PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION OF A COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH
Date: 1989-07-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Norway, medical research, public health

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0MC89) 388 final- SYN 215 

Brussels, 27  July 1989 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

concerning  the conclusion of a Cooperation Agreement between 
the European Economic  Community  and the Kingdom of Norway  in the 
field of medical and health  research 

(presented by the  Commission) 

^•Sgl 

•fiH 

J^fetfcàî 

•Mi 

-  2 -

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

Subject:  Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of  a 
Cooperation  Agreement  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and 
the Kingdom of Norway  in the field of medical  and health  research. 

By  its  Decision of  17 November  1987 (1),  the Council  adopted  a research 
and  development  programme  of  the  Community  in  the  field  of  medical  and 
health  research  (1987  to  1991). 
Article  7 of  this  Decision  authorises 
the  Commission  to  negotiate  agreements  with  the  non-member  States 
participating  in  European  cooperation  in  the  field  of  scientific  and 
technical  research  (COST) with  a view  to associate  them wholly  or partly 
with the programme. 

2.  In  the  context  o-f  the  implementation  of  the  Framework  Agreement  for 
scientific  and technical  cooperation between the European Communities and 
the Kingdom  of Norway,  the conclusion  of which  on behalf  of the  EEC was 
approved by the Council  Decision of 9 February  1987, Norway  has expressed 
an  interest  in  cooperating  in  some  of  the  research  targets  of  the 
above-mentioned  orocramme. 

3.  Comprehensive  research  and  development  activities  in  the  field  of 
medicine  and  health  are  carried  out  in  Norway. 
Bearing  in  mind  the 
scientific  and  technical  importance  of  these  activities  and  considering 
that  cooperation  with Norway  in the  field of  medical  and  health  research 
is likely to contribute effectively  to the attainment  of an optimum  level 
of  individual  and  public  health,  the  Commission  has  negotiated  a draft 
cooperation agreement with Norway. 

4.  The  draft  agreement,  which  is  annexed  to  the  attached  proposal  for  a 

Council  decision, provides for: 

-  cooperation  for  a period  from  1 January  1989  to  31  December  1991  in 

the following  reseach  targets of the Community programme: 

.-  AIDS  (Target  1.2), 

-  Age-related  health problems  (Target  1.3), 

Environment  and  life-style  health problems  (Target  1.4). 

-  Health  services  research  (Target  II.2) 

The  cooperation  consists  of  the  coordination  of  the  activities  which 
form part of the research programmes of Norway and of the Community. 

- 3 -

-  a  financial  contribution  from  Norway  for  the  implementation  of  the 
coordination  activities.  This financial  contribution  is proportional 
to  Norway's  gross  domestic  product  and  covers  coordination  costs, 
management  and operating  expenditure  and fellowships. 

-  the  enlargement  of  the f4anagement  and Coordination  Advisory  Committee 
on  medical  and  health  research  (CGC)  and  of  the  relevant  Concerted 
Action  Committees  (COMACs) to  include Norwegian  representatives. 

5.  In view of the nature of the cooperation, any additional  expenditure paid 
from  the  Community  budget  (relevant  budget  heading  7311)  resulting  from 
the  implementation  of  this  draft  agreement  will  be  covered  by  Norway's 
financial  contribution. 

The  funds  paid  by  Norway  will  be  credited  to  the  Community  budget 
(relevant  budget  article 602). 

- 4 -

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

concerning  the  conclusion  of  a  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the  European 

Economic  Community  and  the  Kingdom  of  Norway  in  the  field  of  medical  and 

health  research. 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard to the Treaty establishing  the European Economic Community, and 

in particular Article 130 Q (2) thereof. 

