 1989, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", is 
hereby established. 
2. The Committee shall consist of representatives of the Community and the 
participating non-Member States for the implementation of the concerted action 
projects. 
3. The Committee shall be consulted on all the matters concerning the implemen­
tation of this Agreement. For this purpose, it shall make recommendations. 
4. The representative of the Community shall take the appropriate steps to ensure 
coordination between the implementation of this Agreement and the decisions taken 
by the Commumty in respect of the implementation of the Commumty programme. 
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5. For the purpose of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting 
Parties shall exchange information and, at the request of any of the parties, shall 
hold consultations within the Committee. 
6. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure and it shall meet, at the 
request of any of the Contracting Parties, in accordance with the conditions to be 
laid down in its rules of procedure. 
ARTICLE 4 
1. The Contracting Parties shall regularly exchange all useful information resulting 
from the carrying out of the research covered by the concerted action projects. 
They shall also endeavour to provide information on similar research planned or 
carried out by other bodies. Any information shall be treated as confidential if the 
Contracting Party which provides it so requests. 
2. The scientific results of the concerted action projects shall be published by the 
Commission, except in so far as they are declared confidential by one of the 
Contracting Parties. 
3. The Commission shall prepare activity reports on the basis of the information 
supplied and shall forward them to the Member and non-Member States of the 
Community. 
4. At the end of the period of the BRIDGE programme, the Commission shall forward 
to the Member and non-Member States of the Community the general reports on 
the execution and results of these concerted action projects. 
ARTICLE 5 
1. This Agreement shall be open for signature by the Community and by the 
participating non-Member States which took part in the ministerial conference held 
in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 1971. 
2. As a condition precedent to its participation in the concerted action projects defined 
in Article 1, each of the Contracting Parties shall, when signing this Agreement, 
have notified the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities 
of the concerted action projects in which it intends to participate and, after signing 
this Agreement, have notified the Secretary-General of the Council of the European 
Communities of the completion of the procedures necessary under its internal 
provisions for the implementation of this Agreement. 
\z~ 
3. For the Contracting Parties which transmit the latter notification, provided for in 
the paragraph 2, this Agreement shall come into force on the first day of the 
month following that in which the Community and at least one of the participating 
non-Member States transmitted these notifications. 
For those Contracting Parties which transmit the notification after the entry into 
force of this Agreement, it shall come into force on the first day of the second 
month following that in which the notification was transmitted. Contracting 
Parties which have not transmitted this notification when this Agreement comes 
into force shall be able to take part in the work of the Committees without voting 
rights. 
4. The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Coiia^unities shall inform 
each of the Contracting Parties of the notifications made pursuant to paragraph 2 
and of the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
ARTICLE 6 
1. This Agreement shall be concluded for the duration of the Community programme. 
Should the Community revise the Community programme, the Agreement may be 
denounced under mutually agreed conditions between the Contracting Parties. 
2. Where the Community adopts a new R&D programme in the field of biotechno­
logy, this Agreement may be renegotiated or renewed under mutually agreed 
conditions. 
3. Subject to paragraph 1, any of the Contracting Parties may at any time terminate 
this Agreement with six months notice. The projects and work in progress at the 
time of termination and/or expiry of this Agreement shall be continued until they 
are completed under the conditions laid down in this Agreement. 
ARTICLE 7 
This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community is applied and under the conditions 
laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territories of the participating 
non-Member States. 
ARTICLE 8 
This Agreement, drawn up in a single original in the Danish, Dutch, English, French, 
German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish languages, each text being equally 
authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the General Secretariat of the Council 
of the European Communities which shall transmit a certified copy to each of the 
Contracting Parties. 
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ANNEX A 
RESEARCH TOPICS COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT 
The Commumty programme includes the following five COST concerted action 
projects : 
COST PROJECT 48 : 
"AQUATIC PRIMARY BIOMASS (MARINE MACROALGAE)" 
Purification : 
- Utilization of seaweeds as bio-indicators for radionucleids and pollution level 
- Determination of the seaweed species and of the conditions required to achieve 
pollution abatement of waste waters throughout the year 
Fermentations : 
- Means to treat the proliferating algae biomass 
- Use of seaweeds to purify the environment 
Harvesting, food and technological processes : 
Study of the problems of harvesting connected with purification and fermentation 
COST PROJECT 810 : 
'VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE (V-A MYCORRHIZAEV 
The importance of endomycorrhizae in a soil, their impact on plant nutrition, stress 
tolerance and soil structure 
The interaction between VAM and other soil organisms 
The micropropagation, root morphology and VAM infections 
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COST PROJECT 87 : 
"IN VITRO CULTURES FOR THE PURIFICATION AND PROPAGATION OF PLANTS" 
The primary aims of this research consist of developing tissue culture methods for : 
- Rapid multiplication of healthy plants 
- Freeing plants from pathogens 
- Safe long-term storage of plant cultures 
The model plants selected are : 
Apple rootstock M26, Betula and Quercus, Gerbera, Pelargonium. 
