CELEX: 51978PC0307
Language: en
Date: 1978-06-30
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION reviewing the second multiannual research and development programme for the European Economic Community in the environmental field (indirect action) adopted by Decision 76/311/EEC (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (78) 307
Vol. 1978/0110
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 ---pagebreak---            COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                                    COM(78)307 final.
                                                                    Brussels , 30 June 1978
                                          PROPOSAL FOR A
                                        COUNCIL DECISION
              reviewing the second multiannual research and development programme
                                  for the European Economic Community
                              in the environmental field ( indirect action )
                                    adopted by Decision 76 / 311 / EEC
                           ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission )
C 02.1(78 ) 307 final
 ---pagebreak---                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  '                  Page .
  I.  Introduction                                    3
            Ν          -             --
 II . Implementation of phase one of the programme    3
III . Proposed revision for phase two of    „         6
      programme
         A. Programme content      ,                  6
         B. Total funding                -           15 -
         C. Implementation                           16
List of concerted research actions                   18
Annex i   : Opinion of the Advisory Committee        20
Annex II    Draft Council Decision                 . 22
 ---pagebreak---    PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON THE REVISION OF THE
             " SECOND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME
                 . - ( INDIRECT ACTION ) - 1976-1980
  INTRODUCTION
  The Second Environmental Research Programme ( indirect action ) was
  decided by the Council of Ministers on 15 March 1976 ( O.J.n° L 74 / 36
  of 20.3.76 ) for a five-year period ( 1976-80 ) with a EEC budget of 16
  Mua . It includes four research areas :
  1.     Research aimed at the establishment of criteria , i.e. exposure-
         effect relationships for pollutants with regard to human health
         and the environment ;              '
  2 . - Research and development on environmental information management ,
       - essentially on environmental chemicals ( ECDIN project ) ;
  3 . - Research and development on the reduction and prevention of
         pollution and nuisances ( including application of " clean"
         technologies ) ;
  4 .,   Research and development concerning the protection of the
         natural environment .
  Each one of these areas is subdivided into a number of topics and
  subtopi cs .     •                                                            ,
  Article 4 of the Council Decision provided for a review and possible
  revision of the programme to take effect at the beginning of 1978 ,
  in order to adapt the programme to developments in research require­
  ments and to the needs of the new Action Programme of the European
  Communities on the environment .
  Accordingly , the programme was subdivided into two phases . The first '
  phase was implemented with some delay due to the fact thatthe Council
  Decision took' place only on 15 March 1976 and that the very large num- _____
, ber of research proposals received afterwards required much t ime to be
 "examined . Consequently most research contracts , which were limited to
~a maximum duration^ of two years , did not start until early .1977. committing
  funds until the end of 1978 . The revision of the programme ,, therefore ,
  cannot he implprnentpri effectively b^fnre Jrnuary 1979 .       ;
   IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE ONE' - OF THE " PROGRAMME
  A call for tenders was published - in the Official Journal of the
  European Communities, on 3 April 1976 , setting the deadline of 30
  June 1976 for the submission of proposals . A total of 732~proposals
  were received of which 145 were from the Federal Republic of Germany, 235
  from France , 60 from Italy ,.. 78 from the Netherlands , 47 from Belgium ,
  1 from Luxemburg , 127 from the United Kingdom , 16 from Ireland and
  23 from Denmark .                                '
 ---pagebreak---                                    >  A -
  The funds solli cited in the proposals , adjusted for the duration of phase
  one , totalled 106,769,048 u.a . whereas only 7,425,000 u.a . were available
  for cost-sharing contracts .
 An arduous task of selection         had to be fulfilled , which took 6
 months and 6 meetings of the         Advisory Committee on Programme
 Management for Environmental         Research ( ACPM ). As a result , many sound
 proposals had to be rejected         or reduced considerably because of          :
  funding limitations .
  Eventually 202 projects were financed for a total of 7,463,920 u.a .