Having  regard to the proposal  from the Commission (1), 

In cooperation with  the European Parliament (2), 

Having  regard to the opinion of the Economic  and Social Committee (3), 

WHEREAS  by  Decision  87/551/EEC  (4), 

the  Council  adopted  a  research  and 

development  coordination  programme of  the European  Economic Community  in the 

field  of  medical  and  health  research  (1987 to  1991);  whereas  Article  7 of 

this  Decision  authorises  the  Commission  to  negotiate  agreements  with  the 

non-member  States  participating  in-  European  cooperation  in  the  field  of 

scientific and technical  research  (COST) with a view to associate them wholly 

or partly with this programme, 

(1)  O.J. N° C 
(2)  O.J. N° C 
(3)  O.J. N° C 
(4)  O.J. N° L 334, 24.11.1987, p. 20 

-  5 -

WHEREAS  by  Decision  87/177/EEC  (1),  the  Council  approved  the  conclusion  on 

behalf  of  the European  Economic  Community  of the  the Framework  Agreement  for 

scientific  and  technical  cooperation  between  the  European  Communities  and, 

among  others, the Kingdom  of  Norway, 

WHEREAS  the cooperation  Agreement  between  the European  Economic  Community  and 

the Kingdom  of Norway  in the  field  of  medical  and  health  research  should  be 

approved, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the 

Kingdom  of  Norway  in  the  field  of  medical  and  health  research,  is  hereby 

approved  on behalf  of the  Community. 

The text  of the Agreement  is attached  to this  Decision. 

Article 2 

The President  of the Council  shall  carry out  the notification  as provided  for 

in Article 7 of the Agreement. 

Article 3 

The  present  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  day  following  its 

publication  in the Official  Journal  of the European  Communities. 

Done at  .... 

For the Council 

The President 

(1)  O.J. N° L  71, 14.03.1987, p. 29 

- 6 -

COOPERATION  AGREEMENT 

BETWEEN 

THE EUROPEAN  ECONOMIC  COMMUNITY 

AND 

THE KINGDOM OF  NORWAY 

IN THE FIELD OF 

MEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH 

-  7 -

COOPERATION  AGREEMENT 

BETWEEN 

THE EUROPEAN  ECONOMIC  COMMUNITY 

AND 

THE KINGDOM OF  NORWAY 

IN THE  FIELD OF 

MEDICAL  AND HEALTH  RESEARCH 

THE EUROPEAN  ECONOMIC  COMMUNITY, hereinafter  referred  to as "the Community", 

and 

THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY, hereinafter  referred  to. as "Norway*, 

both hereinafter  referred  to as "the Contracting Parties", 

WHEREAS  the  Contracting  Parties  concluded  a  Framework  Agreement  for 
Scientific  and  Technical  Cooperation  which  entered  into  force  on  17  July 
1987; 

WHEREAS  by  its  Decision  of  17 November  1987,  the  Council  of  the  European 
Communities, hereinafter  referred  to as "the Council", adopted a research and 
development  coordination  programme  of  the  Community  in  the  field  of  medical 
and  health  research  (1987  to  1991) which  includes,  among  others,  research 
targets  on  AIDS,  age-related  health  problems,  environment  and  life-style 
related  health problems and health  services  research; 

WHEREAS  comprehensive  research  and  development  activities  in  the  field  of 
medical  and health  research  are carried out  in Norway; 

WHEREAS cooperation  in  the field  of medical  and health  research  is  likely to 
contribute  effectively  to  the  attainment  of  an  optimum  level  of  individual 
and public health; 

WHEREAS the  Member States  of the  Community  and  Norway  intend,  in accordance 
with  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  coordination  which  they  consider will  be of 
mutual benefit; 

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS 

-8  -

Article 1 

The Contracting  Parties  shall  cooperate  for  a period  from  1 January  1989  to 
31  December  1991  in  the  following  research  targets  of  the  Community 
programme: 

-  AIDS  (Target  1.2) 

-  Age-related  health problems  (Target  1.3) 

-  Environment  and  life-style  related  health  problems  (Target  1.4) 

-  Health  services  research  (Target  II.2) 

The  research  topics  covered  by this Agreement  are outlined  in Annex  A. 

The  cooperation  shall  consist  of  the  coordination  of  those  activities  which 
form part of the  research  programmes  of Norway  and of the  Community. 

Norway  and  the  Member  States  of  the  Community  shall  remain  entirely 
responsible  for  the  research  carried  out  by  their  national  institutions  or 
bodies. 

Article 2 

The Commission  of the  European  Communities,  hereinafter  referred  to as  "the 
Commission",  shall be responsible  for the implementation  of the coordination 
activities. 

