Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Council Regulation setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking COM(2007) 315 final — 2007/0118 (CNS)
Date: 2007-10-25
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU financing, air quality, air transport, investment, joint venture, new technology, prevention of pollution, public-private partnership, research policy

16.2.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 44/19

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation
setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking’

COM(2007) 315 final — 2007/0118 (CNS)

(2008/C 44/04)

On 11 July 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

On 10 July 2007, the Bureau of the European Economic and Social Committee decided to ask the Section
for the Single Market, Production and Consumption to carry out the work on the subject.

In view of the urgency of the matter, at its 439th plenary session held on 24 and 25 October 2007
(meeting of 25 October), the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Dantin as its rappor-
teur-general and adopted the following opinion by 97 votes in favour, with three abstentions.

1. Conclusions and recommendations

need to enable all parties to participate in the choice of
objectives and analysis of final results;

1.1
The Committee welcomes the decision on setting up the
Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. It considers that this approach to
relaunching investment
in R&D by means of public/private
financing has the potential to give European businesses a stable
frame of reference and making it possible to overcome the
current fragmentation of Community financing and coordinate
research, which is often too widely dispersed, thereby helping to
make it more effective.

— an information campaign to help mobilise the requisite

economic resources;

— the

appropriate

establishment of

training
programmes to ensure that the skills of workers match the
jobs created by Clean Sky, with the aim of creating the
necessary conditions for providing industrial
leadership in
this strategic sector.

vocational

1.2
It welcomes the choice of this sector, which, at the same
time as tying in with the Lisbon strategy, gives a new impetus to
a technically innovative industry which generates large numbers
of highly skilled jobs, and also contributes to much-needed
progress in terms of environmental protection.

2. Introduction

1.3
In welcoming the proposal under discussion, the EESC
wishes firstly to emphasise the importance for the EU of the
proposed strategy in terms of promoting investment and coordi-
nating research.
the
strategy strongly supports the creation of a European research
area and significantly contributes to the competitiveness of
European businesses in the sector.

the Committee feels that

In so doing,

The purpose of the proposed Council Regulation is to
2.1
launch one of the very first public-private partnerships in the
area of R&D. It defines one of the first Joint Technology Initia-
tives (JTIs). This initiative is the field of aeronautics and air
transport and is entitled ‘CLEAN SKY’.

However,

in view of

1.4
the multiplicity of sources of
funding, the number of stakeholders, and the substantial Com-
munity resources involved, it is clear that the use and ownership
of the final products of the research should be better defined,
particularly with regard to intellectual property rights and
patents.

Finally, the Committee's feels that the following measures

1.5
are necessary:

— genuine simplification of procedures, particularly in view of
the negative impact of red tape on the previous R&D
programmes. As
these procedures are currently being
worked out, the Committee will pay close attention to the

2.2
The general aim of JTIs is to allow industry, research
organisations, Member States and the Commission to pool
into selected research
resources
some or
programmes.

all of

their

Unlike the traditional strategy, which involves providing
2.3
public funding for projects on a case-by-case basis, JTIs involve
large-scale research programmes with shared strategic research
goals. This new approach is expected to create a critical mass
for European research and innovation, consolidate the scientific
community in key strategic areas, and harmonise the funding of
projects so that research findings can be put
to use more
quickly. JTIs are aimed at key areas where the current instru-
ments have neither the scale nor the speed to keep Europe
ahead of global competition. These are areas where national,
European and private funding of research could bring significant
added value, inter alia by stimulating an increase in private R&D
expenditure.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The main purpose of the JTI in the field of aeronautics
2.4
and air transport, known as ‘Clean Sky’,
is to speed up the
development of clean air transport technologies in the EU so
that they can be brought into operation as quickly as possible.
In addition to the requirement of maintaining the sector's
competitiveness, these technologies should also help to achieve
strategic European environmental and social priorities,
in
combination with sustainable economic growth.

3. Context and general considerations

Given that air traffic is forecast to double over the next
3.1
twenty years, and that the development of an environment-
friendly transport system for both passengers and freight is an
essential element in ensuring European economic and social
growth, the programme is necessary and justified.

3.2
The decision to act at European level seems appropriate,
given that action by stakeholders at Member State level is not so
well supported in terms of economic resources and scientific
know-how.

It is crucial for Member States to participate directly,
3.3
both in order to mobilise financing and because numerous deci-
sions will continue to be taken at national level, with regard
both to calls for participation in programmes, ongoing moni-
toring of all phases of programmes and evaluation of results.

The aeronautical sector will soon be facing major chal-
impact, which could hold

3.4
lenges, such as the environmental
back its development.

