Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Preserving the ecosystem" (1998 to 2002)
Date: 1998-06-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, energy policy, innovation, quality of the environment, research and development, research expenditure (EU)

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Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  adopting  a  specific  programme  for  research,  technological
development  and  demonstration  on  ‘Preserving  the  ecosystem’  (1998  to  2002)

(98/C  260/04)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(98)  305  final  —  98/0180(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  10  June  1998)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130i(4)  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard 
Parliament,

to 

the  opinion  of 

the  European

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

Whereas  by  Decision  No  . . ./98/EC (1),  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopted  the  fifth  framework
programme  of  the  European  Community  (hereinafter
referred  to  as  ‘the  fifth  framework  programme’)  for
research,  technological  development  and  demonstration
(hereinafter referred to as ‘RTD’) activities for the period
1998  to  2002  specifying  inter  alia  the  activities  to  be
carried  out  in  the  field  of  ‘Preserving  the  ecosystem’;

Whereas  Article  130i(3)  of  the  Treaty  stipulates  that  the
framework  programme  shall  be  implemented  through
specific programmes developed within each activity under
the  framework  programme,  and  that  each  specific
programme 
for
implementing  it,  fix  its  duration  and  provide  for  the
means  deemed  necessary;

the  detailed 

shall  define 

rules 

Whereas, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision No
1110/94/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the
fourth
Council  of  26  April  1994  concerning 
framework  programme  of  the  European  Community
activities 
technological
development  and  demonstration  (1994  to  1998) (2)  and

field  of 

research, 

the 

the 

in 

the 

implementing 

Article  4(2)  of  the  Council  Decisions  on  the  specific
programmes 
framework
programme,  the  Commission  has  had  an  external
assessment  conducted  which  it  has  transmitted  to  the
European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions
together  with  its  conclusions  and  comments;

fourth 

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee
has  been  consulted  on  the  scientific  and  technological
content  of  the  specific  programmes,  as  set  out  in  the
working  paper  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  5
November  1997 (3);

Whereas,  in  accordance  with  Article  130j  of  the  Treaty,
Council  Decision  98/. . ./EC  of  . . .  concerning  the  rules
for  the  participation  of  undertakings,  research  centres
and  universities  and  for  the  dissemination  of  research
results (4)  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
‘the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination’)  applies  to  this  specific
programme  and  allows  the  participation  of  the  Joint
Research  Centre  in  the  indirect  actions  covered  by  this
specific programme;

for 

implementing 

the  purpose  of 

Whereas, 
this
programme,  in  addition  to  cooperation  covered  by  the
Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Area  or  by  an
association agreement, it may be appropriate to engage in
international  cooperation  activities,  in  particular  on  the
basis  of  Article  130m  of  the  Treaty,  with  third  countries
or  international  organisations;

Whereas  implementation  of  this  programme  will  also
comprise activities and mechanisms aimed at stimulating,
disseminating  and  exploiting  RTD  results,  in  particular
vis-à-vis 
small  and  medium-sized  enterprises,  and
activities  to  stimulate  the  mobility  and  training  of
researchers;

(1)  Common  position  31/98,  adopted  by  the  Council  on  23

March  1998  (OJ  C  178,  10.6.1998,  p.  1).

(2)  OJ  L  126,  18.5.1994,  p.  1.  Decision  as  last  amended  by
Decision  No  2535/97/EC  (OJ  L  347,  18.12.1997,  p.  1).

(3)  COM(97)553  final.
(4)  COM(97)587  final  (OJ  C  40,  7.2.1998,  p.  14).

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Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  objectives  of  the  first
action  plan  for  innovation,  research  activities  under  the
fifth  framework  programme  should  be  geared  more
towards  innovation;

are  set  out  in  Annex  II.  They  are  consistent  with  the
fundamental  principles  and  the  three  categories  of
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Annex  I  of  the  fifth
framework  programme.

Whereas  the  implementation  of  this  programme  should
be  monitored  with  a  view  to  adapting 
it,  where
appropriate, to scientific and technological developments;
whereas in due course there should also be an assessment
of  progress  with 
independent
experts,

the  programme  by 

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION

Article  1

In  accordance  with  Article  3(1)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme,  the  specific  programme  on  ‘Preserving  the
ecosystem’ 
‘the  specific
programme’)  is  hereby  adopted  for  the  period  from  [the
date  of  adoption  of  this  programme]  to  31  December
2002.

(hereinafter  referred 

to  as 

Article  2

1.
In  accordance  with  Annex  III  to  the  fifth  framework
programme,  the  amount  deemed  necessary  for  carrying
out the specific programme (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
amount’)  is  ECU  2 320 million, including a maximum of
6,30 % 
administrative
expenditure.

Commission’s 

the 

for 

2.
In  accordance  with  these  principles  and  criteria  the
selection  criteria  indicated  in  Article  10  of  the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination  shall  be  applied  for  the
selection  of  the  RTD  activities  to  be  carried  out.

A selection criterion specific to this programme shall also
be  applied:  the  participation  of  industrial  entities  in  the
shared-cost  actions  should  be  appropriate  to  the  nature
of  the  activity.

these  criteria  shall  be  complied  with 

All 
the
implementation  of  the  programme,  including  the  work
programme referred to in Article 5(1), although they may
be  weighted  differently.

in 

3. The  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination  shall
apply  to  the  specific  programme.

4. Detailed  rules  for  financial  participation  by  the
Community  in  the  specific  programme  are  defined  in
Article  4  of  the  fifth  framework  programme.

indirect  RTD  actions  under 

5. The 
specific
programme  are  defined  in  Annexes  II  and  IV  to  the  fifth
framework  programme.

the 

Specific  rules  for  implementing  the  programme  are  set
out  in  Annex  III.

2. An  indicative  breakdown  of  this  amount  is  given  in
Annex  I.

Article  4

3. Of  this  amount

—  ECU  440  million  is  for  the  period  1998  to  1999,

and

—  ECU  1 880  million  is  for  the  period  2000  to  2002.

Where  appropriate,  the  latter  figure  will  be  adapted  in
accordance  with  Article  3(3)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme.

4. The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  laid
down  in  this  Decision,  set  the  appropriations  for  each
financial  year  taking  into  account  the  availability  of
resources  within  the  multiannual  financial  perspective.

In  the  light  of  the  criteria  set  out  in  Article  3,  and  the
scientific  and  technological  objectives  and  priorities  set
out  in  Annex  II,  the  Commission  shall:

(a)  monitor 

the 

specific
implementation  of 
programme and, where appropriate, submit proposals
for adapting it, in accordance with Article 5(1) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

the 

(b) have  the  external  assessment  provided  for  in  Article
5(2)  of  the  fifth  framework  programme  conducted
concerning  the  activities  carried  out  in  the  fields
covered  by  the  specific  programme.

