2002/836/EC: Council Decision of 30 September 2002 adopting a specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration to be carried out by means of direct actions by the Joint Research Centre (2002–2006)
Date: 2002-09-30
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU research policy, Joint Research Centre, innovation, research and development, research programme, technological change

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 30 September 2002

adopting a specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration to be
carried out by means of direct actions by the Joint Research Centre (2002–2006)

(2002/836/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 166(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In accordance with Article 166 (3) of
the Treaty,
Decision No. 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament
and the Council concerning the sixth multiannual frame-
work programme of the European Community for
research, technological development and demonstration
activities, contributing towards the creation of
the
European Research Area and to innovation (2002-
2006) (4)
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘framework
is to be implemented through specific
programme’)
programmes
their
that define detailed rules
implementation, fix their duration and provide for the
means deemed necessary.

for

The framework programme is structured in three main
blocks of activities, ‘focusing and integrating Community
research’, ‘structuring the European Research Area’, and
‘strengthening the foundations of the European Research
Area’, within the first of which the direct actions
conducted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) should
be implemented by this specific programme, while
contributing in part to the aims of the other two.

In implementing its mission to provide scientific and
technical support to Community policies, the JRC will
contribute actively to establishing a Community system
in particular by
of scientific and technical reference,
participating
competent
national institutions.

in networks

comprising

( 1) OJ C 181 E, 30.7.2002, p. 94.
( 2) Opinion delivered on 12 June 2002 (not yet published in the

Office Journal).

( 3) OJ C 221, 17.9.2002, p. 97.
( 4) OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 7.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

In implementing this programme in accordance with its
mission, the JRC will place particular emphasis on
the safety of the citizen,
in terms of, for example,
environmental protection, health care or protection
against fraud.

The rules for the participation of undertakings, research
centres and universities and for the dissemination of
research results, for the framework programme (here-
after referred to as ‘the rules for participation and
dissemination’) should apply to this programme as
regards dissemination of research results.

In implementing this programme, emphasis should be
given to promoting mobility and training of research
workers, and innovation, in the Community.

For the purpose of implementing 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 inter-
national cooperation activities, in particular on the basis
of Article 170 of the Treaty, with third countries and
international organisations.

In implementing this programme, special attention
should be paid to the Candidate Countries. The JRC will
make an active contribution to transferring the acquis
communautaires in relation to the different policies of
the Community.

Research activities carried out within this programme
the fundamental ethical principles,
should respect
including those which are reflected in the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(10)

Following the Commission Communication ‘Women
and Science’, the Council Resolution of 20 May 1999
on women and science (5) and the Resolution of the
European Parliament of 3 February 2000 on this scheme,
an action plan is being implemented in order to reinforce
and increase the place of women in science and research,
and further enhanced action is needed.

(5) OJ C 201, 16.7.1999, p. 1.

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(11) This programme should be implemented in a flexible,
efficient and transparent manner, taking account of
relevant needs of JRC’s user and Community policies,
as well as respecting the objective of protecting the
Community’s financial interests. The research activities
carried out under the programme should be adapted
where appropriate to these needs and to scientific and
technological developments.

(12) The JRC will continue to meet the requirements of
Community policies as reflected by its users. In order to
do this effectively, it will maintain a suitable balance
with research activities required for achieving scientific
excellence.

(13) The JRC should actively pursue activities in innovation

and technology transfer.

(14)

In the implementation of this programme, the Board of
Governors of the JRC should be consulted by the
Commission in accordance with the relevant provisions
of Commission Decision 96/282/Euratom of 10 April
1996 on the reorganisation of
the Joint Research
Centre (1).

(15) The Commission should in due course arrange for an
independent assessment to be conducted concerning the
activities carried out
in the fields covered by this
programme.

(16) The Board of Governors of the JRC has been consulted
on the scientific and technological content of
this
specific programme,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.
In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC (herein-
after referred to as ‘the framework programme’), a specific
programme related to direct actions of research, technological
development and demonstration to be carried out by the
Joint Research Centre (hereinafter referred to as ‘the specific
programme’) is hereby adopted for the period from 30 Septem-
ber 2002 to 31 December 2006.

Article 2

In accordance with Annex II to the framework programme,
the amount deemed necessary for the execution of
the
specific programme shall be EUR 760 million. An indicative
breakdown of this amount is given in Annex II to this Decision.

