COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - Establishment within the JRC of a section to take on the task of Alps Observation and Information System Coordination Unit
Date: 1997-01-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Alpine Region, Joint Research Centre, environmental monitoring, environmental protection, information system

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  08.01.1997 
COM(96)  713 final 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  THE  COMMISSION 
TO THE  COUNCIL  AND  THE EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT 

Establishment within the JRC of 
a section to take on the task of 
Alps Observation and Information System Coordination Unit 

The Commission  wishes to inform the Council and Parliament that it has undertaken to set 
up  a  section  within  the  Environmental  Monitoring  Unit  of  the  Joint  Research  Centre's 
Environment  Institute at Ispra.  The section's task will be to coordinate the activity of the 
Alps  Observation  and  Information  System  (AOIS)  for  and  within  the  framework  of  the 
Convention on the protection of the Alps. 

1. 

Background 

The Convention on the protection of the Alps ('Alpine Convention') was signed by the seven 
countries of the Alpine Arc (Austria, Germany, France, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein) and the European Community on 7 November  1991 in Salzburg, Austria. 
An additional  Protocol  allows the future  accession of the Principality of Monaco.  Former 
Yugoslavia has been replaced by Slovenia. 

The Convention entered into force on 9 March  1995.  The Contracting Parties are Austria, 
Germany, France, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and the European Community.1 

It is a framework  Convention  aiming to ensure the protection and sustainable development 
of the Alpine range and the consistency of the Contracting Parties' policies in this area.  Aside 
from the adoption of specific Protocols, the instruments for its implementation  include a joint 
effort  in research  and systematic monitoring (Article 3) and collaboration  and exchange of 
information  in the legal, economic, scientific  and technical fields (Article 4). 

With  a  view  to  implementing  these  two  Articles,  the  Ministerial  Conference  of  the 
Convention,  held  in Chambéry  on  20 December  1994, decided, on the basis of  an expert 
report, that an Alps Observation  and Information  System should be set up, to be known as 
the 'Alps Observatory'.  The Conference entrusted the details of its tasks and  configuration 
to an Alps Observation Working Party, the scientific  and technical running of which was left 
to the JRC. 

On  the basis of a report  from  the Working Party, the Ministerial Conference  of the Alpine 
Convention,  meeting  in  Brdo  (Slovenia)  on  27  February  1996,  adopted  the  general 
organizational  structure,  based  on  a network  of  national  Communication  Centres  and a 
Coordination  Unit,  and  invited  the  Commission  to  accept  the  task  of  running  the 
Coordination  Unit through the JRC. 

The  logic  behind  this request  to the  Commission  was that  the JRC is particularly,  if not 
uniquely, suited to the task: it is centrally located in the Alpine Arc, enjoys an international 
status  guaranteeing  its neutrality, and has the requisite scientific  competence  thanks to its 
long experience in research and the collection of environmental data, etc. 

Decision 96/191/EC, OJ L 61,  12.3.1996, p. 31. 

3-

The Commission felt this task accorded fully, both scientifically  and institutionally, with the 
JRCs mission and current programme, and so agreed to the request.  This contribution to the 
work of the Alpine Convention is in line with the European Community's participation  in the 
Convention, and enjoys surety in the obligation upon the other Contracting Parties to set up 
national Communication  Centres and cover their costs. 

11. 

Implementation 

Under  the terms of the  1997-98 programme now being drawn up, the AOIS's activity will 
include: 

The production  of environmental  indicators (state, pressure, responses) and socio 
economic  indicators.  These  will  form  the  basis  of  reports  on  the  state  of  the 
environment and the socio-economic situation of the Alpine region and/or meet the 
specific requirements of the specialized Protocols. 

The creation of an Alpine Research Information  System, to facilitate the transfer of 
research findings to potential users. 

The creation of a data telecommunication network for the collection, organization (in 
the form of decentralized database systems) and dissemination of  information. 

Under the current terms of the AOIS operating rules now being discussed by the Contracting 
Parties within the Alps Observation Working Party, the AOIS will be based on decentralized 
organization and the Coordination Unit will, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, 
be confined to essential tasks at central level, including: 

production of preliminary drafts for the multiannual activity programmes and for the 
plans implementing the approved programmes; 

coordination  of  the  national  Communication  Centres'  execution  of  the  approved 
programmes; 

collation  of  findings 
dissemination; 

in  forms  suitable  for  dissemination;  coordination  of 

performance  of  essential  common  tasks,  such  as  liaison  with  the  European 
Environment  Agency, implementation  and management of the data communication 
network, management of studies or services commissioned from third parties, etc. 

The  JRC  will  set  up  and  run  the  AOIS  Coordination  Unit  through  existing  budgetary 
provisions, using the resources allocated to the institutional scientific and technical support 
activities  of  the  specific  RTD  programme  the  JRC  has  to  carry  out  for  the  European 
Community (1995-98). 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

TITLE OF OPERATION 

Creation  of a department to take on the task of Alps Observation and  Information 
System Coordination Unit 

BUDGET HEADINGS INVOLVED 

Joint Research Centre: 

Article B6-111 

Persons associated with the institution 

Article B6-121 

Resources 

Article B6-2131 

Environment and climate 

LEGAL BASES 

Council  Decision of  15 December  1994 adopting a specific programme for 
research  and  technological  development,  including  demonstration,  to  be 
carried out for the European Community, on the one hand, by the JRC and, 
on  the other, by means of activities within the framework  of a competitive 
approach  and  intended  for  scientific  and  technical  support  to  Community 
policies (1995-98) (OJ L 361, 31.12.1994, p. 114). 

