Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

No C 106 / 12 Official Journal of the European Communities 27 . 4 . 92

Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation
Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland on a
research and technological development programme in the field of renewable raw materials :

forestry and wood products ( including cork ), Forest I 1 )

( 92 / C 106 / 06 )

On 23 December 1991 the Council, acting in pursuance of Article 130 Q(2 ) of the Treaty
establishing the European Economic Community, asked the Economic and Social Committee
for an Opinion on the abovementioned proposal .

The Committee instructed its Section for Energy, Nuclear Questions and Research to prepare
its work on the matter . The Section drew up its Opinion on 4 March 1992 . The Rapporteur
was Mr Noordwal .

At its 295th Plenary Session held on 25 and 26 March 1992 ( meeting of 25 March ) the
Committee adopted the following Opinion by a unanimous vote .

1 . Introduction

1.1 . By its Decision of 20 November 1989 ( 2 ) the
Council adopted a ' specific research and technological
development programme of the European Community
in the fields of raw materials and recycling ( 1990-1992 )'.
The aims of this programme are :

— to enhance the competitive position of the Com ­

munity 's industries involved with raw materials and
recycling,

— to encourage transfrontier collaboration in strategic

industrial research,

— to encourage the transfer of technology between

Member States and between sectors, particularly
those with a predominance of small and medium ­
sized enterprises,

— to promote overall excellence in the field of raw

materials and recycling, thereby promoting econ ­
omic and social cohesion in the Community .

1.2 . The Community 's programme comprises four
sub-programmes with a total budget of ECU 45 million
allocated as follows ( ECU million ):

1 . primary raw materials : 21,

2 . recycling of non-ferrous and strategic metals : 6,

3 . renewable raw materials [ forestry and wood prod ­
ucts ( including cork )] ( Forest ): 12,

4 . recycling of waste ( Reward ): 6 .

1.3 . Article 8 of the Council Decision authorizes
the Commission to negotiate, in accordance with
Article 130 N of the Treaty, agreements with, among
others, non-EC European countries having concluded

framework agreements in scientific and technical coop ­
eration with the Community, with a view to their
being associated with the programme . The cooperation
agreements are, however, only applicable to those parts
of the programme relating to renewable raw materials,
forestry and wood products, and the recycling of waste .

1.4 . Such a framework agreement has been con ­
cluded with Finland in accordance with the Council
Decision of 9 February 1987 ( 3 ).

1.5 . The present proposal for a decision aims to
secure the approval of the cooperation agreement nego ­
tiated between the Community and Finland, with a view
to involving the latter in the Forest sub-programme .

1.6 . The draft agreement, which is appended to the
proposal for a Council Decision, covers :

— A financial contribution from Finland for the fund ­

ing of ( a ) the work to be carried out in the frame ­
work of research contracts and ( b ) the management
and administrative operating expenditure for the
Forest sub-programme . This financial contribution
of ECU 280 423 is in proportion to Finland 's Gross
Domestic Product .

— The entitlement of persons and research bodies

from Finland to submit research proposals and to
conclude corresponding research contracts with the
Commission .

— The establishment of a Cooperation Committee

with representatives from the Community and Fin ­
land, to ensure proper implementation of the agree ­
ment, coordination and the exchange of information
on the development of the Forest sub-programme,
the Cooperation Committee will adopt its own rules
of procedure .

— The conditions for renegotiating or terminating the

agreement .

(') OJ No C 316, 6 . 12 . 1991, p . 4 .
( 2 ) OJ No L 359, 9 . 12 . 1989 . p . 16 . ( 3 ) OJ No L 71, 14 . 3 . 1987, p. 29 .

27 . 4 . 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 106 / 13

2 . Observations

2.1 . The Committee endorses the proposal for a
Council Decision .

2.2 . Furthermore, the Committee would refer to the
observations set out in points 2.2 to 2.5 of its

Done at Brussels, 25 March 1992 .

Opinion ( 1 ), issued in parallel with the present Opinion,
on the proposal for a Council Decision on the con ­
clusion of a similar cooperation agreement with
Sweden ( 2 ).

(') Doc . ESC 359 / 92 .

( 2 ) OJ No C 316, 6 . 12 . 1991, p. 10 .

The Chairman

of the Economic and Social Committee

Michael GEUENICH

Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation
Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Sweden on a
research and technological development ( R&TD ) programme in the fields of renewable raw
materials : forestry and wood products ( including cork ), ' Forest ' and the recycling of waste,

' Reward ' (*)

( 92 / C 106 / 07 )

On 19 December 1991 the Council, acting in pursuance of Article 130 Q(2 ) of the Treaty
establishing the European Economic Community, asked the Economic and Social Committee
for an Opinion on the abovementioned proposal .

The Committee instructed its Section for Energy, Nuclear Questions and Research to prepare
its work on the matter . The Section drew up its Opinion on 4 March 1992 . The Rapporteur
was Mr Noordwal .

At its 295th Plenary Session held on 25 and 26 March 1992 ( meeting of 25 March ) the
Committee adopted the following Opinion by a unanimous vote .

1 . Introduction

1.1 . By its Decision of 20 November 1989 ( 2 ) the
Council adopted a ' specific research and technological
development programme of the European Economic
Community in the fields of raw materials and recycling

( 1990-1992 )'. The aims of this programme are :

— to enhance the competitive position of the Com ­

munity 's industries involved with raw materials and
recycling,

— to encourage transfrontier collaboration in strategic

industrial research,

— to encourage the transfer of technology between

Member States and between sectors, particularly
those with a predominance of small and medium ­
sized enterprises,

of raw materials and recycling, thereby promoting
economic and social cohesion in the Community .

1.2 . The Community 's programme comprises four
sub-programmes with a total budget of ECU 45 million
allocated as follows ( ECU million ):

1 . primary raw materials : 21,

2 . recycling of non-ferrous and strategic metals : 6,

3 . renewable raw materials [ forestry and wood prod ­

ucts ( including cork )] ( Forest ): 12,

4 . recycling of vvasie ( Reward ): 6 .

1.3 . Article 8 of the Council Decision authorized the
Commission to negotiate, in accordance with Article

— to promote overall scientific excellence in the field 130 N of the Treaty, agreements with, among others,

non-EC European countries having concluded frame ­
(M OJ No C 316, 6 . 12 . 1991, p . 10 . work agreements in scientific and technical cooperation
( 2 ) OJ No L 3.59, 8 . 12 . 1989, p . 16 . with the Community, with a view to their being associ ­