Article 3

The Commission shall be responsible for the implemen-

1.
tation of the specific programme.

The specific programme shall be implemented by means
to the

2.
the instruments defined in Annexes I and III
of
framework programme and in Annex III to this Decision.

The rules for the participation of undertakings, research
3.
centres and universities and for the dissemination of research
results (hereinafter referred to as ‘the rules for participation
and dissemination’) shall apply to the specific programme, as
regards dissemination of research results.

Article 4

1.
The Commission shall draw up a work programme for
the implementation of the specific programme, which shall be
made available to all interested parties, setting out in greater
detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities,
set out in Annex I, and the timetable for implementation, and
the implementation arrangements.

2.
The work programme shall take account of relevant
research activities carried out by the Member States, Associated
States, European and international organisations. It shall be
updated where appropriate.

Article 5

The objectives and scientific and technological priorities

2.
for the specific programme are set out in Annex I.

For the purposes of implementing the specific programme, the
Board of Governors of the JRC shall be consulted by the
Commission in accordance with Commission Decision 96/
282/Euratom.

( 1) OJ L 107, 30.4.1996, p. 12.

The Commission shall regularly inform the Board of Governors
of the implementation of this specific programme.

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Article 6

Article 7

The Commission shall regularly report on the overall
1.
progress of the implementation of the specific programme, in
accordance with Article 4 of the framework programme;
information on financial aspects shall be included.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 September 2002.

The Commission shall arrange for the independent
2.
assessment provided for in Article 6 of
the framework
programme to be conducted concerning the activities carried
out in the fields covered by the specific programme.

For the Council

The President

B. BENDTSEN

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ANNEX I

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES AND BROAD OUTLINES OF THE ACTIVITIES

1.

INTRODUCTION

The JRC carries out its work programme with the mission to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support
for the conception, implementation and monitoring of European Union policies. The JRC serves the common interest
of the Member States while being independent of special interests, private or national, and as such provides support
when there is a need for European intervention.

The JRC’s contribution to the Framework Programme incorporates recommendations of recent evaluations of the
JRC and requirements necessitated by the Reform of the Commission. In particular, it includes:

— a strengthened user-orientation;

— networking activities to create a broad knowledge base and, in the spirit of the European Research Area (ERA),
more closely associate Member and Accession State laboratories, industry and regulators in the S&T support
provided to the EU policies;

— the concentration of activities on selected themes; the training of researchers using, in particular, large-scale

facilities and specialised laboratories.

It responds to clearly expressed needs and requirements, notably from the Commission services, which have been
identified and are updated through systematic and regular contacts (1).

In its areas of competence, the JRC’s contribution will aim at establishing synergies with the relevant thematic
priorities in the other specific programmes, notably through seeking complementarity between indirect and direct
actions and through participation in the indirect actions, with a view to adding value, when appropriate, to the work
carried out therein (e.g. through the comparison and validation of tests and methods or the integration of results for
policy-making purposes).

The political and institutional context in which the JRC operates has evolved significantly in recent years. Rapid
technological developments especially in biotechnology and the information society are changing our society with
new demands on policy-makers simultaneously to protect the citizen and ensure competitiveness in a global
economy. Crises in consumer confidence and the growing impact of technology on day to day life have placed the
onus on policy-makers throughout Europe and the world to secure reliable scientific input throughout the whole
policy process. This encompasses the ability to respond rapidly in the event of unforeseen circumstances and to take
a more responsible view of potential longer-term impact of science and technology developments. The development
of common European systems of scientific and technical reference, as foreseen in the ERA, is an important step in
this direction.

With the implementation of the JRC’s refocused mission to support EU policies (2), the Framework Programme
represents a new chapter in how the JRC will perform its activities. On its own, the JRC cannot be expected to cover
the whole spectrum of scientific and technical support needed in such a context. Three characteristics permeate its
proposed work programme:
(ii) openness and networking and (iii) customer-orientation.
Appropriate instruments will be set up to meet those objectives with particular attention to the clustering of projects
contributing to specific policy areas (see Annex III).

(i) concentration,

The JRC, as the in-house RTD service of the Commission, will

— provide demand-led S&T support

to European policy formulation, development,

implementation and

monitoring in its areas of competence,

— contribute to the establishment of common scientific and technical reference systems within the ERA.