Article  5

1. The  Commission  shall  draw  up  a  work  programme
specifying:

Article  3

(a)  the  content  of  Annex  II;

1. The  general  outlines,  the  scientific  and  technological
objectives  and  the  priorities  for  the  specific  programme

(b) the indicative timetable for the implementation of the

specific programme;

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(c)  the  coordination  arrangements  indicated  in  Annex

Article  7

III;

(d) and,  where  necessary,  the  selection  criteria  and  the
arrangements  for  applying  them  for  each  type  of
indirect  RTD  action.

The  work  programme 
appropriate.

shall  be  updated  where

2. For  the  purpose  of  implementing  the  indirect  RTD
actions,  the  Commission  shall,  on  the  basis  of  the  work
programme,  initiate  the  procedures  set  out  in  the  rules
for  participation  and  dissemination,  primarily  through
calls  for  proposals.

Article  6

1. The  Commission  shall  be  responsible 
implementation  of  this  specific  programme.

for 

the

2.
It  shall  be  assisted  by  a  Programme  Committee
composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member  States  and
chaired  by  the  representative  of  the  Commission.

3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the  Programme  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be
taken  concerning:

—  the drawing-up and updating of the work programme

referred  to  in  Article  5(1),

—  the  drawing-up  of  the  terms  of  reference  for  the
external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the
fifth  framework  programme,

—  any  adjustment  to  the  indicative  breakdown  of  the

1. The  Programme  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion
on the draft measures referred to in Article 6(3) 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  the  measures  envisaged  if
they  are 
the
Committee.

in  accordance  with 

the  opinion  of 

If  the  measures  envisaged  are  not  in  accordance  with  the
opinion  of  the  Committee,  or  if  no  opinion  is  delivered,
the  Commission  shall,  without  delay,  submit  to  the
Council  a  proposal  relating  to  the  measures  to  be  taken.
The  Council  shall  act  by  a  qualified  majority.

If, on expiry of a period of six weeks from the referral of
the matter to the Council, the Council has not acted, the
the
proposed  measures 
Commission.

adopted 

shall 

by 

be 

regularly 

shall 
of 

the
2. The  Commission 
the
Programme  Committee 
implementation  of  the  specific  programme,  and  shall  in
particular provide it with information about the results of
the  evaluation  and  selection  of  the 
indirect  RTD
actions.

inform 
progress  with 

Article  8

amount  as  set  out  in  Annex  I.

This  Decision  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

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ANNEX  I

INDICATIVE  BREAKDOWN  OF  THE  AMOUNT

Type  of  activity

Total

(a)  Key  actions

(i) 

sustainable  management  and  quality  of  water

(ii)  global  change,  climat  and  biodiversity

(iii)  sustainable  marine  ecosystems

(iv)  the  city  of  tomorrow  and  cultural  heritage

(v)  cleaner  energy  systems,  including  renewables

(vi)  economic  and  efficient  energy  for  a  competitive  Europe

(b) Research  and  technological  development  activities  of  a  generic  nature

(c)  Support  for  reserach  infrastructures

89,7 %

15,1 %

17,2 %

6,5 %

8,6 %

19,4 %

22,9 %

6,0 %

4,3 %

Total

ECU  2 320  million

ANNEX  II

THE  GENERAL  OUTLINES,  THE  SCIENTIFIC  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  OBJECTIVES  AND  THE
PRIORITIES

INTRODUCTION

Research,  technological  development  and  demonstration  (RTD)  in  the  fields  of  energy,  environment  and
sustainable development is essential for the social well-being of Europe’s citizens and the implementation of
Union  policies.  Making  use  of  the  knowledge  and  technologies  developed  by  this  programme  will  make  it
possible  to  meet  a  wide  range  of  sustainability.  New  markets  will  bring  growth  and  employment;  reliable
and  competitive  supply  of  energy  will  be  ensured  and  energy  requirements  will  be  met.  The  results  will
provide  the  basis  for  policies  formulated  at  Community  level  or  deriving  from  international  environmental
commitments - in particular, the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol requires urgent support for RTD on
a  number  of  issues.

This  programme  will  encourage  integrated  multidisciplinary  approaches  seeking  to  solve  problems  with  a
European  dimension  for  which  scientific  and  technological  developments  are  needed.  People  are  a  key
interactive component of the ecosystem and, therefore, a fair balance between scientific and socio-economic
disciplines  must  be  found  in  project  implementation.

Harnessing the full spectrum of these RTD activities - ranging from basic research to demonstration projects
-  and  using  all  suitable  instruments,  including  supporting  proposals  spanning  the  spectrum  of  RTD
activities,  are  envisaged  to  tackle  the  major  issues  at  stake,  in  order  to  meet  the  need  for  a  better
understanding  of  natural  processes  and  patterns  and  the  interactions  with  human  activities  through  to  the
development  of  new 
towards  sustainable
development.

instruments  ensuring 

technologies  and 

further  steps 

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Strategic  objective  of  the  programme

The strategic goal is to contribute to sustainable development by focusing on key activities crucial for social
well-being  and  economic  competitiveness  in  Europe.  Promoting  environmental  science  and  technology  will
improve our quality of life and boost growth, competitiveness and employment, while meeting the need for
sustainable  management  of  resources  and  protection  of  the  environment.  Developing  sustainable  energy
systems and services for Europe and contributing to a more sustainable development World-Wide will lead
to  increased  security  and  diversity  of  supply,  the  provision  of  high-quality,  low-cost  energy  services,
improved  industrial  competitiveness  and  reduced  environmental  impact.

An  innovative  approach  based  upon  two  main  elements  will  make  it  possible  to  address  complex
societal-driven  issues;  integrated  multidisciplinary  and  multisectoral  activities  involving  wherever  possible
the  principal  stakeholders  -  private-public  sector  partnerships,  and  end-users  from  the  business,  industrial
and policy-making sectors and concentrating on finding solutions to strategic problems, and supporting only
proposals  which  are  of  substantive  regional,  European  and  global  significance.

Europe  has  established  a  leading  RTD  role  in  many  areas,  this  must  be  sustained  and  remain  at  the
cutting-edge.  In  other  areas  improvements  are  needed  for  the  future  benefit  of  society,  as  well  as  the
business  and  industrial  sectors.  The  RTD  and  demonstration  projects  will  concentrate  through  six  key
actions  on  tackling  the  issues  of  water  scarcity  and  water  quality;  global  change,  climate  and  biodiversity;
sustainable  integrated  management  of  marine  resources,  city  of  tomorrow  and  cultural  heritage,  cleaner
energy  systems  including  renewable  energies  and  economical  and  efficient  energy  for  a  competitive  Europe
as well as generic activities concerning the fight against major hazards, the development of earth observation
technologies,  and  socio-economic  aspects  of  environment  and  energy  within  the  perspective  of  sustainable
development (the impact on society, the economy and employment). Specific attention will also be given to
maintaining, improving and providing greater access to European RTD infrastructure and facilities essential
for  performing  cutting-edge  research  in  environmental  activities.