It shall  be assisted  in its  task by  the Management  and  Coordination  Advisory 
Committee  on  Medical  and  Health  Research,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the 
"CGC",  set  up by  Council  Decision  84/338  (1).  This  CGC may be assisted by 
Concerted  Action  Committees  (COMACs)  composed  of  experts  designated  by  the 
competent  authorities of Member  States of the  Community. 

The CGC, together with  those COMACs  relevant  to the  research  targets  referred 
to in Article 1,  shall be enlarged  to include two  representatives  designated 
by  Norway  who  may  be  assisted  or  replaced  by  one  Norwegian  expert. 
These 
representatives  and/or  experts  shall  attend  meetings  of  the  CGC  and  those 
COMACs  for all  items  relevant  to those  research  targets. 

Article 3 

financial 

The  estimated 
for  the 
implementation  of the coordination  activities  covered by this Agreement  shall 
be  set  according  to  the  amount  available  each  year  in  the general  budget of 
the  European  Communities  for  appropriations  covering  commitments  to  meet 
financial  obligations  of  the  Commission  relating  to  coordination  costs, 
management  and operating  expenditure  and fellowships. 

from  the  Community 

contribution 

7T)  OJ  Nu  L 177 of 04.07.1984, p. 25 

- 9 -

The  estimated  financial  contribution  from  Norway  for  the  same  costs  and 
expenditures  shall  be  proportional  to  the  Community's  contribution. 
The 
proportionality  factor  shall  be  given  by  the  ratio  between  Norway's  gross 
domestic  product  (GDP),  at  market  prices,  and  the  sum  of  gross  domestic 
products, at market  prices, of the Member  States of the Community  and Norway. 
This  ratio  shall  be  calculated  on  the  basis  of  the  latest  available  OECD 
statistical  data. 

The total  financial  contributions  from  the Contracting  Parties  for the period 
referred  to in Article 1 are estimated  to amount  to: 

-  24,190,000  Ecu from  the  Community 
470,979 Ecu from Norway 

The  Ecu  is  that  defined  by  the  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3180/78  of  18 
December  1978 changing  the  value of  the unit  of account  used by  the European 
Monetary  Cooperation  Fund  (1), as amended  by Regulation  (EEC) No 2626/84 (2). 

The  rules  governing  the  financial  contribution  from  Norway  are  set  out  in 
Annex  B. 

Article 4 

During  the  course  of  its  third  year,  the  Commission  shall  evaluate  the 
programme,  having  regard  to the  objectives of  the research  targets  referred 
to in Article 1.  As a result  of this evaluation,  the Commission  may, after 
the CGC  has been  consulted,  submit  to the  Council  a  proposal  for  a revision 
affecting  some or all of these  research  targets.  Norway  shall be informed of 
the  results of this evaluation  and of any possible  revision. 

Article 5 

The Member  States of the Community, Norway  and the Commission  shall  regularly 
exchange  all  useful  information  concerning  the  execution  of  the  research 
The Member  States of  the Community  and 
subjects covered  by this  Agreement. 
Norway  shall  provide  the  Commission  with  all  information  necessary  for 
coordination  purposes. 
They  shall also  endeavour  to  provide the  Commission 
with  information  on  similar  research  planned  or  carried  out  by  bodies which 
are  not  under  their  authority. 
Any  information  shall  be  treated  as 
confidential  if so requested  by the party which provides  it. 

On  completion  of  the coordination  activities  covered  by this  Agreement,  the 
Commission,  in agreement  with  the CGC, shall  send to the Member  States of the 
Community,  the  European  Parliament  and  Norway  a  summary  report  on  the 
implementation  and  results of the  research. 

Article 6 

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 territory 
of the Kingdom of Norway. 

T T ) OJ  Nu  L 379 of 30.12.1978, p. 1 
(2)  0J  N° L 247 of 16.09.1984, p. 1 

-  10 -

Article 7 

This  Agreement  shall  be  approved  by  the  Contracting  Parties  in  accordance 
It  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  date  on 
with  their  existing  procedures. 
which  the  Contracting  Parties  have  notified  each  other  of  the  completion  of 
the procedures necessary  for this purpose. 