(1) Annual users’ workshops, interservice group of users’ DGs, bilateral agreements, in association with the High Level Users’ Group.
(2) Fulfilling the JRC’s mission in the ERA. Communication from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament.

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The thrust of the JRC’s support to EU policies lies in the provision of technical support on issues related to
environmental protection, safety and security of the citizens and sustainable development. This includes risk
assessment, testing, validation and refinement of methods, materials and technologies to support a whole gamut of
policies ranging from safety of food products, chemicals, air quality, water quality, nuclear safety, to protection
against fraud. Almost all this support will be carried out in close collaboration with laboratories and research centres
in Member States and elsewhere. To achieve this, the JRC has refocused its non-nuclear activities upon two core
areas, supported by horizontal competencies:

— food, chemical products and health,

— environment and sustainability.

The core areas will be complemented by horizontal activities as follows:

— technology foresight,

— reference materials and measurements,

— public security and anti-fraud.

2.

PROGRAMME CONTENT

2.1.

Food, chemical products and health

The health protection of consumers particularly from the potentially harmful effects of contaminants in food and of
chemical products is a key European policy. This is evidenced by the creation of a European Food Authority and the
development of a new Community policy on chemicals.

In the 2002-2006 framework programme the JRC will respond to a series of specific requirements associated with:

— the rapidly evolving Community food and chemical policies,

— the objectives of the precautionary principle,

— public concerns relating to health.

food, the safety of chemical products,

It will develop further as a scientific reference and validation centre in selected areas linked to the quality and safety
of
the Community dimension of chemical measurement/metrology
infrastructure and health-related information. The JRC’s strategy relies heavily on extensive networking with
laboratories in the Member States, on the maintenance of advanced analytical facilities and reference measurement
and material production and on expanded competencies in life sciences including proteomics and bioinformatics.
Services such as information systems, data banks (e.g. molecular register) will be provided in support to relevant EU
policies. Given the novelty of many issues and the complexity of the regulatory environment, training will also be a
priority. Work will be focused upon the following priorities:

— food safety and quality,

— genetically modified organisms,

— chemical products,

— biomedical applications.

Food safety and quality

Emphasis will be on the development and validation of reliable methods and reference materials for the detection of
contaminants (natural such as mycotoxins and man-made such as PCBs), residues (e.g. pesticides, growth hormones
and veterinary drugs) and ingredients and additives in food as well as in animal feed. The JRC’s prime role will be the
coordination of testing of methods and materials and the submission of approved results to support risk assessment
and management (in close support to the European Community Reference Laboratories for Veterinary Residues). As
most food-borne diseases derive from microbiological including virus contamination, emphasis will be placed on
evaluation of new approaches for rapid identification and monitoring. Research on genomics and proteomics will
identify the cause of many food-related problems such as allergenicity, and the nature of TSE diseases. The JRC will
maintain flexibility to deal with new public health issues as they arise and will establish additional efforts in the area
of microbiology.

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Standardisation of tests and evaluation of new methods for sensitive detection of BSE and TSE will involve the
implementation of quality control of large scale post-mortem testing in abattoirs in collaboration with relevant DGs,
TSE Ad-hoc Scientific Committee and leading TSE research laboratories. The JRC will investigate the fate of specific
risk material. Special emphasis will be put on safety aspects of animal feed being the prime route to the food chain.

Food quality will grow in importance due to the relationship between health and food. Apart from assessment of
compliance with labelling (detection of frauds and adulteration) there is a strong need to judge the efficacy and/or
side effects of food supplements and functional food. The growing popularity of organic food requires the availability
of suitable methods to assess authenticity. The JRC will focus its expertise in the area of food authenticity towards
the emergence of ‘nutraceuticals’ and their effectiveness.

Technological prospective research will be conducted on the development of food products, sustainable methods of
farming and food production processes, and on the impact of food safety policies in the agri-food sector.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The JRC will provide considerable scientific and technical support in the field of the presence of GMOs in food and
environment. This support will be carried out in the context of the European network of GMO laboratories,
coordinated by JRC at the request of Member States. Tasks will include development and validation methods for
GMO detection, identification and quantification, increasing the range of certified reference materials (new species,
processed food), development of biomolecular databases, and training. Research activities (e.g. on sampling and
traceability) focusing on novel varieties of food and feeds or on tackling the problem of species unauthorised for use
in the EU will be performed to underpin regulatory needs and to achieve pan-European harmonisation.