Council Decision 96/191 /EC of 26 February  1996 concerning the conclusion 
of  the  Convention  on  the  protection  of  the  Alps  (Alpine  Convention) 
(OJL61,  12.3.1996, p. 31). 

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 

4.1  General objective 

The Convention on the protection of the Alps ('Alpine Convention') entered 
into force on 9 March  1995.  The Contracting Parties are Austria, Germany, 
France, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and the European Community.1 

It is a framework  Convention aiming to ensure the protection and sustainable 
development  of  the  Alpine  range  and  the  consistency  of  the  Contracting 
Parties' policies in this area.  Aside from  the adoption of specific Protocols, 
the  instruments for  its implementation  include a joint effort  in research and 

Decision 96/191/EC, OJ L 61,  12.3.1996, p. 31. 

3 

systematic  monitoring  (Article  3)  and  collaboration  and  exchange  of 
information  in the legal, economic, scientific and technical fields (Article 4). 

With a view to implementing these two Articles, the Ministerial  Conference 
of the Convention decided in December  1994 that an Alps Observation and 
Information System should be set up, and entrusted the details of its tasks and 
configuration  to  a  Working  Party,  the  scientific  and  technical  running  of 
which was left to the JRC. 

On  27  February  1996,  on  the  basis  of  the  Working  Party's  report,  the 
Ministerial  Conference  of  the  Alpine  Convention  adopted  the  general 
organizational  structure,  based  on  a  network  of  national  Communication 
Centres and a Coordination Unit, and invited the Commission to accept the 
task of running the Coordination Unit through the JRC. 

The  logic behind this request was that the JRC is particularly  suited to the 
task,  thanks  to  its  location  in  the  Alpine  Arc,  an  international  status 
guaranteeing its neutrality, and its scientific competence in research and the 
collection of environmental data, etc. 

4.2 

Period covered and arrangements for renewal or extension 

This  proposal  only  covers  the  financial  years  1997  and  1998.  If  future 
framework programmes provide for the JRC to continue its work in the same 
technical  area a proposal  could be put forward  to extend the coordination 
functions. 

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

NCE/DA 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

Direct JRC expenditure from the abovementioned budget headings. 

These appropriations are intended to cover expenditure on staff  and resources for the 
department concerned, as well as appropriations intended specifically  for the task, 
such as: 

.  sundry equipment 
.  operating appropriations 
.  maintenance of installations and equipment. 

V 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

The  JRC  already  performs  the  majority  of  the  tasks  in  question  through  its 
participation in the "Alps Observatory" Working Party (ending on 1  January  1997). 
The department is to be set up and the necessary personnel assigned to it both to raise 
their profile  (see point 9.2 below) and to formalize a task which is taking on a more 
permanent character (97-98).  However, as this work will continue to come under the 
same budget heading as before, the creation of the department will in itself have no 
additional financial  repercussions for the JRC. 

7.1  Method of calculating total cost 

The method  is the same as for the JRC's other activities: the costs (in  staff 
appropriations  and  specific  appropriations)  of  material, administrative  and 
technical support are divided according to the number of persons assigned to 
the activities in question. 

In  accordance  with  the  methodology  selected  by  the  JRC  during  the 
preparation of the 1997 PDB, allowance has been made for an annual increase 
of 3% in personnel and general service costs. 

7.2 

Itemised breakdown of cost 

Breakdown 

Personnel  appropriations 

Appropriations - direct 

Appropriations - general 
costs 

values in ECU  1  000 

1997 

1998 

636 

366 

118 

645 

370 

120 

1999 and 
beyond 

TOTAL 

p.m. 

p.m. 

p.m. 

1 281 

736 

238 

TOTAL 

1 120 

1 135 

p.m. 

2 255 

J 

7.3 

Indicative schedule of appropriations 

values in ECU  1  000 

1997 

1998 

1999 and 
beyond 

TOTAL 

1 120 

1 135 

p.m. 

2 255 

907 

213 

920 

215 

1 120 

1 135 

907 

1 133 

215 

2 255 

p.m. 

p.m. 

Commitment 
appropriations 

Payment appropriations 

1997 

1998 

1999 and beyond 

TOTAL 

FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES 

The JRC's usual internal audit and control procedures will apply, along with those of 
the Commissions Directorate-General for Financial Control with their system of prior 
authorization for all expenditure.  The Commission's usual procedures (invitations to 
tender, examination and comparison of tenders and, where necessary, consultation of 
the CCAM) will apply to any service contracts with outside companies. 

ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 

9.1 

Specific and quantified objectives; target population 

Coordination  of national  activities relating to the Alps Observation 
and Information System; 
Coordination  with activities relating to the Alps carried  out by the 
European Environment Agency and other international bodies; 
Dissemination of information. 

9.2  Grounds for the operation 

The task accords fully, both scientifically  and institutionally, with the JRC's 
mission and current programme.  The contribution to the work of the Alpine 
Convention  is in line with  the European  Community's participation  in the 
Convention, and enjoys  surety in the obligation upon the other Contracting 
Parties to set up national Communication Centres and cover their costs.  In 
addition, this activity will provide the JRC with information  useful  to it in its 
other research into environmental impact. 

9.3  Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 

These  activities  will be analysed and evaluated  like the JRC's other  tasks. 
They  will  be  submitted  annually  for  approval  by  the  JRC's  Board  of 
Governors in the form of work sheets.  They will also undergo special annual 
evaluation as an S/T support activity for the Commission. 

10 

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A, SECTION III OF THE BUDGET) 

Since all the planned activities come under chapter B6 of the budget there will be no 
impact on administrative expenditure. 

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ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 713  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

14  03  01 

15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-96-723-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-13948-3 

Office  for  Official  Publications  of the European  Communities 

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