Article 8 

1.  This Agreement  is concluded  for the period  referred  to in Article 1. 

Should  the Community  revise  the Community  programme, the Agreement  may be 
renegotiated  or  terminated  under  mutually  agreed  conditions. 
Norway 
shall  be  notified  of  the  exact  content  of  the  revised  programme  within 
one  week  after  its  adoption  by  the  Community. 
The  Contracting Parties 
shall notify  each other  within  three  months after  the Community  decision 
has been adopted  if a termination  of the Agreement  is envisaged. 

2.  Whenever  a decision  on the Community  programme  is taken by the  Community, 
Annexes  A  and  B  shall  be  amended  in  accordance  with  the  Community's 
decision, unless otherwise  agreed  upon by the Contracting Parties. 

3.  Excepted  as provided  in paragraph  1 of  this Article,  either  Contracting 
Party may at any time terminate this Agreement  with 6 months' notice. 

Article 9 

The Annexes A and B to this Agreement  shall be an  integral part  thereof. 

Article 10 

This Agreement  shall be drawn up  in duplicate  in the Danish,  Dutch, English, 
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish  and Norwegian  languages, 
each of these texts being  equally  authentic. 

Done at 

For the Council 
of the European  Communities 

For the Kingdom of Norway 

-  11 -

ANNEX A 

RESEARCH TOPICS COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT 

Target  1.2 - AIDS: 

Area 1.2.1 

Disease control  and prevention 

Area 1.2.2 

Viro-immunological  research 

Area 1.2.3 

Clinical  research 

Target  1.3 - AGE-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS: 

Area 1.3.1 

Reproduction 

Area 1.3.2 

Ageing and diseases 

Area 1.3.3 

Disabilities 

Target 1.4 - ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE-STYLE HEALTH PROBLEMS: 

Area 1.4.1 

Breakdown  in human adaption 

Area 1.4.2 

Nutrition 

Area 1.4.3 

Consumption of illicit drugs 

Area 1.4.4 

Infections 

Target  II.2 - HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH: (1) 

Area II.2.1 

Research on prevention 

Area II.2.2 

Research on care delivery  systems 

Area II.2.3 

Research on health  care organisation 

Area II.2.4 

Health  technology  assessment 

(1)  The following actions will be carried  out through seminars,  studies and 

exchange of personnel  for training purposes: 

-  Evaluation  of  integrated  non-communicable  diseases  prevention  and 

control programmes  (foreseen  in Area II.2.1) 

-  Comprehensive  community  care  of  the  mentally  ill  (foreseen  in Area 

II.2.2) 

-  Health  care planning  and organisation  (foreseen  in Area II.2.3) 

Evaluation  of  clinical  practive  in  hospitals  (foreseen  in  Area 
II.2.3). 

-  T2 -

ANNEX B 

FINANCING  RULES 

Article 1 

These  provisions  lay  down  the  financing  rules  for  Norway  referred  to  in 
Article 3 of the Agreement. 

Article 2 

At  the  beginning  of  each  year,  or  -  in  accordance  with  Article  8  of  the 
Agreement  - whenever  the  Community  programme  is  revised  so  as to  involve an 
increase  in the amount estimated  to be necessary  for  its implementation,  the 
Commission  shall  send  to Norway  a  call  for  funds  corresponding  to  its share 
of the annual  costs under the Agreement. 

This  contribution  shall  be  expressed  both  in  Ecu  and  in  the  Norwegian 
The  value .in Norwegian  currency  of the  contribution  in  Ecu shall 
currency. 
be determined on the date of the call for funds. 

The travel costs of Norwegian  representatives and experts deriving from their 
participation  in  the  work  of  the  CGC  and COMACs  referred  to  in Article  2 of 
the Agreement,  shall be  reimbursed  by  the Commission  in accordance  with the 
procedures  currently  in  force  for  the  representatives  and  experts  of  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. 

Norway shall pay  its contribution  to the  annual costs  under the  Agreement at 
the beginning  of each  year and  at the  latest three  months after the call for 
funds  is sent.  Any  delay  in  the payment  of the  contribution  shall  give rise 
to the  payment of  interest by  Norway  at  a rate  equal  to the highest discount 
rate in force 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, 
this  interest  shall  be  payable  only  if  the  contribution  is paid  more  than 
three months after a call  for  funds has been made by the Commission. 