The study of GMOs in the environment will require the building of new competencies to deal with the genetic,
biodiversity and agronomic aspects of introducing new organisms in the environment.

Chemical products

The new Community policy on chemicals will impact strongly on the support required of the JRC (1) throughout this
Framework Programme. The role for the JRC will encompass operating an expanded scheme to regulate chemicals;
this will reinforce the already close links with relevant Member State authorities, industry and with international
bodies, e.g. the OECD. The risk assessment experience and expertise of the European Chemicals Bureau will also
provide a solid foundation for significant research effort in this area.

The validation of alternative methods for animal testing will increase in importance in support of the new testing
programme of the new chemicals policy. Research will also take place on the safety of vaccines and on the challenging
area of the long-term effects of repeated low doses of potentially hazardous substances.

Exchange of validated information through telematic means on health and medicines between regulatory bodies in
EU Candidate Countries and diffusion to all user-groups including consumers and patients are being pursued.

The JRC will contribute to risk assessment on existing dangerous substances with attention paid to the migration of
harmful compounds from materials in contact with humans and food, e.g. plasticisers in toys and the harmful effects
of cosmetics. Prospective analyses of the relations between Community policies and innovation and competitiveness
of the European chemical industry will also be undertaken.

(1) includes work of the European Chemicals Bureau of the JRC.

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Biomedical applications

An ageing population will inevitably change the profile of demand on EU health systems. The JRC plans to apply its
expertise in materials and life sciences on the biocompatibility and long-term reliability of implants and on the use
of optical techniques in minimally invasive medical systems. This work necessitates networking with research
laboratories, hospitals, industry and regulatory authorities. The JRC will also work towards a globally accepted system
for clinical diagnostic measurement in collaboration with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
(Directives on In-Vitro-diagnostics and Medical Devices).

The JRC’s nuclear and isotopic facilities and competencies in the production and use of radioactive stable isotopes
will also be used for medical purposes as in new types of cancer therapies (a-immunotherapy, Boron Neutron Capture
Therapy) as well as in clinical reference materials.

2.2. Environment and sustainability

The quality and use of water, air and soils, the sustainable use of energy and the threat of global warming are
concerns of growing political attention. Community policy developments in those fields call for adequate knowledge
of causes, processes, impacts and trends. The JRC defines its programme in a manner which takes direct account of
those requirements. It will thereby consolidate its role as a centre of knowledge and reference in environmental
matters of significant European dimension. It will do so by becoming increasingly involved in reference networks
with Member States and internationally, particularly in the Candidate Countries. Service to the policy-making process
will be strengthened by developing a closer partnership with the relevant Commission services and by pursuing
cross-policy, techno-economic prospective research. Attention will also be given to reinforcing the synergy with the
European Environment Agency with particular attention to the diffusion of scientific results. The programme will
cover the following areas:

— assessing and preventing adverse global change,

— protection of the European environment (air, water and terrestrial resources),

— contributions to sustainable development (new and renewable energies, environmental assessment),

— support to Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES).

Assessing and preventing adverse global change

The JRC will provide support to the development of the EU’s strategy to combat global warming, making use of its
combined technical, socio-economic, modelling and research skills. The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
necessitates the understanding of the causes and processes controlling greenhouse gas cycles. A priority for the JRC
will be the direct support of the EU monitoring mechanism of greenhouse gases (Council Decision 1999/296/EC) ( 1).
Closing gaps of knowledge by specific research contribution will be a critical part of the role of the JRC in this
context. Work will focus on the establishment of a reference system which will enhance data quality and reduce
uncertainty. A critical part of this is the monitoring of changes in land cover, land use and forestry at various scales
(see also GMES). Energy scenarios for the future as well as carbon emission forecasts are also crucial to the
implementation of relevant measures. Policy options to reduce emissions in a cost-effective way will also be
investigated. To maximise its efforts, the JRC will conduct its global change activities in a dedicated cluster. Issues
associated with climate policy implementation, carbon sequestration, atmospheric quality measurements, the
dynamics of ozone and UV radiation over Europe could also be examined.