Socio-economic  needs:  society  is  making  increasing  demands  for  better  living  conditions,  better  safety,  and
better  use  of  scarce  resources  including  secure  and  economic  energy  supplies  and  services.  Availability  of
clean energy is of importance in terms of comfort and a high quality environment. Water is of economic and
strategic  value.  Rising  population  and  per-capita  use  of  resources,  globalisation  of  economic  markets  and
natural variability in earth systems are causing or exacerbating major environmental problems. The sea is a
highway for Europe’s trade and a major resource for tourism, but it is also the ultimate repository for many
by-products  of  human  activity.  Cities  together  with  their  cultural  heritage  are  the  centre  of  social,  cultural
and economic life for 80 % of Europe’s citizens. These key social issues will only be solved if in addition to
developing  technologies  the  socio-economic  context  is  appropriately  analysed  and  taken  into  account.

European  added  value:  environmental  problems,  energy  systems,  networks  and  services  and  the  associated
environmental impacts, as well as sustainable development issues must be approached in the global context.
In this respect, the European level is the most appropriate: most problems and challenges are common to all
Member  States  and  most  activities  to  be  addressed  in  the  programme  are  not  only  European,  but  also
global, in scale. By mobilising resources and focusing on key targets, the programme will form a key part of
the European contribution to global initiatives and programmes. Knowledge generated through collaborative
RTD at the European level, together with the coordination of fragmented European knowledge, is essential

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to  address  the  very  serious  problems  facing  the  Union.  These  efforts,  including  prenormative  research,  will
confer  genuine  European  added  value  to  the  efforts  to  develop  appropriate  regulatory  frameworks,  for
example  in  the  post-Kyoto  process.

European  competitiveness

The  promotion  of  sustainable  development  will  not  be  possible  unless  economic  objectives  relating  to
technological  development,  competitiveness  and  growth  are  reconciled  with  social  goals  such  as  quality  of
life, employment, security, health and a high quality environment. This challenge must be met in the context
of significant structural and demographic changes, and globalisation of the economy. Improving our quality
of  life  and  decoupling  economic  growth  from  environmental  degradation  will  contribute  to  European
competitiveness and employment. Secure and economic energy supplies and services are vital for all aspects
of economic activity. The need for energy equipment suppliers and operators to be competitive in the global
market is vital for employment. Enormous potential will exist for global exploitation from several areas of
the  programme,  strengthening  economic  competitiveness  and  creating  new  jobs  such  as  in  the  water
industry,  renewable  energy  technologies  and  rational  use  of  energy.

LINKS  AND  COMPLEMENTARITY  WITH  THE  OTHER  PROGRAMMES

Collaboration,  coordination  and  complementarity  will  be  fostered  within  and  between  key  actions  in  this
and  other  programmes,  including  the  activities  of  the  JRC.  Coordination  with  other  thematic  programmes
will be based on the following principles: activities in the quality of life and management of living resources
programme  will  concentrate  on  epidemiology  research  arising  from  environmental  and  climate  changes,
whereas  this  programme  will  focus  on  the  consequences  for  human  health  from  climate  change;  activities
within  the  information  society  programme  will  concentrate  on  the  development  of  information  society
technologies,  and  activities  in  this  programme  on  the  integration  and  adaptation  of  these  technologies  in
applications;  and  activities  in  the  programme  for  promoting  competitive  and  sustainable  growth  will
concentrate  on  the  design  and  development  of  materials  and  technologies  for  generic  use  and  treatment  of
industrial  waste  within  the  production  centre  but  in  this  programme  the  activities  will  concentrate  on  the
integration, application and demonstration of technologies and materials for energy or urban use, including
their  design  and  development  where  specifically  needed  for  urban  or  cultural  heritage  use  and  the
management  of  industrial  waste  outside  the  production  centre.

Major examples of collaboration with key actions in other programmes where action to avoid duplication is
essential  will  be  found  with  health,  food  and  environmental  factors  (climate  change  and  air  pollution),
sustainable  agriculture  and  fisheries  (marine  ecosystems),  systems  and  services  for  the  citizen  (earth
observation technologies and energy distribution networks), land transport and marine technologies (marine
ecosystems,  transport  and  off-shore  hydrocarbon  exploitation),  sustainable  mobility  and  intermodality
(urban  environment)  and  innovative  products,  processes  and  organisation  of  production  (urban  waste,
materials  and  industrial  processes).

Complementarity  and  coordination  will  also  be  assured  with  the  horizontal  activities  of  the  framework
programme.

—  Global  international  cooperation  with  international  organisations  and  the  scientific,  business  and
industrial  communities  from  third  countries  is  inescapable  to  address  many  cross-border  environmental
issues central to implementing international conventions and programmes, as well as the environmental
consequences of energy policies and cross-border supply interdependency. Close links will be maintained
with the preaccession Central European States to collaborate on tackling some of the research needed to
meet common challenges and common objectives corresponding to the programme priorities and as such
will  be  open  to  third  country  and  international  organisations.  The  focus  will  continue  to  be  fields  of
mutual  concern  and  co-operation,  particularly  on  global  change  and  related  issues  through  the
development and implementation of mechanisms such as the European Network for Research on Global
Change.  There  will  also  be  coordination  with  the  programme  ‘Confirming  the  international  role  of
Community  research’  which  will  address  activities  of  specific  regional  relevance  to  the  third  countries
concerned.  Legal  entities  from  third  countries  and  international  organisations  may  participate  in  this
programme  according  to  the  priorities  set  out  herewith,  in  line  with  the  objectives  outlined  in  the

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programme  ‘Confirming  the  international  role  of  Community  research’  and  with  the  rules  for
participation  and  dissemination,  as  well  as  with  Annex  III  to  this  programme.  Full  use  will  be  made  of
the  possibilities  offered  by  COST  and  Eureka  and  by  co-operation  with  international  organisations  to
foster synergy between actions and projects in this programme and nationally funded research activities.
In  the  case  of  co-operation  with  Eureka,  projects  corresponding  to  priority  themes  of  common  interest
may  be  developed  in  the  context  of  the  key  actions.

—  Activities  related  to  innovation  and  participation  of  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs)  will  be
given  a  particular  emphasis  to  help  bridge  the  gap  between  research  results  and  their  effective
exploitation  in  potential  applications  by  the  business  and  policy-making  sectors.  The  participation  of
SMEs in all RTD activities will be stimulated and encouraged. Their important potential to contribute to
the  innovation  process  is  fully  recognised.  Exploratory  awards  will  be  available  to  facilitate  the
participation of SMEs in collaborative RTD, as well as in cooperative RTD in the case of SMEs without
relevant  research  facilities  of  their  own.  An  ‘innovation  unit’  will  target  promotion  activities  on  the
deployment and use of the results of this programme; it will also help to ensure complementarity and an
interface with the innovation activities implemented in the context of the programme on ‘Innovation and
participation  of  SMEs’.