Article 3 

The  funds  paid  by  Norway  shall  be  credited  to  the  four  research  targets  as 
budget  receipts  allocated  to  an  appropriate  heading  in  the  statement  of 
revenue of the general budget of the European Communities. 

Article 4 

The  provisional  timetable  for  the  costs  referred  to  in  Article  3  of  the 
Agreement  are appended hereto. 

- 13 

Article 5 

The  Financial  Regulations  in  force  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the 
European  Communities  shall  apply  to the management  of the appropriations. 

Art icle 6 

At the end of each year,  a statement  of appropriations  for the four  research 
targets shall be prepared  and  transmitted  to Norway  for  information. 

-  14 -

PROVISIONAL  TIMETABLE  FOR THE COSTS RELATING TO THE RESEARCH  TARGETS  (ECU) 

Budget  heading 7311  "Medical and Health  research" (appropriations for  commitments) 

I 

| 

1987 

| 

1988 

| 

1989 

| 

1990 

| 

1991 

| 

TOTAL 

|  I. 
| 

Initial estimate 
of expenditure 

I 
| 

I 
j 

I 
j 

I 
j 

I 
| 

I 
| 

| 

I 
I 

-  Target  1.2 
-  Target  1.3 
-  Target  1.4 
-  Target  II.2 

I 
I 
I 
I 

I 

|  2,160,000  |  3,500,000  |  4,000,000  |  3,340,000  |  1,000,000  |  14,000,000*  | 
| 
j 
| 
| 
I 
j 

580,000  j  1,670,000  |  2,200,000  |  2,400,000  |  2,150,000  | 
250,000  |  1,350,000  |  1,650,000  |  1,400,000  | 
850,000  | 
225,000  |  1,575,000  |  2,550,000  |  1,650,000  |  1,000,000  | 

9,000,000 
5,500,000 
7,000,000 

Total  |  3,215,000  |  8,095,000  |  10,400,000  |  8,790,000  |  5,000,000  |  35,500,000 

| 

|  II.  Revised estimate of 
| 
| 
| 

expenditure taking  into 
account  the Cooperation 
Agreement  with Norway 

j 
I 
| 
| 

| 
I 
| 
| 

| 
I 
| 
| 

| 
I 
| 
| 

| 
I 

I 

| 
I 

I 

I

II 

I 
I 

I 

-  Target  1.2 
-  Target  1.3 
-  Target  1.4 
-  Target  II.2 

| 
I 
| 
I 

I 

|  2,160,000  |  3,500,000  |  4,077,880  |  3,405,030  |  1,019,470  |  14,162,380*  | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
j 

580,000  |  1,670,000  j  2,242,834  |  2,446,728  |  2,191,860  | 
250,000  j  1,350,000  |  1,682,126  |  1,427,257  | 
866,550  | 
225,000  |  1,575,000  |  2,599,649  |  1,682,125  |  1,019,470  | 

9,131,422 
5,575,933 
7,101,244 

Total  |  3,215,000  |  8,095,000  |  10,602,489  |  8,961,140  |  5,097,350  |  35,970,979 

| 

|  III.  Difference between  II and  | 
| 
j 
| 
| 

and  I to be covered by 
Norway's contribution 

I 
0  | 
| 

I 
0  j 
| 

I 
202,489  | 
I 

! 
171,140  | 

I 

I 
97,350  i 

I 
470,979*  j 
II 

*  Including  support  for "centralized  facilities" for primates 

FICHE 0'IMPACT SUR LA COMPETITIVITE  ET L'EMPLOI 

Ce  projet  a  trait  à  une  décision  du  Conseil  concernant  la  conclusion  d'un 
accord  de  coopération  entre  la  CEE  et  la  Norvège  dans  le  domaine  de  la 
recherche médicale et sanitaire. 

En tant que tel,  ce projet peut avoir un impact positif  sur  les PME, dans la 
mesure où  il constitue  un  instrument  facilitant  l'accès à  la connaissance et 
à  l'échange  d'expériences. 

SS-

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(89) 388 final 

DOCUMENTS 

11  16 

27.7.1989 

EN 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-351-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-52430-8 

Office for Official  Publications of the European Communities 
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