Protection of the European environment

— Preserving air quality

Air pollution is a key concern for the European citizen and is also the focus of a large body of regulatory instruments
(e.g. Clean Air for Europe Programme). The cornerstones of JRC’s efforts will be:

— the assessment of emissions by vehicles and stationary sources (new emission directives, standards for diesel/
gasoline, new fuels, particulate matter and dioxin emissions; harmonisation/standardisation of world-wide
reference test cycles and of measuring methods for industrial emissions),

(1) OJ L 117, 5.5.1999, p. 35.

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— the provision of reference for the implementation and the development of air quality directives (analysis
quantification of air pollution, monitoring, techniques, pre-normative work, methods for evaluating the impact
of air quality policies on human exposure and modelling tools for data analysis and comparisons of abatement
scenarios),

— the assessment of the public health impact of atmospheric pollution, in particular in urban areas.

Cross-sectoral integrated analysis of the transport, energy, health and enterprise policies will be conducted to
determine their effect on emissions and ambient pollution levels. The work will be conducted in the context of large
networks of experts including representatives from the automotive and energy industries.

Water quality

Water is a key resource issue of the future; maintaining natural water sources and securing good quality drinking
water are of particular relevance. The Framework Directive on Water will oblige coordination and harmonisation of
monitoring and reporting processes of all Community regulatory existing instruments during the next six years.
Research leading to the harmonisation of a common database on reports by Member States on implementation of
various water-related directives (e.g. residual urban water, nitrates, surface water, etc.) will be pursued. The JRC will
focus on the determination of ecological water-quality parameters (also in the context of supporting existing generic
European metrological infrastructure), identification of significant pollutants, indicators of quality in inland and
coastal waters and on the identification of microbiological hazards, especially in waste waters as well as on socio-
economic implications of the new regulatory framework. In this context, the JRC activities should contribute to
research aimed at integrating improvements in water quality, waste water treatment, soil quality and their impact on
health. Impacts on health are addressed under ‘Food Safety and Quality’ in section 2.1 of this programme. Integrated
coastal zone management research will be pursued to provide Community reference approaches.

Terrestrial resources

The soils and the landscapes are the site of most human activities and their characteristics are determined by
management practices. The environmental component of the agricultural policy as well as well as several pieces of
Community legislation (e.g. Water Directive, Spatial Development Perspective, Urban Agenda, Climate Change and
others) deal with a range of those issues. The JRC will provide support to the development of a common platform
for integrated spatial analysis as a basis for policy making and evaluation. Catchment areas will be used as units of
study for evaluating various processes and impacts. The extensive database managed by the European Soils Bureau
will be expanded through networking; the ongoing collaboration with Eurostat will also be reinforced. Attention will
be paid to the development of tools and to providing information on natural landscapes in the context of forestry,
land use and biodiversity conservation. Support to the environmental component of the common agricultural policy
will be provided in terms of landscape analysis and use of indicators. Information on the state and changes in urban
and regional environment will be produced. Work will rely upon the use of advanced remote sensing techniques,
geographical information systems and modelling of spatial processes.

Contributions to sustainable development

Work on sustainable development pervades the whole JRC programme and attention is paid to the integration of
economic, social and environmental dimensions. Work on such integration will particularly concern sustainable
development and the role which the different actors are called upon to play.

The JRC will develop in particular an active programme aimed at knowledge and information-dissemination
(including the ability to support research workers and operators in the field) on effective practices for implementing
sustainable development. The development of methodologies and tools for integrating development and biodiversity
and/or landscape conservation will be taken into account.

The JRC will draw on its experience in the further development of a European network of the different ecosites set
up in a number of Member States in recent years.

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— Energy and energy savings

The Kyoto protocol has given a critical dimension to the energy debate since energy use and transport, two
cornerstones of economic life, have major impacts on the emission of greenhouse gases. The importance of new and
renewable energies as well as of energy efficiency and technology for the security of supply has been underlined in a
recent Green Paper and in a Communication on ‘Renewables’.

The JRC experience in the field of renewables, energy policy and energy technology will be exploited to provide
support to emerging Community issues in a deregulated market; a concentration on the following areas of work is
foreseen:

— development of reference systems — through accredited laboratory and certification schemes — in renewable

energy production (with priority on solar electricity), storage and energy use in buildings,

— technology assessment, energy-saving options, validation and modelling activities of new and conventional
energy technologies with particular reference to safety, efficiency, energy savings, waste and biomass generated
power technologies as well as waste incineration performances,

— energy scenarios and forecasting in the context of greenhouse gases emissions and market assessment for new

and renewable energy technologies in a competitive energy economy.