—  Training will continue to be of importance to ensure an appropriately qualified scientific community in
the  fields  of  this  programme.  This  will  be  assured  through  the  Marie  Curie  and  complementary
fellowship  training  schemes,  and  advanced  study  and  specialised  courses.  Transfers  of  staff  and
knowledge  between  partners  within  consortia  and  wherever  possible  by  public-private  sector  exchanges
will  also  be  promoted.

(a)  KEY  ACTIONS

(i)  Sustainable  management  and  quality  of  water

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  overall  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  meet  one  of  the  major  demands  of  European  citizens,  namely  the
provision  of  affordable  high  quality  water,  in  particular  drinking  water,  in  sufficient  quantity,  while
maintaining  the  integrity  of  ecosystems.  Research  will  focus  on:

—  Development  of  integrated  approaches  for  the  management  of  water  resources  and  wetlands  as  well  as

the  development  of  treatment  and  purification  technologies

The aim is to develop the knowledge and the technologies needed for the rational management of water
resources; to match water supply with demand and achieve cost-efficiency and sustainability; to improve
the  science  base,  methodologies  and  management  tools  to  provide  a  better  understanding  of  the
phenomena  and  allow  integrated  management  and  sustainable  use  of  water  and  wetlands  at  catchment
scale,  within  constraints  of  availability,  environmental  quality  and  socio-economic  costs-benefits;  to
develop  technologies  to  prevent  and  treat  pollution  of  water  bodies,  to  purify  water  and  to  use  and/or
re-use  water  rationally  (including  closed  loop  approaches  and  reliability  of  collection  and  distribution
networks).

RTD  priorities:  tools  and  methodologies  for  cost-effective  and  sustainable  integrated  water  resources
and wetlands management; effective transfer of knowledge and skills to water users; development of real
scale  applications  across  Europe  with  a  view  to  supporting  EU  policy;  optimisation  of  technologies  to
treat and purify drinking water and to minimise use and pollution of water; process-integrated treatment
of  waste  water  at  source;  rational  re-use  of  water;  application  of  closed  loop  technologies.

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—  Technologies  for  monitoring  and  prevention  of  pollution,  protection  and  management  of  groundwater

and  surface  water  resources

The  aim  is  to  characterise  and  to  assess  the  state  and  evolution  of  the  quality  and  quantity  of  surface
and  groundwaters  as  well  as  the  functioning  of  aquatic  and  wetland  ecosystems  as  the  basis  for  more
rational  management.  This  will  include  the  development  of  technologies  for  assessing  and  treating
pollution  originating  from  contaminated  sites  and  waste  disposal  sites.

RTD priorities: improved methods of measuring water quality and quantity and techniques for analysing
pollutant  flows  and  development  of  techniques  for  integrated  assessment  of  soil  pollution  treatment
methods;  predictive  models  and  advanced  pollution  impact  assessment  methodologies;  updated  water
quality  criteria  and  indicators  for  water  policies.

—  Surveillance,  early  warning  and  communication  systems

The  aim  is  to  develop  systems  able  to  react  on  different  time  and  space  scales,  including  early  warning
systems  with  direct  feedback  to  pollution  sources.

RTD  priorities:  surveillance  systems  for  point  and  diffuse  pollution  sources  and  for  the  various
environmental recipient systems; control and data management systems, including leakage detection and
stormwater  management  and  systems  for  floods  and  drought  assessment.

—  Technologies  for  the  regulation  of  stocks  and  technologies  for  arid  and  semi-arid  regions  and  generally

water-deficient  regions

The  aim  is  to  improve  and  protect  water  resources  and  aquatic  ecosystems,  to  optimise  water
management  systems  in  arid  regions,  and  to  better  manage  water  crises.

RTD priorities: integrated approaches at catchment and collection point level incorporating the various
political,  social,  economic  and  environmental  interactions;  improved  systems  for  management  of  water
resources  and  their  use  at  EU,  national,  regional  and  local  level  to  assist  decision  making.

(ii) Global  change,  climate  and  biodiversity

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  main  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  develop  the  scientific,  technological  and  socio-economic  basis
necessary to underpin implementation of Community policies relating to changes in the environment, and to
support  the  research  obligations  arising  from  international  commitments  in  the  context  of  sustainable
development.  Aiming  for  an  integrated  approach,  the  priorities  are:

—  To  understand,  detect,  assess  and  predict  global  change  processes

The  aim  is  to  focus  mainly  on  European  and  sub-regional  causes  and  impacts  of  specific  global  change
problems,  such  as  climate  change,  ozone  depletion,  biodiversity  loss,  loss  of  fertile  land  and  habitats,
disruptions to ocean circulation. Attention will be given to both natural and anthropogenic phenomena,
in  the  context  of  the  sustainable  use  of  natural  resources.

RTD  priorities:  variability  and  change  in  and  between:  atmospheric  composition,  ozone  depletion  and
UVB radiation; biogeochemical and hydrological cycles, biodiversity, climate, ocean processes, sea level;
link between climate change and the frequency and scale of extreme events; socio-economic interactions
and  impacts  on  natural  resources  and  human  health.

—  To  foster  better  understanding  of  ecosystems  (terrestrial  and  marine)

The emphasis will be on ecosystem interactions with land surfaces and land use, soil, water, atmosphere
and  ocean;  role  of  biodiversity  and  climate  change;  interactions  between  ecosystems,  biogeochemical
cycles,  large-scale  land  degradation  and  desertification.

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RTD  priorities:  global  change  scenarios  and  their  impact  on  terrestrial,  fresh  water  and  marine
ecosystems  and  the  consequences  thereof  for  food  security  and  resource  utilisation;  assessment  of
biodiversity, including losses; assessment of global change and climate change impacts on, and risks to,
key  sensitive  systems  or  areas;  identification  and  quantification  of  ecosystem  role  in  biogeochemical
cycles;  land  use  modelling,  desertification  trends.

—  To develop scenarios and strategies for the prevention and mitigation of, and for possible adaptation to,

the  effects  of  global  change,  climate  change  and  loss  of  biodiversity

The aim is to provide a sound scientific basis for the development of tangible management strategies and
actions  to  address  the  adverse  consequences  outlined  in  the  key  action.

