Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

16. 8. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 214/17

Re-examined proposal for a Council Decision to revise the multiannual research programme for
the European Economic Community in the field of biotechnology

_COM(88)_ 356 _final_ — _SYN 101_

_(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (2) (d) of the EEC Treaty_

_on 23 June 1988)_

(88/C 214/07)

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,

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

Whereas the framework programme of Community
activities in the field of research and technological
development (1987 to 1991) was adopted by Council
Decision 87/516/Euratom/EEC ( [2] ),

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 the Council Decision 85/195/EEC ( [3] ) introduced
a multiannual research and training 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 revised as from its
second year of implementation;

Whereas the re-examination which has been untertaken

and whose conclusions 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 to the objective assigned to it;

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

(') OJ No C 15, 20. 1. 1988, p. 13.
( [2] ) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1.
( [3] ) OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 1.

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

Whereas the area of bio-informatics requires 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 of the Community, 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 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;

No C 214/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 8. 88

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_ 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.

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.