Environmental assessment

The need for an ‘integrated’ assessment of environment quality is increasingly recognised. The JRC will support the
EU Sustainable Development strategy through the development of appropriate integrated policy assessment tools
and through activities leading to the integration of environmental concerns in EU policies. The European Integrated
Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau will continue its directive-linked work on assessing best available
technologies with a view to reducing pollution in selected industrial sectors. Complex emission scenarios are needed
to link air pollution and global change. Waste management is an important area where an integrated analysis from
waste generation to treatment and disposal is necessary. Environmental integrity and human health is another area
of integrated studies to which the JRC will contribute. New assessment tools and approaches to eco-toxicology will
be developed to address topics such as air pollution and contaminants in waters (endocrine disrupters, biocides and
pharmaceuticals). The JRC will also provide methodological support to the integration of the environmental
dimension in development assistance.

The JRC will contribute to the fulfilment of Community legislation for exchanging environmental monitoring data
(including radioactivity) and information (through model intercomparison) under routine and emergency conditions.

A focus on inter-policy linkages and impacts will be retained by JRC as a specific contribution to the implementation
of sustainable development practices at Community level.

Support to GMES

The need for independent information on key issues affecting the world’s environment and the security of the citizen
is increasingly recognised. GMES is a European initiative towards the implementation of operational services for
collecting, analysing and disseminating a range of information items related to changes in environmental quality,
resource availability and management, natural risks and hazards. The GMES is being implemented under the dual
concern of preserving the global environment and reducing or anticipating threats to the security of the citizen. It
focuses primarily on the use of earth observation techniques for maintaining an adequate long-term watch on key
landscape parameters (such as land cover, use, resource degradation or depletion) at various geographical levels. It
will also call for techniques to support the assessment of natural risks and the management of catastrophic events.
The JRC will focus on the development of EU-policy relevant applications which feed into the GMES concept in three
areas of work: support to international environmental agreements, assessing risks and hazards and evaluating
environmental stress.

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2.3. Technology foresight

Increasingly, the definition of EU policies is dependent on the timely anticipation and understanding of developments
in science and technology and the social and economic environment. The JRC’s expertise in analysing inter-
relationships between technology and society and its experience in coordinating cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary
foresight research on an international scale will contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the ERA.
Throughout the 2002-2006 framework programme, the JRC’s activities in this research area will be based on a close
collaboration with DG RTD and other customer DGs. The activity will focus on:

— techno-economic foresight,

— international foresight cooperation forum.

Techno-economic foresight

The JRC will undertake medium to long-term prospective studies on crucial technological developments affecting the
EU and the relevant impact on growth, sustainable development, employment, social cohesion and competitiveness.
This activity will also provide background analysis and information that will be valuable in the implementation by
the JRC of its work in its specific areas of competence. It will include prospective analysis to identify technological
bottlenecks and opportunities, including quantitative estimations; identification of promising technologies and the
conditions required for their uptake.

International foresight cooperation forum

The JRC will strengthen its working relationships with international think-tanks and top level advisors, by following
up existing successful experiences (e.g. the European Science and Technology Observatory network, the High-Level
Economists Group) and by pursuing the establishment of an International foresight cooperation framework. The
availability of a mechanism to share analysis on the main emerging challenges will in particular prove useful in
promoting Europe’s role in the international debate on science and governance. A common reference system in
policy-oriented foresight analysis will be established in the context of regional exercises with particular attention to
Candidate Countries.

2.4. Reference materials and measurements

Recognition of standards and measurements in products is an important component for the implementation of
Community policies related to consumer safety, free trade, competitiveness of European industry and external
relations. The JRC will further support the existing or developing European metrological infrastructure to produce
results of demonstrated quality, develop specific reference measurements, produce certified reference materials
(CRMs) to improve their global acceptance, organise international measurement evaluation programmes and will
establish trans-national databases in support to EU policies. Throughout the JRC’s work programme, agreed reference
methods and materials are required, whether in environment, food safety, public health or the nuclear industry. In
addition to work described in the previous sections, the JRC plans to support the creation of a European Certified
Reference Material system. This will put the JRC in a position to provide sound advice to Commission services where
applicable to EU legislation and practice. The activities will cover:

— BCR (1) and industrial certified reference materials,

— Metrology in chemistry and physics.