3.5
Limiting the impact of aviation on climate change and
reducing noise pollution are absolute priorities. In view of this,
achieving the reductions envisaged by Community legislation
requires major technological changes to be implemented in the
near future.
(In its Strategic Research Agenda, the European
Technology Platform for Aeronautics — ACARE — has set
the objectives for 2020 of reducing CO2 emissions by 50 %,
NOx emissions by 80 % and noise pollution by 50 %).

industry, which currently
3.6
The European aeronautics
provides three million jobs in Europe,
is also facing fierce
competition as a result of the public investment carried out in
other geographical areas, and the United States in particular,
where the resources allocated to research in this sector are three
times higher than those currently available in Europe.

Public investment is also important given that the sector
3.7
is characterised by a slow return on investment, with potential
scope for market failure on account of lack of investment in
aeronautical R&D.

transport

The choice of aeronautics and air

3.8
in the
Specific Programme ‘Cooperation’ (cf. point 4.3) is motivated by
a concern to improve the health and quality of life of present
and future generations by reducing the environmental impact of
aircraft, improving air quality at local level and limiting noise in
areas surrounding airports, as well as improving travelling
conditions for passengers.

4. The Commission's proposal

4.1
The proposed Regulation setting up the Clean Sky Joint
Undertaking [COM(2007) 315] arises out of the provisions of
the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) covered by Decision
1982/2006/EEC. This provides for a Community contribution
towards the establishment of long-term public-private partner-
ships at European level in the area of research.

4.2
These partnerships take the form of Joint Technology
Initiatives (JTI) and arise from the work of the former European
Technology Platforms (ETP).

4.3
The Council, in its Decision No 971/2006/EEC on the
Specific Programme ‘Cooperation’, emphasised the need to set
up public-private partnerships and identified six areas in which
the creation of joint technology initiatives is appropriate with a
view to relaunching European research. These are:

— Hydrogen cells and fuel cells;

— Aeronautics and air transport;

— Innovative medicines (1);

— Embedded computing systems (2);

— Nanoelectronics (3);

— GMES (global monitoring for environment and security).

4.4
In the context of this general strategy, the Regulation
proposed in COM(2007) 315 final provides for the implementa-
tion of the Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on aeronautics and
air transport by means of setting up a Clean Sky Joint Under-
taking.

4.5
The objectives of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking are
explained clearly and in detail in Article 3 of the Statutes set out
in the Annex to the Regulation under discussion. These objec-
tives cover a wide and ambitious range of activities, summarised
in Article 3 of the Regulation:

— accelerating in the EU the development of clean Air Trans-

port technologies for earliest possible deployment;

(1) CESE 1184/2007 (INT/363).
(2) CESE 1185/2007 (INT/364).
(3) R/CESE 1199/2007 (INT/370).

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C 44/21

— creating a radically innovative Air Transport System based
on advanced technologies, with the target of reducing the
environmental impact of air transport through reduction of
noise and gaseous emissions, and improvement of the fuel
economy of aircraft.

undertaking, provided that: as ITD Leaders, they commit
themselves to contribute resources proportional
to and
consistent with the overall JTI activities; as Associates, their
commitment is proportional to the budget of the ITD they
participate in and consistent with the ITD requirements.

4.5.1
Clean Sky therefore ensures integration and coordina-
tion of various research activities while tapping into economies
of scale. It will be developed around six technological fields
referred to as Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs),
namely:

4.9 Sources of financing

— smart fixed wing aircraft;

— green regional aircraft;

— green rotorcraft;

— green and sustainable engine;

— systems for green operations;

— eco-design.

The technological objectives for each ITD have already been set.

4.6
The Clean Sky joint undertaking is to be considered as
an international body with a legal personality within the
meaning of Article 22 of Directive 2004/17/EC and Article 15
of Directive 2004/18/EC. Its seat will be in Brussels and its
activities will cease in December 2017, unless extended by
Council decision.

4.7 Legal basis

The proposal consists of a Council Regulation with the
4.7.1
statutes of the joint undertaking in an annex. It is based on
Article 171 of the Treaty. The joint undertaking is to be a Com-
munity body, and although its budget falls under Article 185 of
Council Regulation 1605/2002, it will have to take account of
the specifics of this initiative in that it involves public-private
partnerships with a large private-sector contribution at least
equal to that of the public sector.

4.8 Members

The following are to be founding members of the Clean Sky
Joint Undertaking:

— the European Community represented by the Commission;

— 12 ITD leaders and up to 74 Associates, subject to the
membership rules set out in Article 2 of the Statutes in the
Annex to the Regulation under discussion;

The running cost of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking
4.9.1
are to be shared equally in cash between on the one hand the
European Community, and on the other hand the rest of the
Members, each side contributing 50 %.

