Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

No L 206 / 38 Official journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 88

COUNCIL DECISION

of 29 June 1988

revising the multiannual research programme for the European Economic Community in the

field of biotechnology

( 88 / 420 / EEC )

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 130Q ( 2 )
thereof,

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

In cooperation with the European Parliament ( 2 ),

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

Whereas the framework programme for Community
activities in the field of research and technological
development ( 1987 to 1991 ) was adopted by Decision
87 / 516 / Euratom / EEC ( 4 );

Whereas Article 130K of the Treaty provides that the
framework programme is to be implemented through
specific programmes developed within each activity ;
whereas the Council, when adopting the framework
programme of Community activities in technological R&D
( 1987 to 1991 ), recognized the interest of exploitation and
valorization of biological resources, and particularly
biotechnology ;

Whereas Decision 85 / 195 / EEC ( 5 ) introduced a
multiannual research action programme for the European
Economic Community in the field of biotechnology ;
whereas Article 3 of that Decision makes provision for the
programme to be reviewed as from its second year of
implementation ;

Whereas the review which has been undertaken and the

results of which were transmitted to the Council on
21 May 1986 has led the Commission to present a proposal
for the revision of the programme motivated by the need to
ensure its adequacy for the objective assigned to it ;

Whereas the implementation of the research and training
programme for the Community in the field of

0 ) OJ No C 15, 20 . 1 . 1988, p. 13 .
( 2 ) OJ No C 94, 11 . 4 . 1988, p . 85 and OJ No C 187,

18 . 7 . 1988 .

( 3 ) OJ No C 80, 28 . 3 . 1988, p. 7 .
(<) OJ No L 302, 24 . 10 . 1987, p. 1 .
( 5 ) OJ No L 83, 25 . 3 . 1985, p. 1 .

biotechnology has proved to be insufficient as yet for
setting up, on a scale commensurate with the multiple
implications of biotechnology in agriculture, industry and
the environment, of transnational cooperation networks
addressing the various levels of risk and their evaluation ;

Whereas any application involving the large-scale planned
release of organisms created by genetic engineering must be
preceded by experimental research and conducted in
accordance with existing safety rules ;

Whereas the area of bioinformatics involves the
requirement both to ascertain the constitution of integrated
networks for the storage, circulation and treatment of
biological data, and to stimulate further computer-aided
approaches in biotechnological research ;

Whereas it is necessary to step up training activities and to
evolve training schemes, including in particular the
organization of short intensive workshops, allowing
research scientists in all the Member States to benefit from
all the research facilities and scientific expertise in the
Community, thus helping to reduce the disparities in
development in the field of biotechnology between the
various Member States, while being consistent with the
pursuit of scientific and technical quality ;

Whereas it is essential to increase the involvement of
Community industry in the activities and results originating
from the research work under contract ;

Whereas it is necessary to step up the concertation activities
carried out, alongside the Community research and
training effort, to improve national and Community
activity in the field of biotechnology, strengthen dialogue
with appropriate groups and make as much information
available to the public as possible ;

Whereas the recent emergence of certain critical areas of
biological sciences ( e.g. genome mapping and sequencing,
and the exploitation thereof ) means that the Community
effort in biotechnology is relatively weak unless
exploratory activity can be rapidly initiated in this field

30 . 7 . 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 206 / 39

before a new programme in biotechnology R&D 1990 to

1994 is prepared ;

Whereas it is necessary to enable participation by Spain and
Portugal in as many as possible of the activities envisaged
by the programme ;

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee
( Crest ) has expressed its opinion,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :

Article 1

The research action programme for the European
Economic Community in the field of biotechnology ( 1985
to 1989 ) is hereby revised on the basis of the specifications
in the Annex .

Article 2

The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the
programme will be increased from 55 million ECU to
75 million ECU . This increase of 20 million ECU will be
used to intensify and expand the activities in
biotechnological research as indicated in the Annex and
includes expenditure on an additional staff of five .

Done at Luxembourg, 29 June 1988 .

For the Council

The President

H. RIESENHUBER

No L 206 / 40 Official Journal of the European Communities 30 . 7 . 88

ANNEX

Revision of the multiannual research action programme for the European Economic Community in the field of

biotechnology ( 1985 to 1989 )

— Extension to Spain and Portugal of the activities envisaged by the programme .

— Intensification of the current research effort in the sector of the programme that concerns the assessment of

risks associated with modern biotechnology, and particularly with the deliberate release of genetically
engineered organisms .

— Intensification of the current research effort in the area of information technology with emphasis upon

processing data related to culture collections, genome sequences and protein modelling .

— Increase in the volume of current activities ( visits, publications, electronic networks, meetings, summer

workshops, etc .) aiming at a timely dissemination of information on the programme and of research results
to all appropriate groups ; involvement of Community industry in the research activities and in the
utilization of the data, materials and methods stemming from the research work under contract .

— Studies and feasibility pilot projects for the preparation of future Community R&D activities in

biotechnology during the period 1990 to 1994 .

— Increase in training activities in all parts of the current programme .

— Matching of resources ( manpower ) for the concertation activity to the requirements defined in the

programme .