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 )
Date: 1989-10-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, EU research policy, farm development plan, management of resources, technological change

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 

P R O P O S I T I ON  DE  D E C I S I ON 

A R R E T A N1 

DE  DEVELOPPEMENT 
L ' A G RI  CULTURE 

TECHNOLOGI  QUE 
ET  LA  G E S T I ON 

"  UN 
DANS 
D ES 
fi 

PROGRAMME 
;  LE 
RESSOURCES 
-  SYN 
na  I 

4 59 

S P EC  I FI  QUE  DE  RECHERCHE 
D O M A I NE  DE  LA  C O M P E T I TI  V  I TE  DE 

A G RI  C O L ES 

( 1 9 8 9 - 1 9 9 3) 

1 52 

C O M ( 8 8) 

P A R L E M E NT 

C O M M I S S I ON 

PROPOSITION  MOOIFIEE 
COMMENTAIRES 

DOC.  A2  -  151/89 
PE  133.157 
du  24  mai  1989 

AMEN-
DEMENT 
n* 

CONTENU 

ACCEP 
TABLE 
OUI/NON 

TITRE 

1 

Programme  specifiqu«  de  Recherche  et  Developpe-

Oui 

nent  Technologique 

(pREC/FR/een) 
ANNEXE  E  -  p.  1 

ET 

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 

2 
3 
4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 
10 
11 

12 

13 
14 

15 

Suppression 
Suppression 
Accroissement  des  ressourcee  humaines  et 

f i n a n 

Oui 
Oui 
Oui 

Considerant  5 

ciered 

Cohesion  economique  et  s o c i a i e,  s t a b i 1 i s a t e u r s. 

regions  mediterraneennes 

Adaptation  oux  changements  et  a  1 ' e v o l u t i on  de 

P a r t i e l-
lement 
Oui 

la  PAC 

Coordination  avec  autres  programmes  (ECLAIR  -

FLAIR) 
Suppression 

Duree  et  montont  du  programme 
Modalites  d ' a p p l i c a t i on 
Couts  supplemental res  - 

I n s t i t u te  de  recherche 

ou  u n i v e r s i t es 

Coordination  avec  ECLAIR  et  FLAIR 

Procedure  budgetaire 
Com!tologie 

Execution  -  Contrats 

Considerants  2  et  6.  La  n o t i on  de  s t o b i 1 1 s a t e ur 

n'a  pas  ete  r e t e n u e. 

Considerant  9 

Considerant  10 

A r t.  1  et  2 
Annexe 
Annexe  I  "Modalitee  d ' e x e c u t i o n"  §  2 

I  "Modalites  d ' e x e c u t i o n"  §  1  et  2 

Considerant  10  et  Annexe 

I  "Modalites  d * e x e c u 

t i o n"  §  4 

Question  h o r i z o n t a ls 
A r t.  5  et  6  : 

inopproprlee 

le  Comite  type 

II  a)  est  coneidere 

comme  etant  plus  a p p r o p r i e. 

A r t.  5  et  Annexe 

I  " M o d a l i t et  d ' e x e c u t i o n"  §  1. 

La  r e f e r e n ce  aux  p r o j e ts  p i l o t ee  n ' e st  plus 
repr  i s e. 

A r t.  4  et  Annexe 
Annexe 

I  " E v a l u a t i o n"  §  5  point  4 

I  " E v a l u a t i o n-

Oui 

Oui 

Oui 
Out 
Oui 

Oui 

Non 
Non 

P a r t l e l-
1emen t 

Oui 
Oui 

ART.  4 
ART.  4  §  4  (nouveau) 

16 
17 

Rapports  et  evaluation 
Evaluation  :  consequences  ecologiques  et  eco 

nomique* 

-N 

( P R E C / F R / e e n) 
ANNEXE  E  -  P 

: 

P A R L E M E NT 

C O M M I S S I ON 

DOC. A2 -  151/89 
PE  133.157 
du 24 mai  1989 

AMEN 
D M E NT 
n# 

CONTENU 

ACCEP 
TABLE 
OUI/NON 

PROPOSITION  MOOIFIEE 
COMMENTAIRES 

A N N E XE 

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 

18 

19 
26 

21 
22 

23 

24 

25 
26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

Programme  specif(que de Recherche  et  Developpe-

Oui 

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 

Oui 
Port iel-
lement 
Oui 
Oui 

Oui 

Oui 

Oui 
Oui 

Partiel-
lement 
Non 

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 

Partiel-
lement 

Annexe  I  : Contenu  point  1 tiret  1. point  2  ti 
ret  5, Modalites d'execution  4eme  paragraphe 

Suppression  du tiret 

Oui 

Activitee pilotes ou prioritaires 

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  , 

In cooperation with the European Parliament  , 

(2) 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee  , 

(3) 

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  8 9, 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 

The President 

For the Council 

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 

III. Training  and mobility grants 

:v  Staff costs 

15.5 

5.0 

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 

EN 

16  03 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-462-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-53746-9 

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