4.9.2
The maximum Community contribution to the Clean
Sky Joint Undertaking covering running costs and research
activities is EUR 800 million, paid from the budget appropria-
the Specific
tion allocated to the Theme
Programme ‘Cooperation’ implementing the Seventh Framework
Programme according to the provisions of Article 54 of
Council Regulation No 1605/2002.

‘Transport’ of

5. General and specific comments

5.1
The Committee welcomes the decision on setting up the
Clean Sky Joint Undertaking arising out of the provisions of the
7th Framework Programme. It believes that relaunching invest-
ment in R&D is an appropriate way of giving European busi-
nesses a stable frame of reference in the form of a new instru-
ment that makes it possible to overcome the current fragmenta-
tion of Community financing and avoids a wide range of thinly-
spread programmes that made it almost impossible to evaluate
results.

5.2
The initiative is consistent with EU policies and objec-
tives and ties in with the approach set out in the Lisbon strategy
with its emphasis on knowledge and innovation in the Com-
includes
munity supporting growth and employment.
measures relating to the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and
should be conducive to major progress in implementing the
Strategic Research Agenda of ACARE on the environment.

It

The EESC considers that

5.3
the Clean Sky undertaking,
which like the other JTIs arising from the Seventh Framework
Programme is based on a public-private partnership, provides a
solid basis for the creation of a European research area and a
major contribution to the competitiveness of European busi-
nesses.

— any public or private entity established in a Member State or
in a
associated to the Seventh Framework
Programme may apply to become a member of the joint

country

5.4
In welcoming the proposal under discussion, the EESC
must firstly underline the importance for the EU of the strategy
being proposed for investment and coordination of research.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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5.5
However, in the light of the multiple financing system
that has been set up and of the significant volume of Com-
munity resources involved, the EESC believes that it would be
appropriate to better define the use and allocation of the end
products of the research in question. To this end, the issue of
patents and intellectual property as defined in Article 20 of the
regulation, which limits itself to setting out principles, ought to
be more precise and more explicit,
lest it become a sticking
point in the implementation and running of the Clean Sky JTI.

5.6
However, to achieve its aims and to maximise the poten-
tial that this new instrument offers, the EESC considers the
following to be necessary:

— a genuine simplification of procedures at every stage of the
various R&D activities, from the selection of activities to the
distribution of results, by giving Clean Sky the main respon-
sibility for these tasks. Administrative complexity and the
uncertainty over funding and institutional references were

Brussels, 25 October 2007.

some of the causes of the past failures of previous R&D
programmes;

— a wide-ranging information programme on the opportu-
nities provided by the Clean Sky undertaking, inter alia on
its ability to mobilise the necessary economic resources in
the light of the new forms of financing;

— the

vocational

appropriate

establishment of

training
programmes to create a highly-skilled workforce with the
knowledge needed for the R&D supported by Clean Sky,
which will be highly strategic for the EU's industrial future.
These high-level qualifications will provide the technical
skills needed for the R&D jobs that will be created, will
serve to slow the brain drain, and will provide one of the
necessary conditions for ensuring leadership in these sectors,
which are of strategic importance from both an industrial
and an environmental perspective.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation
setting up the ENIAC Joint Undertaking’

COM(2007) 356 final — 2007/0089 (CNS)

(2008/C 44/05)

On 10 September 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

On 10 July 2007, the Bureau of the European Economic and Social Committee decided to ask the Section
for the Single Market, Production and Consumption to carry out the work on the subject.

In view of the urgency of the matter, at its 439th plenary session held on 24 and 25 October 2007
(meeting of 25 October), the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Dantin as its rappor-
teur-general and adopted the following opinion by 106 votes in favour, with one abstention.

1. Conclusions and recommendations

and making it possible to overcome the current fragmentation
of Community financing and coordinate research, which is
often too widely dispersed, thereby helping to make it more
effective.

The Committee welcomes the decision on setting up the

1.1
ENIAC joint undertaking (1).

1.1.1
It considers that this approach to relaunching invest-
ment in R&D by means of public/private financing has the
potential to give European businesses a stable frame of reference

(1) ENIAC = European Nanoelectronic Initiative Advisory Council.

ENIAC was also the first computer manufactured using electronic
components (1945-1946).

industry, with strong potential

It welcomes the choice of this sector. This is a technically
1.2
innovative branch of
for the
future and as a source of highly skilled jobs, and developing it
will directly contribute to achieving the Lisbon objectives on
competitiveness and the Barcelona objectives on percentage of
GDP allocated to research, and also to other Community poli-
cies, for example on the environment, transport, energy and
health.