Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION modifying its decision of 23 November 1994 adopting a specific programme for research and technological development in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations (1994-1998)
Date: 1995-11-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU programme, USSR, industrial cooperation, research and development, technological change

«##(.'.!» 

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  13.11.1995 
COM(95) 539  final 

95/0271 (CNS) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

modifying  its  decision  of  23  November  1994  adopting  a  specific  programme  for 
research and technological development in the field of cooperation with third countries 
and international organizations  (1994-1998) 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  Commission  in  its  communication  COM(95)190  of  16 May  1995  to  the 
Council  and European Parliament  advocated reintegrating the activities of INTAS 
in  the  Commission. 

The  great  majority  of  Member  States  was  in  favour  of  continuing  INTAS  in  its 
present structure.  Parliament, too, favoured continuing INTAS and reinforcing the 
Scientific  Council. 

This divergence of views has persisted for more than a year, and is threatening to 
block  the  whole  of  cooperation  in  science  and technology  with Eastern Europe. 

4. 

The Presidency  compromise  consists  of  the  following  elements: 

provisional  continuation  of  INTAS  until  the end of the fourth  framework 
programme 

a  declaration  that  this  does  not  constitute  a  precedent  for  other  areas  of 
S&T cooperation  between  the  Community  and third  countries 

a  right  of  veto  for  the  Commission  as  the  Community's  representative  in 
the  General  Assembly 

presidency of the INTAS General Assembly to be held by the Commission 
as the Community's  representative 

Community  financing  of  up  to  approximately  50%  of  the  resources 
intended for the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. This 
corresponds  to  between  12 and  15 MECU/annum.1 

This compromise  strengthens  the Commission's  role in INTAS  and will  enable it 
to  assume  its  responsibilities  with  regard  to  the proper  execution  of  its  financial 
contribution  to INTAS. This stronger position  and the rights already provided for 
under the INTAS Statutes (e.g. the Commission's right to nominate an auditor, and 
the  right  of  the  Commission  and  the  Court  of  Auditors  to  verify  that  the 
Community  contribution  is  used  in  accordance  with  the  Financial  Regulation  of 
the  European  Communities)  are  sufficient  guarantee  that  the  Community's 
objectives  as  laid  down  in  the  specific  programme  on  international  cooperation 
and  in  the  Financial  Regulation  (sound  management)  can  be  achieved. 

The  resources  available  for  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  the  NIS  average 
around  60  MECU/annum  for  the  duration  of  the  fourth  framework  programme. 
Between  40  and  50%  of  these  resources  will  be  attributed  to  the NIS. 
The  precise  breakdown  between  CCEE  and  NIS  has  still  to  be  determined. 

Z 

5. 

6. 

With  regard  to  the  legal  construction,  the  Council  is currently  tending  towards  a 
solution  consisting  in the continuation  of  INTAS  on the basis of  "conclusions" or 
a sui generis  decision  ("BeschluJ3"),  without  a prior  proposal  for  a decision  from 
the  Commission. 

The  Commission  favours  a  proposal  for  a  decision  pursuant  to  Articles  189  and 
130i(4) of  the  Treaty. 

That  decision  is the  subject  of  this  proposal. 

COUNCIL  DECISION 
of 

modifying  its  decision  of  23  November  1994  adopting  a  specific  programme  for 
research and technological development in the field of cooperation with third countries 
and international organizations  (1994-1998) 

THE  COUNCIL  OF THE  EUROPEAN  UNION 

Having regard to the Treaty  establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article  130 i(4)  thereof, 
Having  regard to the proposal from the Commission1 , 
Having  regard to the opinion  of the  European  Parliament2, 
Having  regard to  the opinion  of the  Economic  and  Social  Committee3 , 