RTD priorities: formulation and evaluation of options, assessing their scientific, economic, technical and
policy  feasibility,  and  their  social  acceptability;  conditions  for  decoupling  economic  growth  and
environmental  deterioration;  assessment  and 
for
implementation  of  international  treaties.

enhancement  of 

institutional 

capabilities 

—  To support the development of the European component of the global observation systems for climate,

terrestrial  systems  and  oceans

The  aim  is  to  identify  and  help  fill  key  gaps  in  existing  observation  system  capacity  in  order  to  ensure
that  the  necessary  data  are  available  to  address  the  prediction,  impact  assessment  and  response  options
to  global  change.

RTD  priorities:  development  of  instruments,  systems  and  methods  to  establish  and  process  long-term
consolidated  data  sets  of  key  variables  by  both  in  situ  measurements  and  remote  sensing  techniques.
This  will  cover,  as  required,  the  atmosphere,  oceans,  land,  hydrosphere,  cryosphere  and  biosphere.

(iii)  Sustainable  marine  ecosystems

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  promote  sustainable  integrated  management  of  marine  resources  and  to
contribute  to  the  marine  aspects  of  environment  and  sustainable  development  policies  of  the  EU.

This  action  will  contribute  to  better  coordination  of  national  marine  policies,  and  therefore  a  continued
commitment is required, all the more so because the European seas are among the most heavily used in the
world.  The  research  objectives  are:

—  To  develop  the  scientific  knowledge  on  marine  processes,  ecosystems  and  interactions

The  aim  is  to  facilitate  the  sustainable  use  of  the  marine  environment  and  resources  while  fully
respecting  its  overall  integrity  and  functioning.

RTD priorities: effects of physical forces, environmental factors and interactions at the ocean boundaries
on  ecosystem  functioning  and  natural  variability;  extreme  environments  and  their  communities:
functioning and potential for exploitation; sedimentary systems and their contribution of the sustainable
management and use of shelf, slope and deep-sea floor; origin, delivery and cycling of contaminants, key
elements  and  nutrients,  and  their  impact  on  ecosystem  functioning.

—  To  analyse  causes,  consequences  and  possible  solutions  of  the  present  anthropogenic  impact  on  marine

ecosystems

The aim is to reduce the impact of human activity upon the biodiversity and sustainable functioning of
marine ecosystems and to develop the technologies required to facilitate safe and profitable economic yet
sustainable  exploitation  of  the  marine  environment.

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RTD  priorities:  effects  of  anthropogenic  activities,  including  those  of  species  introduction  and
biogeochemical cycling on ecosystems; mechanisms of marine biodiversity evolution to reserve trends in
its  reduction;  processes  that  mitigate  impact  of  contaminants  and  eutrophication,  recovery  of  degraded
systems.  Development  of  technologies  for  (i)  the  characterisation  and  monitoring  of  marine
living  resources  for  biotechnological
environments;  (ii)  sample  collection;  (iii)  exploration  of 
applications;  (iv)  communication,  surveying  analysis,  imaging  and  monitoring  systems,  deep-sea
platforms.

—  To  develop  the  capacity  for  monitoring  and  managing  coastal  phenomena

The aim is to alleviate pollution, flooding and erosion, in particular of fragile coastlines and to facilitate
land  reclamation  from  the  sea.

RTD  priorities:  long-term  coastal  morphological  changes,  interactions  between  ecology,  morphology,
erosion  and  impact  of  human  activities;  extreme  events,  risk  analysis,  sea  states  propagation  from
off-shore  to  the  coast;  tidal  inlets  and  river  mouths  dynamics  and  stability;  estuarine  morphodynamics
and  estuarine-coastal  interaction;  fate  of  pollutants;  natural  coastal  defence  mechanisms,  impact
assessment  of  structures  on  marine  environment,  adaptation  of  innovative  engineering  techniques  for
minimising disturbances of the ecosystem; instrumentation, data management and modelling for effective
monitoring.

—  To  enable  operational  forecasting  for  off-shore  activities

The aim is to facilitate safe, sustainable off-shore operations within the given environmental constraints
and  to  develop  the  necessary  components  of  an  appropriate  marine  observation  system.

RTD  priorities:  development  of  pilot  systems  for  monitoring,  prediction  and  management,  with  a  view
to  safe  off-shore  operations:  (i)  observation  and  measurement  techniques  and  tools  for  systematic
acquisition of ocean parameters, (ii) improve forecasting techniques through refinement of mathematical
models capable of predicting impact of natural and human-induced variations on marine ecosystems and
resources, (iii) methodologies to assess the pertinence of environmental parameters, and (iv) best practice
compatible  with  requirements  of  international  regulations  and  conventions.

(iv)  The  city  of  tomorrow  and  cultural  heritage

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  overall  goal  of  this  key  action  is  to  support  sustainable  economic  development  and  competitiveness,
improved urban management and integrated planning policy, and help safeguard and improve the quality of
life  and  cultural  identify  of  citizens.  It  will  focus  partly  on  the  provision  of  an  integrated  socio-economic
knowledge-base, and products, services, tools and technologies for better city management and partly on the
environmental  challenges,  particularly  in  relation  to  reducing  pollutant  emissions.

—  Integrated  approaches  aiming  at  sustainable  development  of  cities  and  rational  management  of

resources

The aim is to create new models for the sustainable development of European cities and city regions and
prepare medium- and long-term socio-economic scenarios and research, development and demonstration
activities  focusing,  in  particular,  on  supporting  and  stimulating  economic  competitiveness,  town
planning and architecture, social integration, safety, energy efficiency and conservation (in particular, in
buildings  and  in  urban  transport)  and  the  exploitation  of  information  networks  (the  concept  of  ‘digital
cities’)

RTD  priorities:  urban  development  scenarios  and  integrated  planning  tools;  impact  of  technologies,
infrastructure, noise and air pollution from all sources on social development, resource utilisation, health
and  the  environment;  demand  management,  safety  and  security  of  supply  of  essential  resources  (e.g.
energy, land and water); integrated approaches to better use and conservation of resources and reduced
pollution  and  waste  taking  into  account  social  and  environmental  sustainability.

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—  Protection,  conservation  and  enhancement  of  European  cultural  heritage

The  aim  is  to  develop  sound  management  of  cultural  resources  of  cities  and  urban  regions  to  improve
citizens’  quality  of  life,  tourism  and  job  creation.

RTD  priorities:  products,  methodologies  and  technologies  for  diagnosis,  protection,  conservation,
restoration and the sustainable exploitation of the European cultural heritage, focusing on promotion of
both  movable  and  unmovable  cultural  assets  and  the  quality  of  life;  measures  for  protecting  cultural
heritage  against  technological  and  natural  hazards;  methodologies,  including  risk  assessment,  for
harmonious  and  effective  integration  of  cultural  heritage  into  the  urban  setting.