BCR and industrial certified reference materials

This activity concerns developing concepts and techniques for the production and certification of reference materials
to improve their global acceptance under the EU-US Mutual Recognition Agreement, where the JRC advises DG
TRADE. The JRC will concentrate on production of BCRs and new CRMs for control of industrial processes and
products. As support to DG RTD, the JRC will, where feasible, extend its responsibility for storage and distribution
of BCR to the management of the production and certification of new CRMs from indirect actions. Nuclear reference
materials used for safeguards and nuclear materials accountancy will be expanded to the environment.

(1) Bureau communautaire de référence.

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Metrology in chemistry and physics

The information generated by studying the interactions of neutrons with matter is fundamental to many applications
areas. Infrastructures will be maintained to investigate basic metrology in physics in a systematic manner over a wide
energy range, emphasising its relevance for training. The radionuclide metrology activity provides support to food,
chemical and environmental safety. The JRC will continue to represent the Commission in international bodies
responsible for the development of a world-wide chemical measurement system. Strategic tasks will include the
development of primary measurement techniques, the production and certification of isotopic reference materials
and organisation of International Measurement Evaluation Programmes. Topics depend on EU policy requirements
and evaluations rely heavily on the participation of numerous laboratories, especially those which have a reference
role to play in their sector or region. Through the establishment of networks (PECOMet-Network and MetMED)
support will be provided to Candidate Countries and Mediterranean countries to build up a structured measurement
system in chemistry.

2.5. Public security and anti-fraud

Public security issues — proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the globalisation of the economy, infringements
to privacy and Internet vulnerabilities, risks from natural or technological disasters — require a coordinated
international approach. The EU is providing a framework through a number of mechanisms and at the same time it
has declared zero tolerance on fraud. These political initiatives and commitments need scientific and technical
support and the JRC is shaping its programme to answer directly some of those specific requirements. The JRC has,
over the years, developed a broad-based and well recognised expertise in the general domain of security and anti-
fraud, in the handling of large information infrastructures and in dealing with complex systems. In the 2002-2006
framework programme, such expertise will be provided to user European institutions according to their priorities
and needs. Increased emphasis will be placed on exploiting networks with other research institutions and stakeholders
in order to deepen and widen the support. The JRC will concentrate on the following issues:

— international humanitarian security,

— natural and technological hazards, risks and emergencies,

— cyber-security,

— monitoring compliance with EU regulations and fraud control.

International humanitarian security

The JRC will maintain a focus on technical aspects of EU efforts in humanitarian demining, firstly to improve
knowledge of existing technology for minefield survey and detection through testing and benchmarking, secondly to
assess new technologies and thirdly to increase the visibility, transparency and efficiency of EU mine action
operations.

The JRC, through the GMES initiative, will also contribute to developing a European capability that allows integrated
space-based data, environmental data and socio-economic data to be made available for European security policies,
including humanitarian aid, on a timely basis.

Natural and technological hazards, risks and emergencies

The JRC will continue to support efforts to develop a European framework for forecasting, assessing, managing and
reducing risks in the Community. In the 2002-2006 framework programme, the JRC will further develop a system
approach to the management of natural and technological hazards. For technological risks — from aircraft incidents
and industrial hazards — the JRC’s efforts will be centred round its operation and improvement of harmonised
European monitoring systems (ECCAIRS (1), MAHB (2), EPERC ( 3)) which will be further extended to the Candidate
Countries. For natural hazards, the JRC will endeavour to provide Europe with a similar capability. At the same time,
efforts to develop a common European approach towards floods and forest fires will continue through a focus on
integration of advanced modelling, conventional and space-based data. A link to the GMES initiative will be
developed. Various networks, such as the European network of earthquake engineering laboratories, will be extended
to international level. Similarly, the JRC in collaboration with European partners will set up a network of experimental
facilities to develop a common integrated initiative for structural safety.

(1) European Coordination Centre for Aircraft mandatory accident Reporting Systems.
(2) Major Accidents Hazard Bureau.
(3) European Pressure Equipment Research Council.

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The JRC will use its internal scientific potential and its relations with scientific networks to contribute to establishing
a support mechanism for decision-making in risk management.