Whereas  the  globalization  of  RTD  activities  requires  the  European  Community  to 
develop and implement an international RTD cooperation strategy consistent with the 
objectives  of the Treaty  ; Whereas  the Commission  has submitted  a  communication 
technological 
on  perspectives 
development, 

international  cooperation 

in  research  and 

for 

Whereas  it  is  important  that  scientific  and  technological  cooperation  with  the  New 
Independent  States of the former  Soviet Union (NIS) be continued in the context of a 
generalized  process of transformation  in these countries and in order to contribute to 
stabilizing  their  scientific  potential, 

Whereas  the  Commission  presented  a  communication  on  18  May  19954  on  the 
prospects of scientific and technological cooperation with the New Independent States 
of the former  Soviet  Union, and in particular  on the  Community's  participation  in the 
International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the NIS 
(INTAS)  ; Whereas that the analysis of this communication will need to be pursued in 
the framework of the examination of the Commission's communication on perspectives 
for  international  cooperation, 

Whereas Council Decision N°. 94/807/EC adopting a specific programme for research 
and  technological  development,  including  demonstration,  in  the  field  of  cooperation 

•OJ  N° 

2OJ  N° 

3OJ  N° 

4doc.  7641/95  RliCH  67  NIS 65. 

i 

with third countries and international organizations5 confirms Community  participation 
in  the  pilot  phase  of  INTAS  until  the  end  of  1995  and  specifies  that  Community 
participation  m  ENTAS  beyond  31  December  1995  is  subject  to  a  Decision  of  the 
Council  authorizing such participation, 

Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution of 
, expressed its support for 
the continuation of the Community  participation  in  INTAS beyond 1995 and until the 
end of the fourth framework  programme, 

Whereas  there  is  need  for  a  substantial  improvement 
in  the  efficiency  and 
transparency  of INTAS procedures ; Whereas, therefore, the work going onunder the 
auspices  of the  INTAS  General Assembly  to find ways  and means for  improving the 
functioning  of  INTAS is a welcome  initiative, 

Whereas,  without  setting  in  any  way  a  precedent  for  present  or  future  specific 
programmes of research and development, the action might be extended up to the end 
of the fourth framework programme and the end of the specific programme  concerned 
(31 December  1998), provided the said improvements are implemented, in particular 
by way  of modification of the statutes of  INTAS so as to better  reflect the  importance 
of  Community  participation, 

Whereas the Commission will propose standard procedures for the implementation of 
international  research  cooperation  in future framework  programmes, 

Whereas  appropriate  and  stable  Community  funding  should  continue  to  be  made 
available to  INTAS ; Whereas  it is important  to broaden  the funding  basis of  INTAS, 
and in particular  to  attract  additional  contributions, 

Whereas Community funding of INTAS activities should take into account the need for 
cooperation in other areas of strategic interest to the Community, in particular Central 
and  Eastern  Europe  and the  Mediterranean, 

HAS ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION  : 

Article  1 

In Annex  I of  Council  decision  N°  94/807/EC,  under  part  A.2  "cooperation  with  the 
countries  of central  and eastern  Europe  and with the  new  independent  States  of the 
former  Soviet  Union",  the  paragraph  beginning  with  the  words  "the  International 
Association for Promotion of Cooperation..." and ending with the words "...authorizing 
the  participation  of the  Community  ;"  is  replaced  by  the following  paragraph  : 

the  participation  of  the  Community  in  the  International  Association  for  the 
Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from  the  New  Independent  States of 
the  Former  Soviet  Union  (INTAS),  in  particular  by  means  of  a  financial 
contribution  in the  order  of about  half of the funds  available  at  present for the 

sOJ  L334,  22.12.94,  p.  109. 

S' 

cooperation with these New Independent States under this programme, and for 
activities  conforming  to  its  objectives; such  participation  is  subject  to  a 
modification of the Statutes of INTAS in such a way that the decisions  requiring 
a two-thirds  majority of the General Assembly  are taken with the agreement of 
the  Community,  represented  by  the  Commission,  and  that  the  Commission 
assumes  the  presidency  of the  General  Assembly." 