  Following the recommendation of the ACPIVabout 80 % of total funding
  has been allocated to research areas 1 and 2 . Funding breakdown
 per topic , up to 31 December 1978 , is as follows :                 *
  RESEARCH AREA 1     ( Exposure-effect relationships )
        Topic 11 ( Heavy Metals )                . _              1,374,000
        Topic 12 ( Organic mi cropol lutants ) and
               14 ( New chemicals ) combined .            ~       1,071,269
        Topic 13 ( Asbestos and Fibers )                            177,051
        Topic 15 CAir Quality )                                     863,200   '
        Topic 16 ( Water Quality )                                  963,300
        Topic 17 ( Waste Heat )                     -               159,000 ,
        Topic 18 ( Marine Pollution , including                     663,236
                    EURASEP )
        Topic 19 ( Noise )                                          511,000
                                                                . 5,782,056
  RESEARCH ARE A 2      ( ECDIN )     •  .                          376,720
  RESEARCH AREA 3 -     (Pollution abatement )                .     374,000
  RESEARCH AREA 4       ( Protection of the natural               '916,544
                          envi ronment, including ozone
                          depletion )          >
  Additional contribution to contracts 1st Progr .                   14,600
                                                 Total            7,463,920
   Criteria for the selection of proposals were those recognized for
  the first programme , i.e. relevance to research programme and to
- environmental . policy , scientific quality, possibility of coordination
  with other projects in the indirect and direct actions *, prospects
  of success , and cost . Some priority was granted to those proposals
      The current direct-action programme ( 1977-80 ) carried out at the
      Ispra establishment of the Joint Research Centre , includes four
      main projects ( air , water , chemicals , natural resources ).
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 5 -
 which a ) -were the follow-up of promising research undertaken in the first
programme , ( e.g. screening tests for genetic effects of chemicals ) b ) would
 lead to cooperatiyeprojects involving research organizations in several
member states ( e.g. water quality and health , EURASEP ( European Association
of Scientists for Experiments on Pollution ) project on remote sensing of
 coastal water quality , ozone shield depletion ).
An increased effort is also being made to enhance the coordination of
Community-sponsored envi ronmenta I - research ( direct and indirect actions )
and national research programmes in the same field.'      The various contact groups
set up during the first programme have renewed their activities and several new
ones have been created . An attempt was made to coordinate all publicly
funded , research in a specialized field , that of ozone shield depletion . A
series of research seminars ( each one to be organised jointly with a member'
state agency ) have been planned on various topics'of current interest to
environmental policy * Their aim-is to review work on hand in the member
states and at Community level , define present and future research require­
ments and promote coordinated planning of national and Community research
programmes .                                               ,
The first such research seminar took place in Berlin ( West ) on 7th to
9th December 1977 . Sponsored by the Commission and the Umweltbundesamtr its
main purpose , which was fulfilled , was to review research needs for the
ecological testing of chemicals in relation to the future implementation
of a Community Directive on the notification of new chemicals to be
marketed ( O.J.'C 260 of 5 November 1976 ).
The second seminar , scheduled for July 1978 in Guildford , UK , and co-sponsored
by the UK Department of the Environment and Department of Health and Social
Security , will deal with the health effects and pathways to man of trace
metals .    .                        . . '
Parallel to these activities , the evaluation of the results* from the first
Environmental Research Programme ( indirect action ) is progressively being
carried out . For instance , data obtained on lead toxicity have been reviewed
by an independant expert and their applicability to Community directives
assessed**..
Thus it may be stated that the last two years have seen a broad development
of the endeavour initiated in 1973 to coordinate environmental research
throughout the Community , by means of joint funding of projects , concerted
research actions , joint evaluation of results and planning of future work , and
that this was made possible through the increased involvement of the ACPM
members in this enterprise .
Even though the results of the research undertaken during the first phase of
the actual programme are , for obvious reasons , not yet final , it has been
possible to derive from them some indication with regard to parts of the
programme which should undergo a modification in the second phase . Further­
more , the progress in implementing the European Community policy on the
environment suggests the addition of few new topics .
