PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION AMENDING DECISION 89/118/EEC ON A EUROPEAN STIMULATION PLAN FOR ECONOMIC SCIENCE ( 1989 - 1992 ) ( SPES )
Date: 1990-05-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economics, economy, research programme, scientific cooperation, scientific exchange

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(90) 179 final  - SYN 121 

Brussels, 15 May 1990 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

amending  Decision 89/118/EEC on a 

European  stimulation  plan  for economic  science 

(1989 - 1992) (SPES) 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

•s 

It 

EC 

-  2 -

BACKGROUND 

1.  On  adopting  on  13  February  1989  a  European  stimulation  plan  for 
economic  science  (1989-1992)(SPES),  the Council  gave  the Commission  the 
responsibility  of  implementing  a  range  of  measures  aimed  at  improving 
the  training  of  young  economists  the stimulation  of mobility  and  intra-
European  cooperation  between  community  economists. 

2.  A  Community  action  is particularly  relevant  and  necessary  for  economic 
science  because  It  involves  a subject  which, by  Its very  nature,  has an 
international  dimension  directly  linked  to  the  objectives  of  the 
Community  and  where  it  Is advisable  to  take  Into  account  the  European 
dimension  for  the study  of major  Community  questions. 

3.  The Community  action  launched  In February  1989  immediately  stimulated  a 
great  Interest  amongst  the  Community  scientists  concerned,  confirming 
the  needs  which  had  been  expressed  by  them  as  well  as  by  the  Council, 
the  European  Parliament,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the 
Commission,  needs  which  were  the origin  of  the  Initiative  taken  by  the 
Commission  in March  1988  In proposing  the SPES  Plan. 

4.  Within  several  months,  the  Commission  had  received  a  large  number  of 
expressions  of  interest  (5  000  requests  for  information  In  10  months) 
of  which  a  substantial  number  gave  rise  to  Joint  proposals  or  to 
European  networks  (166  proposals  for  an  amount  in  the  region  of 
ECU  22 million  bringing  together  793  teams  had  been  submitted  between 
1 April  and  1 November  1989).  The evaluation  of  these  proposals  showed 
that  the  majority  of  them  concerned  subjects  which  were  of  great 
interest  and  came  from  quality  research  teams. 

5.  Taking  into  account  the  financial  means  available,  only  a  small 
proportion  of  these  "quality"  requests  could  be  financed  : 22  proposals 
involving 62  teams  for  an amount  In the  region of  ECU  1 650 000  (or  13% 
of  the  requests  considered  on  1 October  1989). 

insufficiently 

6.  The  analysis  of  the  subject  areas  affected  by  these  Community  show  on 
the other  hand  that  while  the  subjects  specifically  linked  to  European 
integration  are well  represented, other  important  questions  are  without 
doubt 
to 
questions  linked  to  the  development  of  tools  of  economic  performance 
such  as  precise  economic  models  incorporating  financial  aspects 
(including  interest  and  exchange  rates) or  Indicators  which  allow  the 
assessment  of  the economic  Impact  of  new  technologies,  In particular  as 
regards  In the protection of  the  environment. 

represented.  This  applies  particularly 

7.  Without  anticipating  the  conclusions  of  the  evaluation  which  will  be 
undertaken  In  1991  In  accordance  with  the  Decision  89/11/EEC,  the 
Inadequate  level  of  funding  available  In relation  to  the needs  to which 
the Community  must  respond  can  already  be  seen. 

-  3 -

8.  In  its proposai  for  a Framework  Programme  1987-1991,  the Commission  had 
expressed  its  intention  to  take  measures  aimed  at  supporting  and 
retaining  high  level  researchers  In  the  Community.  To  this  end,  an 
amount  of  ECU  4  million  had  been  reserved  for  an  experimental  action 
for  the  "Stimulation  of  European  cooperation  and  S/T  exchanges"  (line 
8.1  of  the  1987-1991  Framework  Programme). 

9.  In view  of  the possibilities offered  by  the  SCIENCE  Plan  as  adopted  by 
the  Council  (Decision  88/419/EEC)  it  appears  that  the  objectives 
envisaged  for  this experimental  action  could  be  achieved  with  the  help 
of  the modalities available under  the SCIENCE  Plan  (research  grants). 

10.  In  this  situation  and  taking  Into  account  the  existing  needs  of 
economic  science,  the  Commission  considers  that  it  Is  necessary  to 
revise  the  cost  estimate  and  to  reinforce  the  financial  base  of  the 
stimulation  plan  for  economic  science  with  the  ECU  4 million  currently 
aval I able. 