COST PROJECT 88 : 
"METHODS FOR EARLY DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATIONS OF PLANT DISEASES" 
The main objective of COST 88 is to coordinate research on the early detection and 
identification of plant diseases in Europe, in particular in the following fields : 
Molecular hybridization techniques 
Advanced immunochemical techniques 
Defining standards for the development of these techniques and diagnosis 
Setting up a European Bank for standards for the diagnosis of plant diseases 
COST PROJECT 89 : 
BASIC RESEARCH ON COCCIDIOSIS OF POULTRY AND FARM ANIMALS AND 
DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES USING BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROCEDURES (SHORT 
TITLE : "COCCIDIOSES AND DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES") 
The aim of this programme is to develop vaccines against coccidiosis of poultry and 
farm animals. 
Special attention will be paid to the criteria for vaccine evaluation and to several 
species such as Eimeria intestinalis, Eimeria stiedae, Isospora suis, Cryptosporidium 
parvum etc. 
— 15 
ANNEX B 
FINANCING RULES 
1. These provisions lay down the financial rules referred to in Article 2 of the present 
"Community - COST' Agreement. 
2. Annually, or whenever the Community programme is revised so as to involve an 
increase in the amount estimated as necessary for its implementation, the 
Commission shall send to the participating non-Member States a call for funds 
corresponding to its contribution to the costs under this Agreement. 
In particular at the beginning of each year, the Commission shall send to each 
participating non-Member State a call for funds corresponding to the number of, 
and the amount involved in, concerted action projects in which it participates and 
to its share of the annual coordination costs under this Agreement, calculated in 
proportion to the amounts laid down in Article 2 of this Agreement. 
This contribution shall be expressed both in ecu and the currency of the 
participating non-Member State concerned, the composition of the ecu being 
defined in Council Regulation (EEC) N° 3180/783 as amended by Regulation (EEC) 
N° 1971/894. The value of the ecu shall be determined on the date of the call of 
funds. 
The total contributions shall cover the travel and subsistence costs of the delegates, 
in addition to the coordination costs proper. 
Each participating non-Member State shall pay its annual contribution to the 
coordination costs under the Agreement at the beginning of each year, and by 31 
March at the latest. Any delay in the payment of the annual contribution shall 
give rise to the payment of interest by the participating non-Member State 
concerned at a rate equal to the highest discount rate obtained in the Member 
States of the Community on the due date. The rate shall be increased by 0.25 of 
a percentage point for each month of delay. The increased rate shall be applied 
to the entire period of delay. However, such interest shall be chargeable only if 
payment is effected more than three months after the issue of a call for funds by 
the Commission. 
3 OJ N° L 379, 30.12.1978, p.l 
4 OJ N° L 189, 04.07.1989, p.l 
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3. The funds paid by participating non-Member States shall be credited to the 
concerted action projects in which they participate as budget receipts allocated to 
a heading in the statement of the revenue of the general budget of the European 
Communities (Commission Section). 
4. The financial plan for the coordination costs referred to in Article 2 of the 
Agreement is appended hereto. 
5. The Financial Regulation in force applicable to the general budget of the European 
Communities shall apply to the management of the appropriations. 
6. At the end of the programme, a statement of appropriations for each concerted 
action project shall be prepared and transmitted to the participating non-Member 
States for information. 
COST/90-188 
) FINANCIAL APPENDIX 
"BRIDGE" : CONCERTED ACTION PROJECTS COST 48. 810. 87. 88. 89 
YEARLY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS (ECU) OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF EACH PARTICIPATING NON-MEMBER STATE 
FOR EACH OF THE 5 ABOVE-MENTIONED PROJECTS 
1. Community contribution : 
Estimate of administrative 
operating expenditure 1990 
100.000 1991 
100.000 1992 
100.000 1993 
100.000 Total 
400.000 
Total : 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 400.000 
Contributions from 
participating non-Member States (nx8500) (nx8500) (nx8500) (nx8500) (nx34000) 
New Total : 100.000+ 
(nx8500) 100.000+ 
(nx8500) 100.000+ 
(nx8500) 100.000+ 
(nx8500) 400.000+ 
(nx34000) 
n = number of participating non-Member States 
COST 48 : Aquatic primary biomass (Marine Macroalgae) 
COST 810 : Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VA-Mycorrhizae) 
COST 87 : In vitro cultures for the purification and propagation of plants 
COST 88 : Methods for early detection and identifications of plant diseases 
COST 89 : Basic research on coccidioses of poultry and farm animals and development of vaccines using biotechnological procedures 
(short title : Coccidioses and Development of Vaccines) 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 290 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-335-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-74750-1 
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