*     A volume of final reports on research carried out during the First
    , Envi ronmenta I Research Programme is available . Doc . EUR 5970 , 1978 ,
**    The report " Evaluation of EEC-sponsored research . in view of Community 's ~
      Directives : biological effects of inorganic lead", was prepared by an
   < expert , on the basis of results of contract research concerning' one topic
      of the First Environmental Research Programme- ( in press ).
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 6 -
 III .     PROPOSED REVISION FOR PHASE TWO OF PROGRAMME
            In proposing a revision for the second phase of the programme
           the following questions may be addressed :                             •
                  - to what extent should the content of the programme be
                    modified to take account of current research requirements ?
                  " is the total level of funding adequate or should -it be
                    increased ? .        r   . •                  ,             .
                  - how should the second phase be implemented in terms of
                    project definition , submission of proposals and selection
                    criteria ?
           These points are discussed hereafter under tiie headings A * Programme
           Content , B. Total Funding , C. Implementation .
A.         PROGRAMME    CONTENT
           The programme as a whole and its general motivation , as described
           in the communication from the Commission to the Council
           ( Doc . COM ( 75 ) 353 final ) are still considered as valid : in
           general , continued support should be given to research in all the_
           topics now covered by contracts . However , examination of current
           trends in the environmental field , at national and Community
           level , has led the Commission services , after consulting the
           ACPM to propose that ( a ) greater emphasis be given to certain
        ' topics for which research is. already funded ; ( b ) several new
           topics be introduced ; ( c ) shifts . of emphasis be effected within
           some topics ; ( d ) support be somewhat reduced for a few topics or
           subtopi cs .
           Specific proposals are given in the following review of the detailed
           programme , in which topics and subtopics are described as in
           Doc .  COM ( 75 ) 353 final .
1 .        RESEARCH AREA 1 - Research aimed at the establishment of criteria
           ( exposure-effect relationships ) for pollutants with regard to their
           effects on health and on the , environment ..
1.1 .    ' Heavy metals                             \
1.1.1 . methodology of monitoring metal contamination , especially in the
           marine environment ,
1.1.2 . fate and transformation in the environment , with emphasis on
           physico-chemical state , sediment-wster distribution and models ,
           or descriptive parameters , of transport in water                        • „
1.1.3 . experimental research on direct and indirect health effects , with
           emphasis on metabolism , late and chronic manifestations and
           synergistic effects
1.1.4 . application of screening tests for late and chronic effects to a
           series of heavy metals , alone and in combination
1.1.5' . ecological effects in continental and marine environments ,
           including base-line studies and methodological aspects .
 ---pagebreak---            E£2earch_0£2entat ions_and_ob ij_ect ives_for_1         '■ /
           Further research on health effects should include the study of
           pathways to man through food water and airland on metabolism of
           metals which are given priority in the E.C. Action , Programme for
           the Environment ( e.g ; Pb , Cd , Hg , Cr , V , As ). The results of such
           research will be used to update , . if already existing , or. prepare
        : those documents *, called in general criteria documents , which are
           necessary as a scientific basis for Directives or for any             ;
           measure decided at Community level to protect public health . The
           documents deal with the relationships between exposure/ dose and
           health effects of pollutants .
           Research on environmental effects of metals provide data which will
           be used , in an analogous manner , to draft ecological criteria document
           £yndlD2_9£222§2i : because of a relatively larga support during the
           first phase , support for second phase might be slightly reduced .
1.2"...' Organic micropol lutants and 1.4 . New Chemicals .
1 .2 .1 . detection and measurement in water ( to be carried out as concerted
           action , .     follow-up of COST Project n° 64b , see pages 18-19 )
1.2.2 . fate of organo-chlorine and organo-f luorine ( freons ) compounds
           in the environment ( moved to topic 4.1 .)
1.2.3 ., experimental research on metabolism and effects in mammalian - ...
         ' systems in order to . assess risks to human health derived from
           overalt exposure to mi cropollutants ( see also point 1.6.3.)'