11. The  Commission  therefore  requests  the  Council  to  agree  to  the  draft 
Decision  which  follows  in order  that  It can  proceed  with  a  stimulation 
action  for  economic  science  to  respond  more  adequately  to  the  needs 
encountered. 

- 4 -

Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL  DECISION 

amending Decision 89/118/EEC on a 
European  stimulation plan  for economic  science 
(1989 - 1992)  (SPES) 

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 cooperation with  the European  Par I lament*2*, 

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

Whereas  Article  130k of  the Treaty  provides  that  the  Implementation  of  the 
Framework  Programme  Is  to  be  carried  out  by  means  of  its  action  lines; 
whereas  the  Council,  In  deciding  by  Decision  87/516/Euratorn,  EEC*4*  the 
Community  Framework  Programme  for  research  and  technological  development 
(1987-1991), recognizes  the  Interest  of  such a stimulation action; 

Whereas  Council  Decision  89/118/EEC(5)  adopted  a plurlannual  research  and 
development  Programme  for  the Community  in the field of economic  sciences; 

Whereas  the  Framework  Programme,  amongst  the  evaluation  criteria  for  each 
programme  and  the  selection  of  Community  actions,  provides  for  the 
contribution  to  the  strengthening  of  the  economic  and  social  cohesion  of 
the Community,  while  respecting  the objectives of  scientific  and  technical 
qua Iity; 

Whereas  certain  recent  and  important  questions  In  economic  science,  for 
example  precise  economic  models  Incorporating  financial  aspects  and  above 
all  indicators which  allow  the  appreciation  of  the environmental  Impact  of 
new  technologies,  require  urgent  action  by  the  Community  taking  Into 
account  the  vital  relationship  between  the means  available  for  the  adopted 
plan and  the quality of  the proposals  received by  the  Commission; 

Whereas  economic  science  alms  to  Increase  the  wealth  and  productivity  of 
the economy  as a whole; 

Whereas  the Committee  for Scientific  and Technological  Research  (CREST) has 
been consulted, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

(1)  OJ. 
(2)  OJ 
(3)  OJ 
(4)  OJ  No L 302, 24.10.1987, p. 1. 
(5)  OJ NO L 44, 16.2.1989, p. 43. 

-  5 -

Article 1_ 

Decision 89/118/EEC  is hereby  amended  as follows: 

1.  The  first  paragraph of Article  3  Is replaced  by  the  following: 

"The  funds  estimated  as  necessary  for  the  execution  of  the  programme 
amount  to  ECU  10  million  for  the  period  1989  to  1992,  Including 
expenditure on a staff of  three." 

2.  The  following  is added  to point  4 of  the Annex: 

" vil I:  Microeconomics 

ix: 

x: 

problems  of  the  evaluation  of  the  economic  Impact  of 
environmental  risks 

The problems of economic  relations between Western  Europe and 
Eastern Europe". 

Article  2 

This Decision  Is addressed  to the Member  States. 

Done at 

For  the Council 

The  President 

-  6 -

FINANCIAL  SUMMARY 

1.  Budgetary  11 ne  : 7382 

Title of  the  action: 

Plan  to  stimulate  cooperation  and  exchange  between  researchers  in 
economic  science. 

2.  Legal  base 

Article  130q(2) of  the EEC Treaty 

3•  Definition of  the action: 

The stimulation programme  Includes  the following  actions: 

. European  doctoral  scholarships  awarded  to  students  from  Community 
countries  to  carry  out  a  part  of  their  studies  in  a  research 
Institute  In a Community  country  other  than  their  own; 

. post-doctoral  research  grants  awarded  to  Community  researchers  to 
enable  them  to  work  In  a  research  institute  situated  in  a  country 
other  than  their  own.  These  grants  can  be  in the  form  of  a  lump-sum 
(fellowship)  or  may  cover  only  certain  costs  such  as  travel, 
subsistence  and/or  costs  associated  with  the  research  itself; 

.  subsidies  for  projects  and  research  networks,  high-level  training 
courses,  scientific  meetings  (conferences,  seminars,  workshops), 
studies  and  inquiries  as  well  as  for  the  facilitation  of  access  to 
databases. 

4.  Just if I cat Ion for  the action: 

On  the  28  June  1983,  the  Council  approved  the  aim  of  "improving  the 
effectiveness  of  the  scientific  and  technical  potential  of  the 
Community"  among  those  of  the  Framework  Programme  of  Community  R&D 
activities.*1* 

The  Single  European  Act  specifies  (Article  130)  that  the  Commission 
must  undertake  stimulation action  In training. 