—  Development  and  demonstration  of  technologies  for  safe,  economic,  clean,  effective  and  sustainable
preservation,  renovation,  construction,  dismantling  and  demolition  of  the  built  environment,  in
particular  for  large  groups  of  buildings

The aim is to conserve, renovate, enhance, protect and develop the built environment in a manner which
responds  to  citizens’  and  cultural  needs,  in  a  framework  of  long-term  sustainability  and  improved
quality  of  life.

RTD priorities: effective technologies for economic, safe and environment-friendly design, maintenance,
repair, modernisation, conversion, construction, dismantling and demolition of the built environment, in
particular  for  large  groups  of  buildings;  essential  services  to  combat  hazards  and  deterioration;  more
efficient management of resources (materials, energy, water, etc.), safety and security, optimum use and
re-use  of  land  (above  and  beneath  the  ground),  including  rehabilitation  of  contaminated  sites;  reliable
environmental  impact  assessment;  indoor  environmental  management.

—  Comparative assessment and cost-effective implementation of strategies for sustainable transport systems

in  an  urban  environment

The  aim  is  to  identify  the  best  innovatory  technologies  radically  reducing  pollution  levels  and  urban
congestion  at  affordable  prices  for  users.

RTD  priorities:  propulsion  technologies  and  the  corresponding  infrastructure,  new  vehicle  designs  with
low  energy  consumption  and  emissions,  such  as  zero-emission  vehicles  and  microcars;  validation  and
demonstration  of  prototypes  and  vehicle  fleets  to  guarantee  effective  operation,  the  quality  of  life  and
conservation  of  the  cultural  heritage.

(v)  Cleaner  energy  systems,  including  renewables

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The aim of this key action is to develop technologies which will help minimise the environmental impact of
the production and use of energy in Europe and be consistent with the energy policy objectives. These will
help preserve the ecosystem by reducing emissions at local and global levels and increasing the share of new
and  renewable  energies.  Accordingly  action  will  be  taken  to  investigate  cleaner,  most  notably  renewable,
energy sources as well as to help reduce the environmental impact of existing fossil fuel use. Work will focus
in  order  of  priority  on:

—  Large-scale  generation  of  electricity  and/or  heat  with  reduced  CO2  emissions  from  coal,  biomass  or

other  fuels,  including  combined  heat  and  power

The  aim  is  to  obtain  substantial  improvements  in  efficiency  with  reduction  of  the  cost  and
environmental impact of energy conversion processes, whether based on fossil fuels or renewable energy
sources.

RTD priorities: combustion and other thermochemical conversion processes (e.g. gasification, pyrolysis);
generation  of  electricity  and/or  heat  with  reduced  CO2  emissions  from  coal,  biomass,  waste  or  other
fuels;  improving  the  efficiency  of  gas  turbines,  gas  motors  and  diesel  engines;  combined  heat  and
power.

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—  Development  and  demonstration,  including  for  decentralised  generation,  of  conversion  technologies  for
the  main  new  and  renewable  energy  sources,  in  particular,  biomass,  fuel  cells,  wind  and  solar
technologies

The  aim  is  to  enable  the  deployment  of  new  and  renewable  energies  in  grid  connected  and  stand  alone
applications  where  there  are  prospects  of  a  substantial  contribution  to  energy  supplies.

RTD  priorities:  fuel  cells,  for  both  stationary  and  transport  applications;  clean  conversion  and
cost-effective use of biomass in the context of integrated energy generation systems; wind energy, in both
on-shore  and  off-shore  applications;  solar  technologies,  photovoltaics  and  solar  thermal  technologies;
other  renewable  energy  options  that  can  contribute  significantly  to  programme  objectives.

—  Integration  of  new  and  renewable  energy  sources  into  energy  systems

The  aim  is  to  overcome  the  problems  associated  with  integrating  new  energy  sources  into  established
energy  systems,  develop  new  applications  and  overcome  barriers  to  the  greater  uptake  of  renewable
energies.

RTD  priorities:  overcoming  the  technical  problems  associated  with  the  integration  of  renewable  energy
sources  into  energy  grids  and  processes;  hybrid  systems,  combining  different  renewables  or  renewables
with  conventional  systems;  improving  acceptability  of  renewables  (e.g.  reducing  visual  intrusion  and
noise);  identifying,  and  seeking  ways  to  remove,  non-technical  barriers  to  integration  of  renewables.

—  Cost-effective  environmental  abatement  technologies  for  power  production

The  aim  is  to  reduce  the  environmental  impact  of  power  production  focusing  on  the  most  polluting
energy streams:

RTD priorities: emission abatement technologies for power stations (e.g. for reducing emissions of CO2,
SOx  NOx  and  other  pollutants);  hot  gas  cleaning,  including  understanding  of  basic  scientific
phenomena.

(vi)  Economic  and  efficient  energy  for  a  competitive  Europe

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  aim  of  this  key  action  is  to  provide  Europe  with  a  reliable,  clean,  efficient,  safe  and  economic  energy
supply for the benefit of its citizens, the functioning of society and the competitiveness of industry. A more
efficient use of energy is required with technologies capable of achieving substantial overall cost reductions
and reduction of energy intensity. Action will need to be taken at all stages of the energy cycle - production,
distribution  and  final  use  -,  to  improve  efficiency  and  reduce  costs.  Work  will  focus  in  order  of  priority
on:

—  Technologies  for  the  rational  and  efficient  end  use  of  energy

The  aim  is  to  make  a  major  step  towards  a  sustainable  energy  system  by  substantially  reducing  the
energy  intensity  of  demand  and  making  more  effective,  sustainable  use  of  energy  in  the  built-up
environment,  transport  and  industry  (including  agriculture).  This  requires  the  development  and
deployment  of  new  technologies,  improving  existing  technologies  and  dissemination  and  demonstration
aimed  at  modifying  user  behaviour.  RTD  will  focus  on  areas  with  the  greatest  potential  to  deliver
sustainable  use  of  energy.

RTD  priorities:  lighting,  space  heating  and  cooling  and  the  integration  of  renewables  into  buildings;
improved  energy  and  environmental  performance  of  vehicles  and  the  corresponding  infrastructure,
including  fuels,  energy  storage,  conversion,  combustion  and  transmission;  reduction  of  energy  intensity
of  industrial  processes.

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—  Technologies  for  the  transmission  and  distribution  of  energy

The aim is to achieve the full potential of intelligent energy networks in optimising the efficiency of the
whole  energy  system  through  improving  the  flexibility,  reliability  and  competitiveness  of  energy
transmission  and  distribution  systems  whilst  reducing  costs,  transmission  losses  and  environmental
impact.  Emphasis  will  be  given  to  facilitate  the  integration  of  new  sources  of  supply  into  European
energy  networks  and  to  contribute  to  management  of,  and  support  to,  liberalised  energy  markets.