1.2.4 . ecologi cat . effects in terrestrial , freshwater and marine environ- ,
           ments             .   _
1.2.5 . development of screening methodology- to assess late and chronic
           effects ( in particular carcinogenicity , mutagenicity , teratogenicity ).
           * 1 ) Annex 1 to Directive 77 / 312 / EEC of 29 March 1977 " Biological
                 screening of the population for lead " ( O.J. L 105 , 28 April
                 1977 )
             2 ) Report prepared by a Working Group of experts for the C.E.C.
                 " Criteria for Cadmium" ( EUR-5967 , Pergamon Press 1978 ) -
             3 ) idem for mercury ( in press )
             4 ) Directive under discussion by the Council concerning the . air
                 quality standard for atmospheric lead ( Q.J. C 151 of 7 July
                 1975 ).       - .       .   -
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 8 -
                                                          χ                »
   Researc h orientations and ob ject iyes_for_1 .2 . and_1 . 4 . "
_ The Commission has submitted to the Council on 21 September 1976
   a proposal for a 6th amendment of the Directive of 27 June 1967
   on dangerous substances *. This amendment aims at introducing a
   notification procedure for " new chemicals " ( this term is meant
              to cover also chemicals already on the market , if their
  pattern of use or the quantities produced change significantly ).
  Producers or importers will have to submit a base set of data on , among
  other things a ) physico-chemical properties , b ) toxic effects , including
  mutagenicity, c ) ecological effects and d ) biotic and abiotic degra­
   dability and bioaccumulation .
                i             '                       %■
   It is expected that , as a function of toxic properties and / or
   quantity produced , -the base set will have to be complemented for many     •
   chemicals by further , more comprehensive testing ( Vstufenp lan ") .
   On the . other hand , a draft Directive on the control , of certain industrial
 - activities at present in elaboration , will probably require similar
   information on intermediary products , impurities and other by­
   products formed during the manufacturing process .-
   For the implementation of these regulations , an appropriate methodology will
   have to be established , in order to permit industry to comply with
   these requirements . In view of their importance in the regulatory process ,
   these methods have to be carefully evaluated .
   Consequently , the current research activities on the assessment of the
   impact of synthetic chemicals on health and the environment .will
   be expanded .                                The research needs in the
   field of physico-chemical properties , degradabi I ity , accumulation and
   ecological effects of chemicals identified at the research seminar ,
   organised by the Commission of the European Communities and the Umwelt-
   bundesamt , held in Berlin in December 1977 will be taken account of
   under point 1.2.4 . Under point 1.2.5 . the on-going effort on the develop­
   ment of screening tests for genetic effects ( mutagentcity, carcinogentcity )-
    will be amplified and a thorough evaluation of these tests will be
   attempted .                               \              ■ '
    Due consideration will be given also to assess the feasibility of
    correlating structure and physico-chemical properties of'chemicals
   with their effects and their behaviour in the environment .           ,
   Continuous attention should also be paid to pathways of organic
   mi cropollutants to man , via food, water and air .
    Funding grogosal : support should be substantially increased.
• *    O.J.     C 260 / 4 of 5 November 1976
 ---pagebreak---                                              - 9 -
 1.3 .       Asbestos
 1 . 3.1 . improvement of analytical methods
 1.3.2 . epidemiological surveys
1.3.3 . experimental research on effects
                                         i
            Resear ch orient at ions and objectives for 1 . 3 .
             In response to increasing concern about asbestos and other Fibres
             in the general and working environment , research in this field mill
            stress studies on detection and quantitative determination / on pathways
            to man , as well as experimental research on effects and epidemiological
            surveys . It will not be limited to asbestos but consider other
            inorganic fibres as well ,.
            The European Parliament in its Resolution of 16th December 1977*
            has also strongly recommended further research into dose / effect
            relationships for asbestos .
            Detailed research requirements wi 1 1 be determined with the aid of
            experts on the basis of the Commission 's report "Public Health
            Risks of Exposure to Asbestos "**.