The  Council  of  28  September  1987  approved  the  aim  of  "A  researcher's 
Europe" among  those  for  support  under  the  1987-1991  Framework  Programme 
of Community  R&D  activities.*2* 

(?)  OJ  N O L 1 8 1,  6.7.1983,  p.20. 
(2)  OJ  NoL3G2,24.1Cl.1937 p.1 

- 7 -

The  Council  of  29  June  1988, adopted  the  new  plan  (1988-92)  for  the 
stimulation  of  international  cooperation  and  interchange  needed  by 
European  researchers  (SCIENCE)*3*  which  Is still  limited  to  the  exact 
sciences but at the same time has recognised  the necessity of  extending 
the action to ail areas of science. 

The  Council  of  13  February  1989*4*  adopted  a  European  plan  for  the 
stimulation of economic science  (1989-1992) (SPES) which constitutes an 
opening  up  of  Community  activities  In  research  and  development  to 
economic sciences. 

5.  Financial  Imp 11 cat Ions 

1. 

Type of expenditure 

a)  Personnel: 

I. SPES: 

For  1990  the  personnel  Is comprised  of 
one  "A" grade and one new  "C" grade. 

The  new  "C"  Is only  taken  Into  account 
for  6  months  of  the  first  year.  For 
91/92 an  Increase of  4% a year  is taken 
into account. 

The  costs  of  business  travel 
Included  in the amounts mentioned. 

are 

I) Revision of SPES:  For  the  revision  of  SPES,  a  new  grade 
"A"  Is planned  for  1991  calculating  as 
before  a  h  "AM  the  first  year  with  an 
increase of 4% the following years. 

The  costs  of  business  travel 
Included  in the amounts mentioned. 

are 

b)  Administration: 

4  E-CODEST  meetings  are  planned  per 
year. 

c)  Contracts: 

European  doctoral  fellowships,  post-doctoral 
grants; 

research 

(3)  OJ No L 206, 30.7.1988, p. 34. 
(4)  OJ No L 44, 16.2.1989, p. 43. 

- 8 -

Subsidies  for  networks  and/or  multinational 
projects. 

research 

Subsidies  for  the  organisation  of  high  level  training 
courses,  Including  summer  schools  and  scientific  meetings 
as well  as facilitating access to databases. 

Study  contracts 

Expert  contracts 

2. 

Total  cost 

ECU  10  million  for  the  1989-1992  period  of  the  stimulation 
plan.  ECU  6  million  for  Decision  89/118/EEC  of  13 February 
1989  (SPES) and  ECU  4 million  for  the period  1991-1992  for  the 
revision of  the programme. 

3. 

Breakdown 

- 9 -

(in mECU) 

(Forecast) 

Commitment  Appropriations 

Budget Budget 

1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  TOTAL 

SPES : 

Personnel (1+9)  .0865  .1315  .165  .170 

.553 

Administr. 
(2+3) 
Contracts (5) 

.049  .0425  .045  .046 
.784 
.8645 1.826  1.790 

.1825 
5.2645 

S/Total 

1.000  2.000  2.000  1.000 

pm 

6.000 

Revision o£ SEES 

Personnel (1+9) 

0 

.055  .107 

Administration 
(2+3) 
Contracts (5) 

0 
0 

0 

0 

1.345  2.493 

.162 

0 
3.838 

S/Total 

1.400  2.600 

pm 

4.000 

Total 

1.000 2.000  3.400  3.600 

pm 

10.000 

- 10 -

Payment approviatlons 

Budget  Budget 

(Forecast) 

1989 

1990  1991 

1992 

1993  1994  TOTAL 

SPES 

Personnel 
(1+9) 

.0865  .1315  .165 

.170 

.553 

Administration 
(2+3) 

.049 

0425  .045 

.046 

.1825 

Contracts (5)  .2645 

626  1.7892  1.499 

8506  .2352 5.2645 

S/Total 

.400  .800  1.9992  1.715 

8506  .2352 6.000 

Revision of SPES 

Personnel 
(1+9) 

Administration 
(2+3) 

Contracts (5) 

055 

.107 

0 

0 

162 

0 

4035  1.2859  1.4007  .7479  3.838 

S/Total 

0 

4585  1.3929  1.4007  .7479  4.000 

TOTAL 

.400  .800  2.4577  3.1079  2.2513  .9831 10.000 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(90) 179 final 

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