Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

23. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 298/17

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technological development
programme in the field of marine science and technology

_COM(88) 587 final — SYN 162_

_(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 4 November 1988)_

(88/C 298/07)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 1302 (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 Article 130 k of the Treaty provides that the
framework programme shall be implemented through
specific programmes developed within each activity;

Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC ('), the
Council has adopted a framework programme of
Community research and technological development
(1987 to 1991), providing _inter alia_ for activities in
exploitation of the seabed and use of marine resources;

Whereas, for the selection of Community actions, the
framework programme sets out criteria including that of
contributing to the strengthening of economic and social
cohesion of the Community, consistent with the pursuit
of scientific and technical quality;

Whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 10
October 1986 ( [2] ) stresses the necessity for cooperation,
coordination and complementarity of national policies in
the field of oceanography and recommends that the
Commission undertake a number of actions to that effect
under the framework programme;

Whereas other Community programmes (e.g. environmental protection, climatology and natural hazards,
fisheries, technological development in the hydrocarbons
sector, non-nuclear energy and some activities of the
JRC) have a bearing on topics in marine science and
technology, but none are directed specifically at marine
research;

Whereas in the present context of expanding industrialization, increasing pressure is being placed on the marine
and especially the coastal environment;

(') OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1.
O OJ No C 283, 10. 11. 1986, p. 104.

Whereas it is widely recognized that a good knowledge
base and reliable predictive techniques are essential for
long term management and protection strategies for the
marine environment;

Whereas to achieve these objectives much can be gained
from effective coordination of the research programmes
of the Member States and joint execution of European
projects in marine science and technology;

Whereas participation by certain European non-member
States in a Community R & D programme in marine
science and technology would be beneficial;

Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research
Committee (Crest) has been consulted on the following

measures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION

_Article 1_

A specific research and technological development
programme for the European Economic Community in
the field of marine science and technology, as defined in
the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of three years,
starting on

_Article 2_

The amount deemed necessary for the execution of the
programme is 50 million ECU, including expenditure on
a staff of 13.

_Article 3_

Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme
and the rate of the Community's financial participation
are set out in the Annex.

_Article 4_

1. In the second year of the programme implementation, the Commission shall undertake a review of the
programme and it shall report to the Council and the
European Parliament on the results thereof, together, if
necessary, with any proposals for modification of
prolongation.

2. An evaluation of the results achieved shall be
conducted by the Commission, which shall report
thereon to the Council and the European Parliament.

No C 298/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 11. 88

3. The abovementioned reports shall be established
having regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to
this Decision and in conformity with the provisions of
Article 2 (2) of Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC.

_Article_ 5

1. The Commission shall be responsible for the
execution of the programme and shall be assisted in its
implementation by a Management and Coordination
Advisory Committee (CGC), which shall be set up in
accordance with the provisions laid down in Council
Decision 84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC ('), and called
the MAST Committee.

2. The contracts entered into by the Commission shall
regulate the rights and obligations of each party,
including the methods of disseminating, protecting and
exploiting the research results.

(') OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25.

_ANNEX_

_Article 6_

1. The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate,
in accordance with Article 130 N of the Treaty,
agreements with non-member States and international
organizations, in particular with those countries participating in European cooperation in the field of scientific
and technological research (COST), and those having
concluded framework agreements in scientific and
technical cooperation with the Community with a view
to associating them wholly or partly with the

programme.

2. Where framework agreements for scientific and
technical cooperation between non-member States and
the European Communities have been concluded, organizations and enterprises established in those countries
may participate in a project undertaken within this

programme.

_Article 7_

This Deciiion is addressed to the Member States.

R & D PROGRAMME ON MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST)

I. Objectives

The objectives of the MAST programme are:

— to contribute to better knowledge of the marine environment, especially of European coastal and
regional seas (including the NE Atlantic), in order to improve their management and protection and to
predict change,

— to encourage the development of new technologies for the exploration, protection and exploitation of
marine resources (with the exception of fisheries, hydrocarbons and renewable energy, which are
addressed by other Community programmes),

— to improve coordination and cooperation amongst national marine R & D programmes in the Member
States, and to help increase the effectiveness of these programmes through better use of research
facilities,

— to strengthen industrial competitiveness in the relevant sectors,

— to provide the technical basis for, and encourage the development of, common norms, standards and
design guidelines, in view of the completion of the internal market in 1992,

— to assist European participation in worldwide ocean programmes,

— to facilitate training and exchange of personnel.

The programme comprises four main headings:

— Basic and applied marine science

— Coastal zone science and engineering

— Marine technology

— Supporting initiatives.

23. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 298/19

II. Contents

PART I —BASIC AND APPLIED MARINE SCIENCE

1. Modelling

1.1. Continental shelf and regional seas

1.2. Coastal waters

1.3. Ecosystem models

1.4. Modelling coordination

2. Oceanography

2.1. Circulation and exchange of water masses

2.2. Biogeochemical cycles and fluxes

2.3. Interface and boundary processes

2.4. Biological processes

2.5. Sedimentary processes

PART II — COASTAL ZONE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

1. Coastal morphodynamics

2. Coastal ecosystems

3. Meteomarine predictions

4. Coastal engineering

PART III — MARINE TECHNOLOGY

1. Instrumentation for science

2. Generic enabling technologies

3. Design aspects of large scale facilities

4. Studies on the outlook for the 1990s

PART IV — SUPPORTING INITIATIVES

1. European ocean data and information network

2. Research vessel and heavy equipment coordination

3. Advanced training

4. Surveying for resource evaluation

5. Preparation of norms and standards

6. Marine polar research, marine geoscientific lithospheric research

III. Implementation

The programme shall be implemented by means of (i) shared-cost research contracts, (ii) coordination
activities (including concerted action), (iii) supporting initiatives, (iv) study contracts, and (v) training and
exchange of staff.

The programme is open to universities, research organizations and industrial companies, including small
and medium-sized entreprises, individuals, or any combination thereof established in the Community.
Shared-cost projects involving research centres (and/or universities) and industry are particularly welcome,
and mandatory for Part III, Marine technology. In general projects must involve participants from more
than one Member State.

The association and involvement of non-member States, international and national organizations shall be
founded on the criterion of mutual advantage. In the case of organizations and enterprises established in
EFTA countries suitable arrangements shall be made on a case by case basis.

For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will generally be 50 % of the total expenditure, but
this percentage may be varied according to the nature and the stage of development of the research. In
respect of universities and research institutes carrying out projects, the Community may bear up to 100 %
of the additional expenditure involved.