            £yD^IDa_EE2E2iii : Support should be substantially increased          -
1.4 .    ,  New Chemicals : see 1.2 .
1 .5 .      Air quality         -                    *
1.5.1 . testing and application of remote sensing methods for the measurements
            of air pollutants ( execution of joint field campaigns ),
1.5.2 . improvement of dispersion models for air pollutants in connection •
            with field campaigns         ~
            Research orientation s and objectives for 1.5.1 . _and 1 . 5.2 .
            Instruments developed -during the first programme and the first
            phase of the 2nd programme have been tested in joint field
             campaigns ( 1975 , 1976 , 1977 ) around major sources of air pollution .
            These should be repeated in different pollution situations , possibly
             in conjunction with epidemiological surveys and with Concerted
             Action        ( see 1.5.3 . and 1.5 . 4 .), in order to assess the applicability
            of these techniques in monitoring pollution .
             *.  O.J , C 6 / 138 of 9 . January 1978
           **Report-EUR 5653e , Pergamon Press , 1977
 ---pagebreak---                                                 - 10 -
               Developments of new instrumentation for remote sensing of air pollution
               should be continously followed and assessed by the contact group, . inclu­
               ding the JRC scientists working on . this subject .
               £yi]ding_grogosal : Level of support could be slightly decreased . -
   1.5.3 . physico-chemical conversion of atmospheric pollutants :                to be
               carried-out as Concerted Action             ' ( follow-up of COST project
               61a, see pages 18-19 )
   1.5.4 . epidemiological surveys
               5£sear ch_or i ent at ions_and_ob j^ct i ves_f or 1.5.4 .
               The results of the epidemiological survey on the relationship between
               SO- and suspended particulate matter and respiratory disease in
               children , conducted, in the framework of the 1st Environmental Research
               Programme , could be hette.r interpreted if additional information on
              health effects of air pollutants were available.. Useful additional data
  -           coul «^ be obtained by means . of another epidemiological survey conducted
              in two or a maximum of three representative study areas . The working
'   ;      ' programme , not necessari ly .the same as that of the first survey, might
              require measurements of additional air pollutants . ( e.g. NO ), an enlarge­
              ment of population, groups , i.e. inclusion of adults and the use of more
        . than one met"hod to detect lung function . impairment .
              The data obtained would have application in updating or formulating
              Directives * on air quality .
   1.5.5 . experimental research on effects of air pollutants in mammalian
              systems : to be pursued : see also 1.1.3 . and 1.3.3 .
   1.5.6 . field and experimental research on effects of air pollution on
         . vegetation especially on invisible damage ( growth reduction ) .
              Additional contracts as well as . a coordination of on-going
              research in the member states could be envisaged to complement
              the few existing contracts in this area as welt as work carried out at
              the Joint Research Centre . Emphasis should be placed on " epidemiological "
              stLjdies under field conditions , if their feasibility can be ascer­
              tained . An ad hoc expert group will be called to determine detailed
              research needs . The objective is to obtain supplementary information
              needed to set up quality objectives in this area , especially with
              regard to interaction between air pollutants in their effects on
          - plants .                                                       "
            ■ Funding ££2E°S a i : Moderate increase in support.
  1.6 .       Water quality
  1.6.1 . improvement of characterization of water quality in relation to
              the implementation of the 1975 Council Directive ** concerning the
              quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction
              of drinking water in the member states .                .  -
              * e.g.     A Resolution and a Directive under discussion are concerned
                 with 1 ) the determination of criteria and 2 ) the health protection
                 standards for SO'., and suspended particulate - matter in urban atmos­
                 phere ( O.J. C 63 /76 of 19 March 1976 )
            ** O.J. L. 194 of 25 July 1975
 ---pagebreak---                                                 - 11
 1 - 6.2 . epidemiologi cal surveys on relations between water quality and
           health parameters                               v     '
1.6.3 . experimental research on health effects and water characteristics
1.6.4 . microbiological pollution
1.6.5 . assessment of risks resulting from newly identified pollutants
           including those resulting from treatment for the preparation
           of drinking water
           Information on the relationship between the health status of selected
           population groups and trace substances ( e.g. heavy metals , organic
           mi cropol lutants ) in the drinking water they consume is needed
           especially in view of measures to be adopted at Community level
           concerning the quality of drinking water . on the basis of present
           or future Directives *. The 5 epidemiological surveys ( 1.6.2 .)
