Resolution of the ECSC Consultative Committee on the proposals for Council Decisions concerning the financial consequences of the expiry, in 2002, of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and especially on the proposed Coal and Steel Research Fund
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: Consultative Committee of the European Coal and Steel Community
Subjects: ECSC Treaty, economic consequence, research programme, revenue, revision of an agreement

C 7/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11.1.2001

RESOLUTION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

on the proposals for Council Decisions concerning the financial consequences of the expiry, in
2002, of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and especially on the
proposed Coal and Steel Research Fund

(2001/C 7/02)

(adopted unanimously at the 353rd Session of 29 November 2000)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND
STEEL COMMUNITY,

financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty (8), has
taken into account essential
forward by the
Consultative Committee, and in particular the following:

requests put

Refering to the resolution on growth and employment of the
European Council of 16 June 1997 (1),

Referring to the European Commission communication (cid:145)Expiry
of the ECSC Treaty (cid:151) financial activities(cid:146) (2),

the Governments of

Referring to the resolution of the Council and of the Represen-
tatives of
the Member States, meeting
within the Council, on 20 July 1998 (3) concerning the
expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
Community,

the Governments of

Referring to the resolution of the Council and of the Represen-
the Member States, meeting
tatives of
within the Council, of 21 June 1999 (4) concerning the
expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
Community,

Recalling its resolution on the future of collaborative research
in the coal and steel sectors adopted unanimously at the 336th
session of 20 June 1997 (5),

Recalling its resolution on the Research Fund decided on at the
Amsterdam European Council of 16 June 1997, adopted unani-
mously at its 337th session of 10 October 1997 (6),

Recalling its resolution on the implementation of the Council
Resolutions of 20 July 1998 and 21 June 1999, adopted unani-
mously at its 351st session of 30 June 2000 (7),

wishes
adopting the Draft Council Decisions

to underline

that

the European Commission,

in
concerning the

(1) OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 3.
(2) COM(1997) 506 of 8.10.1997.
(3) OJ C 247, 7.8.1998, p. 5.
(4) OJ C 190, 7.7.1999, p. 1.
(5) OJ C 220, 19.7.1997, p. 12.
(6) OJ C 356, 22.11.1997, p. 6.
(7) OJ C 209, 21.7.2000, p. 2.

1. After the devolving of the remaining assets of the ECSC by
the Member States to the European Community on 24 July
2002 (cid:151) evaluated in budgetary forecasts at EUR 1 600
million (cid:151) the annual revenue from the assets shall be
distributed following a ratio of 27,2 % to coal-related
research and 72,8 % to steel-related research complementary
to the framework programme.

2. The revenue shall be earmarked for a specific purpose and
shall not lead to a reduction of financial support for coal
and steel research under the EU framework programme.

3. New Member States may acquire a share of the research
industries
to ensure the future of
fund in order
through intensive research cooperation. However,
such
participation is subject to a financial contribution by those
countries to the fund, as has been the case for accessions in
the past.

their

4. Administrative expenditure for

the
research fund by the European Commission shall be met
from the general budget of the EU.

the management of

5. The assets of the ECSC in liquidation shall be managed by
the European Commission in such a manner as to achieve
the highest possible yield that is compatible with security.
The Commission shall meet the general request for a high
level of transparency by publishing each year a profit and
loss account, a balance sheet and a financial report.

6. As a continuation of the successful ECSC coal and steel
research and technical development (RTD) programmes, a
European RTD programme will be established as of 2002,
which will provide the framework of continuous financial
support for research, pilot and demonstration projects as
well as cooperation with and between higher education
establishments.

7. The RTD programme shall cover production processes,
product
environmental
improvements as well as industrial safety related to the
coal and the steel industries.

properties,

treatment

and

(8) COM(2000) 519 final, COM(2000) 520 final and COM(2000) 521

final.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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8. The participation of the industries in the evaluation and
selection of research projects, as well as the network of
experts built up by the ECSC for
the exchange of
information and control of results of ongoing projects,
should be maintained.

2000 concerning the financial aspects of the expiry of the
ECSC Treaty,

CONCLUSION

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE explicitly welcomes the three
Commission proposals for Council Decisions of 6 September

the same time,

the Consultative Committee urges the
At
European Commission to make a similar effort
to provide
proposals on the essential non-financial aspects (e.g. State aid
rules for both sectors).

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2256 (cid:151) Philips/Agilent)

(2001/C 7/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 22 December 2000, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant
to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
1310/97 (2), by which the Dutch undertaking Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV ((cid:145)Philips(cid:146)) acquires
within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of
the
American undertaking Agilent Technologies Inc. ((cid:145)Agilent(cid:146)) by way of purchase of assets.

that Regulation control of

the medical business of

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

(cid:151) Philips: manufacture and sale of electronic products for domestic appliances and medical purposes,

(cid:151) Agilent: manufacture and sale of communications, electronics and healthcare products.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.2256 (cid:151) Philips/Agilent, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B (cid:151) Merger Task Force,
Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat 70,
B-1000 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.