Article  2 

This  decision  is addressed  to the  Member  States. 

Done  at  Brussels,  on 

For the  Council 
The  President 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

TITLE OF OPERATION 

Prolongation  of  the  International  Association  for  the  promotion  of 
cooperation with scientists from the New Independent States of the former 
Soviet Union  (INTAS). 

2.  BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 

B6-7211 
Cooperation with third countries and international organizations. 

3. 

LEGAL BASIS 

Article  130 i (4) of the Treaty. 

4 

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 

4.1  General objective 

Prolongation of the INTAS Association in order to promote scientific and 
technological cooperation with the New Independent States of the former 
Soviet  Union, with  a view,  in particular,  to  stabilizing the  RTD potential 
and providing support for scientists from those countries. 

4.2  Fields covered 

Scientific  and technological  research  activities  designed  in  particular  to 
stabilize  the  RTD potential,  as provided for  in the work  programme  on 
international cooperation. 

4.3  Period covered 

1996-1998 

5.  CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

Non-compulsory expenditure. 
Differentiated appropriations. 

> 

6.  TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

Financing  of  the  INTAS  Association.  The  objective  is  to  implement 
scientific  and technological  cooperation  projects  between  the  member 
countries of the association and the New Independent States of the former 
Soviet Union. 

7. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1 

Indicative schedule of appropriations for this operation (in MECU) 

1996 

12-15 

1997 

12-15 

1998 

12-15 

TOTAL 

3645 

12-15 

12-15 

12-15 

3645 

Commitment 
appropriations 

Payment 
appropriations 

indicative multiannual schedule of appropriations for the 

7.2 
programme  (in MECU) 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 + 

59.917 

145.000 

176.000 

197.083 

-

TOTAL1 

578.000 

38.636 

106.000 

86.000 

146.000 

201.364 

578.000 

Commitment 
appropriations 

Payment 
appropriations 

8„  ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 

81  Specific  objectives - target  population 

The  objective  of  the activity  is to  help  promote  cooperation 
with  the New independent States of the former  Soviet  Union 
in  the  field  of  research  and  technological  development,  in 

1  Following  enlargement,  die Commission  presented to the  Council  and  Parliament  a 
proposal  for  a  7%  increase  in  the  4th  FPEC  1994-1998  -  COM(95)145  final, 
12 4.1995. 

particular  by  stabilizing  the  RTD potential  in  the  countries 
concerned. 

8.2  Grounds for the  operation 

The operation concerns international cooperation  in the field 
of  research  in  order  to  safeguard  the  RTD  potential,  as 
provided for  in the work  programme. 

8.3  Monitoring and evaluation of the  operation 

The projects  will  be  monitored  and  evaluated  in  accordance 
with  INTAS rules  (Recommendation  of  the  Scientific  Council, 
Decision of  the General Assembly). 

9.  FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES 

Numerous  administrative  and  financial  control  mechanisms 
apply  at  all  stages  of  contract  award  and  implementation. 
These include: 

Prior to conclusion : 

initial  selection  of  the  proposals  according  to  scientific 
merit and realistic estimate of the cost of the research in 
relation to  its nature, duration and potential  impact. 

Analysisof thefinancial information communicated by the 
proposers in the  negotiation form. 

After  contract  signature : 

Examination  of  the  statements  of  expenditure  before 
payment, at several levels (financial manager, responsible 
scientific  officer). 

Checks on the spot to detect errors or other  irregularities 
through  scrutiny of  the supporting  documents. 

10.  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
2) 

Two  Commission  A  officials  are  seconded  to  INTAS.  This 
involves  expenditure  of  ECU  115  000  per 
currently 
person/annum, i.e. ECU  230 000/annum. 

/]  o 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 539  final 

DOCUMENTS 

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Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-580-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-95517-1 

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