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 )
Date: 1989-06-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: oceanography, research and development, research programme, resources of the sea, sea-bed

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 1 4 9 -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 1 4 9 -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 
(not yet 
Official  Journal)  and Decision  of 
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; 

Community 

Uhereas  other 
(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; 

programmes 

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. 

Detailed rules  for the implementation  of the programme are set out  in Annex 
III. 

Article 3 

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 
Commission  shall  govern  the  rights  and 
obligations of each party, in particular arrangements for the dissemination, 
protection and exploitation of research results. 

by  the 

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. 

This Decision  is addressed  to the Member States. 

Article 9 

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 
technological base of the  Community,  whilst  being  consistent  with the 
pursuit of scientific and technical  excellence; 

simultaneously 

strengthening 

scientific 

and 

the 

- 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. 

* 

PROGRAMME  CONTENTS AND INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN  OF FUNDS 

Part I: Basic and Applied Marine Science 

ANNEX  II 

Indicative 
Breakdown 

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 

processes  (including  coastal 
Concerned 
protection), and with the development of better design  criteria for coastal 
engineering. 

problems  and 

coastal 

with 

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 
testing  and  calibration  of  océanographie 
instruments  and  systems,  taking  into  account  the  requirements  for 
environmental protection. 

comparative 

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. 

research 

Shared-cost 
(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. 

involving 

projects 

research 

centres 

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  budgetary  procedure,  and  the 
"the  amount 
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. 

deemed  necessary", 

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 
enterprises referred  to in Article 8 (1). 

in  any  project  by  npn-çomvroity  organizations  and 

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 

COM(89)  252  final 

ISSN 0254*1475 

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 

€ 

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

1.6.1989