Cyber-security

The JRC will build on experience gained in supporting the EU’s dependability initiative, out-of-court dispute
settlement systems as well as the observatory on electronic payment systems. Working closely with the Commission
services responsible and Member State organisations, it will support the development of an appropriate EU response
to risks of cybercrime, privacy and Internet vulnerabilities. Efforts will concentrate on methods for better
characterising these risks, on criteria for evaluating technical countermeasures and on testing them in JRC facilities
and on developing appropriate and harmonised measures, indications and statistics in consultation with other
interested parties, including Europol. The JRC will also maintain an Internet website on the issue of cybercrime and
report its progress to the EU Forum established in the framework of the Commission Communication on ‘Creating a
safer information society by improving the security of information infrastructures and combating computer-related
crime’.

Monitoring compliance with EU regulations and fraud control

The JRC supports the Commission’s efforts to increase the effectiveness of anti-fraud measures, both by providing
advanced technologies to bodies that operate at EU level and by supporting Member States in the use of the latest
technologies. The JRC, working closely with the Commission services concerned, will maintain appropriate support
to the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). As
well as exploring the application of new technologies — DNA analysis for livestock identification, satellite image
interpretation for crop acreage monitoring or fishing vessel identification, cross-correlation of isotopic analysis of
beverages and foodstuffs to determine contents and origin, intelligence gathering from open sources, language
technology to analyse multilingual documents — the JRC will continue to provide customers with the integrated
knowledge that includes the entire cycle from data capture, data fusion, data mining through to visualisation and
estimation.

The JRC will also build on its methodological experience to provide the policy process with timely, reliable and more
socially robust information. This will be achieved for official statistics through the coordination, with Eurostat, of
thematic research networks with emphasis on short-term indicators, business cycle and financial analysis and through
the development of a quality assurance methodology for scientific input to governance.

Increased importance will be devoted to early warnings and trend detection, dissemination, awareness-raising and
knowledge-sharing with partner laboratories in the Member States. The fraud problem will not be tackled on an
individual case basis but at a system level — developing procedures and regulations that involve less bureaucracy
and that are intrinsically less prone to fraud.

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ANNEX II

INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF THE AMOUNT DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE
SPECIFIC PROGRAMME

Types of activities

Food, chemical products and health

Environment and sustainability

Horizontal activities

— Technology foresight; Reference materials and measurements; Public security and anti-

fraud (1)
Research Training; Access to Infrastructures (2)

—

Amount
(EUR million)

212

286

262

(1) Up to EUR 222 million will be devoted to this activity.
(2) Up to EUR 40 million will be devoted to this activity.
(3) Of which approximately 6 % may be allocated to exploratory research and up to 2 % to exploitation of own JRC results and

technology transfer.

(4) This total includes the JRC’s budget contribution necessary for its participation in indirect actions.

Total

760 (3) (4)

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ANNEX III

SPECIFIC RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME

1.

2.

The Commission, after consulting the Board of Governors of the JRC, shall implement the direct action on the
basis of the scientific objectives and contents described in Annex I. The activities relating to this action shall be
performed in the relevant institutes of the JRC.

In the implementation of its activities, the JRC will, whenever appropriate and feasible, participate in, or
organise, networks of public and private laboratories in the Member States or European research consortia
supporting the European policy-making process. Particular attention will be paid to cooperation with industry,
especially with small and medium-sized enterprises. Research bodies established in third countries may also
cooperate on projects, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article 6 of the Framework Programme
and, where applicable, of agreements for scientific and technological cooperation between the Community and
the third countries concerned. Particular attention will be paid to cooperation with research laboratories and
institutes in the Candidate Countries and countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

The JRC will also use appropriate mechanisms continuously to identify the requirements and needs of its
customers and users and to involve them in the related activities.

The knowledge gained through implementation of the projects will be disseminated by the JRC itself (taking
into account possible limitations due to confidentiality issues).

3.

The accompanying measures shall include:

— organisation of the visits of JRC staff to national laboratories, industrial laboratories and universities,

— the promotion of mobility of young scientists, particularly from the Candidate Countries, with particular

attention to encouraging the participation of women,

— specialised training in support of the elaboration and/or implementation of the European policies with

the emphasis on multidisciplinarity,

— the organisation of visits to JRC institutes of visiting scientists and seconded national experts, particularly

from Candidate Countries, with particular attention to encouraging the participation of women,

— systematic exchange of information, through, inter alia, the organisation of scientific seminars, workshops

and colloquiums and scientific publications,

— the independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the performance of the projects and programmes.