RTD priorities: intelligent energy transmission and distribution systems; long distance gas transmission;
optimised  network  management  and  control  systems;  optimal  system  efficiency  for  electricity,  gas,  and
district  heating  and  cooling  systems;  superconductivity.

—  Technologies  for  the  storage  of  energy  on  both  macro  and  micro  scale

The  aim  is  to  improve  the  efficiency  of  energy  storage;  at  the  macro  scale  in  order  to  optimise  the
benefits of intermittent sources of renewable energy, at the medium-size scale to permit the development
of  zero-emission  vehicles  and  at  the  micro  scale  to  enable  further  downsizing  of  electronic  devices.

RTD priorities: reliable and cost efficient energy storage technologies, including liquefied natural gas and
liquefied  petroleum  gas,  H2,  advanced  batteries,  both  macro  and  micro,  for  stationary  and  mobile
applications.

—  More  efficient  exploration,  extraction  and  production  technologies  for  fossil  fuels

The aim is to allow more efficient identification of the energy resources available within the EU and to
optimise  their  exploitation,  reducing  the  costs  and  environmental  impact  of  their  production  with  the
development  of  technologies  which  will  be  more  competitive  in  global  markets.

RTD  priorities:  improved  tools  for  characterisation  and  management  of  fossil  fuel  reserves;  production
technologies for hydrocarbons, especially for hostile subsea locations; reduced environmental impact and
improved  recovery  techniques  for  hydrocarbons,  including  those  of  wider  application  (e.g.  for
geothermal  energy);  recovery  of  hydrocarbons  from  coal  beds.

—  Improving  the  efficiency  of  new  and  renewable  energy  sources

The aim is to achieve the widest possible deployment of renewable energies by reducing the costs of their
use in energy production and by advancing our understanding of the availability of renewable resources
in  Europe,  improving  the  efficiency  of  the  technologies  and  reducing  the  costs  of  their  manufacture.

RTD priorities: biomass exploitation and management of waste as a fuel resource; improving efficiencies
of  photovoltaic  cells  and  wind  turbines;  reducing  costs  of  production  of  renewables  technologies  (e.g.
turbine  blades,  PV  modules).

—  The  elaboration  of  scenarios  on  supply  and  demand  technologies  in  economy/environment/energy
systems  and  their  interactions,  and  the  analysis  of  the  cost  effectiveness  (based  on  whole  life  costs)  and
efficiency  of  all  energy  sources

The aim is to develop strategies for the production and use of energy, for the introduction of new energy
technologies  and  for  policy  development.

RTD  priorities:  long-  and  short-term  scenario  analysis  at  the  global,  Community,  and  regional  level  of
supply  and  demand  in  the  context  of  economic  developments,  social  and  environmental  needs,;
modelling  and  policy  impact  analysis;  overall  assessment  of  energy  markets  and  technology  impacts
taking  into  account  the  operation  of  liberalised  energy  markets.

(b) RESEARCH  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  DEVELOPMENT  ACTIVITIES  OF  A  GENERIC  NATURE

(i)  The  fight  against  major  natural  and  technological  hazards

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

The  aim  is,  through  a  better  understanding  of  processes,  mechanisms  and  events  generating  natural  and
technological  hazards,  to  develop  technologies  and  methods  for  environmental  impact  assessment,  risk

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forecasting, prevention, evaluation and mitigation. Support to improved decision-making systems, including
evaluation  and  validation  tools  for  assessing  hazards  and  for  emergency  management  would  be  provided.

RTD  priorities:  identification  and  analysis  of  factors  which  increase  the  level  of  natural  risks;  development
and  improvements  of  methods,  models  and  tools  for  hazard  vulnerability  and  risk  assessment  including
quantification  of  the  present  and  future  levels  of  risk;  development  of  effective  tools  and  methods  for
information  management;  development  of  innovative  methods  and  technologies  to  combat  disasters  and
alleviate  their  consequences;  improvement  of  the  operational  safety  of  hazardous  installations.

(ii) Development  of  earth  observation  satellite  technologies (1)

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

The strategic aim is to provide a sustainable European capability in operational services for monitoring the
Earth from space, leading to improvements in our understanding of the planet, more effective conversation
of  our  natural  heritage,  enhanced  management  of  resources,  and  mitigation  of  major  hazards.  The  RTD
action will provide applications, products and services based on earth observation, linked to environmental
monitoring and management of resources, land use and ecosystems. The focus will be on meeting the needs
of a wide range of users, particularly those in Member State authorities. In this way, Earth observation will
naturally be integrated with other relevant technologies as required, such as airborne remote sensing, space
telecommunications,  navigation  and  global  information  systems.

The  following  research  priorities  will  be  implemented  in  line  with  the  objectives  of  the  ‘Centre  for  Earth
Observation’ initiative:

RTD  priorities:  innovative  pilot  applications  and  focused  methodological  research  to  improve  the
effectiveness  of  activities  in  priority  areas  for  EU  policies;  investigations  into  technical,  legal  and  economic
aspects;  requirement  and  feasibility  studies  to  help  specify  new  services  and  mission;  new  scenarios  to
prepare  for  self-sustaining  operational  services;  promotion,  education  and  training  to  make  better  use  of
existing  and  planned  earth  observation  data  and  information  sources.

(iii)  Socio-economic  aspects  of  environmental  change  in  the  perspective  of  sustainable  development

Objectives  and  RTD  activities

The  overall  aim  is  to  develop  a  sound  scientific  basis  for,  and  advance  the  application  and  use  of,  models
for  sustainable  development  and  to  facilitate  the  integration  of  sustainability  considerations  into  key  EU
sectoral  policies  (industry,  transport,  tourism,  etc.)  and  into  the  key  actions  of  the  fifth  framework
programme.

This  integration  is  to  be  achieved  by  identification  and  assessment  of  the  key  interrelations  between
socio-economic  driving  forces  of  technological  change,  economic  globalisation,  societal  behaviour  and
environmental  change,  and  their  socio-economic  impacts.  Effective  utilisation  of  this  knowledge  in  policy
formulation  depends  upon  the  development  and  testing  of  improved  methods  and  policy  tools.

RTD  priorities:  identification  and  evaluation  of  the  key  relationships  between  socio-economic  development
and  environmental  change;  driving  forces  and  impacts  are  to  be  assessed  in  terms  of  policies,  institutions,
demography,  production  and  consumption,  technological  development,  distribution,  security,  culture  and
ethics.  Development  and  application  of  methods  and  tools  for  the  integration  and  promotion  of  economic,

(1)  Space-related  activities  are  subject  to  central  coordination  across  the  various  programmes.

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social  and  environmental  objectives;  descriptive  and  performance  measures  of  sustainable  development,
development  of  sustainable  development  indicators  and  analysis  of  ecological  footprints.  Design  and
comparative  assessments  of  various  approaches  to  eco-efficiency,  including  rational  use  of  resources  and
industrial  ecology;  sustainable  consumption;  environmental  governance  principles  for  sustainability.

(iv)  Socio-economic  aspects  of  energy  within  the  perspective  of  sustainable  development  (the  impact  on

society,  the  economy  and  employment)

Objectives  and  RTD  priorities

The  aim  is  to  develop  and  apply  tools  for  assessing  and  monitoring  the  socio-economic  aspects  of  energy
technologies, systems and services using a ‘technology assessment’ approach at the project level and a ‘global
systems  analysis’  approach  at  a  much  more  general  level.

RTD priorities: for technology assessment the social dimension (e.g. behaviour, acceptance), the innovation
dimension, including the ‘command and control’ measures and the impact of other policies, the assessment
of  the  externalities  and  their  internalisation  and,  finally,  comparative  assessment;  for  systems  analysis  -  the
understanding  of  the  relationship  between  energy,  environment,  technologies  and  economic  growth  taking
into  account  societal  values  and  natural  and  human  resources.

(c)  SUPPORT  FOR  RESEARCH  INFRASTRUCTURE

Objectives

—  To encourage the transnational use of public or private facilities which address critical needs in order to
further  improve  their  exploitation  while  avoiding  unnecessary  duplication,  and  to  cover  emerging
priority  needs.

Activities

In order to reinforce the European added value and optimise the efforts made, the Community support will
be  directed  towards:

—  Transnational  coordination,  integrated  management  of  specific  aspects  of  operation,  access  to  and

improvement  of  existing  facilities;

—  Coordination and complementarity of national or multinational initiatives to support facilities needed at

the  European  level;

—  Networking  of  communities  of  researchers  and  users  through  research  projects  and  specific  training
activities centred on appropriate infrastructures, or cooperation of several partners to form an integrated
service provider;

—  Increasing  the  compatibility  of  dispersed  systems  aiming  to  provide  rapid  and  effective  integration  of

facilities  and  resources.

Infrastructure

Supporting  infrastructure  for  assessing  and  observing  the  earth  systems  (e.g.  ocean),  in  order  to  improve
prediction  of  natural  hazards  and  global  changes  will  include  more  specifically:

—  Climate  and  global  change  research  facilities.  Centres  for  climate  prediction,  super-computer  facilities;
archiving  facilities;  centres  for  integrated  assessment;  climate  and  global  change  databases;  simulation
chambers,  ground-based  stations  and  aircraft  for  the  observation  of  atmosphere;  devices  and  networks
for  observation  of  palaeo-environmental  information;  support  to  taxonomy.

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—  Marine  research  facilities.  Marine  databases;  collection  of  marine  samples,  support  to  taxonomy;  test
basins;  research  vessels;  platforms  and  centres  for  forecasting  of  ocean  state;  manned,  robotic,  and
automatic  observation  systems.

—  Natural  hazards  research  facilities.  Facilities  and  key  operational  networks  for  data  on  earthquakes,

floods,  tidal  waves  and  storms,  landslides,  volcanoes  and  forest  fires. 

ANNEX  III

SPECIFIC  RULES  FOR  IMPLEMENTING  THE  PROGRAMME

The specific programme will be implemented through the indirect RTD actions defined in Annexes II and IV
to  the  fifth  framework  programme.  In  addition,  the  following  rules  specific  to  this  programme  will  apply:

1.  Accompanying measures

The  accompanying  measures  will  comprise  in  particular:

—  studies  in  support  of  the  specific  programme,  including  the  preparation  of  future  activities,

—  the  exchange  of  information,  conferences,  seminars,  workshops  and  scientific  and  technical  meetings,

—  recourse  to  external  expertise,  including  access  to  scientific  databases,  in  particular  for  the  purposes  of
the  monitoring  of  the  specific  programme  provided  for  in  Article  5(1)  of  the  fifth  framework
programme, the external assessment provided for in Article 5(2) of the fifth framework programme and
the  evaluation  of  indirect  RTD  actions  and  the  monitoring  of  their  implementation,

—  dissemination,  information  and  communication  activities,  including  scientific  publications,  activities  for

the  exploitation  of  results  and  the  transfer  of  technologies,

—  training  schemes  related  to  RTD  activities  covered  by  the  specific  programme,  other  than  the  ‘Marie

Curie fellowships’,

—  support  for  schemes  to  provide  information  and  assistance  for  research  players,  including  SMEs,  and

including  the  development  of  closer  international  scientific  cooperation,

—  support  for  promotion  of  common  data  structures  and  for  data  compatibility,  standardisation,

processing,  management  and  exchange,

—  recourse  to  external  capacities  for  the  establishment  of  and  access  to  services  and  networks  for

information,  assistance  and  promotion  of  research  and  innovation.

2.  Financial  participation  rates

In  the  specific  case  of  RTD  projects,  demonstration  projects  and  integrated  projects,  the  costs  of  use  of
research vessels, off-shore platforms and airborne platforms will be eligible costs. Details of these costs are
set  out  in  the  work  programme.

3.  Additional  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination

This  programme  is  also  open  to  legal  entities  established  in  third  countries  and  international  organisations
which may participate on a project by project basis provided their participation contributes effectively to the
implementation  of  the  programme.

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Such  entities  and  international  organisations  may  exceptionally  receive  financial  support  where  their
participation  is  beneficial  and  offers  added  value  for  achieving  the  objectives  of  the  programme.

4.  Coordination  arrangements

The  Commission  will  endeavour  to  ensure  complementarity  between  the  indirect  RTD  actions  within  the
programme,  in  particular  by  grouping  them  around  a  common  objective,  and  to  avoid  duplication,  while
respecting  the  legitimate  interests  of  proposes  of  indirect  RTD  actions.

Coordination  will  also  be  ensured  between  actions  under  the  specific  programme  and  those  carried  out
in:

—  other  specific  programmes  implementing  the  fifth  framework  programme,

—  the research and training programmes implementing Council Decision . . /. . ./Euratom of . . . concerning
the fifth framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and
training  activities  (1998-2002)

—  other  European  research  frameworks  such  as  Eureka  and  COST,

—  other  Community  research-related  instruments  such  as  PHARE,  TACIS,  MEDA,  the  EIF,  the  Structural

Funds  and  the  EIB  and  the  programmes  on  the  environment  and  energy.

It  will  comprise:

(i)  the  identification  of  common  themes  or  priorities,  resulting  in  particular  in:

—  the  exchange  of  information,

—  the carrying out of work decided upon jointly, entailing in particular the joint initiation of one of the

procedures  referred  to  in  Article  9  of  the  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination,

(ii) the  reassignment  of  proposals  for  indirect  RTD  actions  between  specific  programmes  or  between  a

specific  programme  and  a  research  and  training  programme.