           initiated in 1977 during the first phase of the present programme
           probably will be extended for an additional year . -Work under points
           1 . 6.1 . and .1 . 6.4 ; wi 11. be pursued . Special emphasis should be given
           to the assessment of risks under point 1.6.3 . and 1.6.5 . in relation
           to point 1.2 . , in particular 1.2.1 . on the analysis of organic ,
           micropol lutants in water
           £yQ^i02_E£2£2§2i - Level- of support to be approximatly maintained .
1.7 .      Waste heat ( thermal pollution )          .       v           ...
           The advisability of coordinating national research in this area
           under a concerted action will be assessed .                                .
         . £idQ£!iQS-EE2E2sai : the current effort may be maintained
1 .8 .     Marine pollution                                    ■   , ■
1.8.1 . development of methodology for monitoring sea water quality along
           the coasts and in the estuaries of the Community
1.8.2 . R & D in chemical and biological sensors for pollution monitoring
1.8.3 . research in situ and under controlled conditions on the effects
           of pollutants ( heavy metals , organic pollutants , hydrocarbons )
           on marine life, including base-line studies and the identification
           and use of bio-indicators .
            1 ) Council Directive concerning the quality of surface water intended
                 for the abstraction of drinking water in the member* states of
                 16 June 1975 , O.J. - L 194 / 26 . of. 25 July.1975
            2 ) A Directive is under discussion by the Council concerning the
                 quality of water for human consumption ( O.J. C 214 of
                 18 September 1975 ).
 ---pagebreak---                                                  - 12 -
            5£§£2££lL2£liQ£3t2ons_and_ob;iecti ves for 1.8 .
            Work should be actively pursued and expanded on the effects of
            pollution of all kinds in the marine environment . A special
            effort should be made to . study hydrocarbon pollution ( including      -
            degradation by bacteria , applications thereof and possible
             secondary effects of bacterial degradation products ) in view of measures
            to be adopted at Community level* following the recent major accidents .
            With regard to possible research to be sponsored in the Mediterranean
            envi ronment ," care will be exercised to insure coordination with
            the UNEP programme in that area .           -
            The information obtained is to be used in the definition of quality objectives
            and for emission standards in relation to Resolutions / Directives etc .**
            £yQ£!ln9_E!ro|20sal : Substantial increase in effort *
            Note that     :
            a ) the EURASEP ( European Association of Scientists for Experiments on
       .'        Pollution ) project will be continued ( NIMBUS-G satellite due to be
                 launched in late 1978 ), additional funding is contingent on the results
                 of OCS ( Ocean Colour Scanner ) - Experiment 77    -
            b ) coastal-base line studies might be initiated as the result of current
          ;      discussions in the framework of COST' activities ( COST, project 47)
                                                            • •                *
1 .9 .      Noi se pol lut ion                                                            •
1.9.1 , epidemiological survey on noise and sleep disturbances and _
            psychological performances
        * 2®search_orientat ions_and_obj; ectives^for^l^^l
            The pilot phase ( 77-78 ) results should be partly available by .               "
            mid-1978 and allow the identification of certain specific effects
         , to be studied further on enlarged samples of population .
            £yD^2D2_BE222S2i • Level of support unchanged .
1.9.2 . effects of vibrations and low frequency noises                    _
            and
1.9.3 . effects of short and impulse noises
      * e.g. Draft Council Resolution setting up an action programme of the
                  E.C. on the control and reduction of pollution caused by oil spills
                Vat , sea ( C0M(78 ) 184 final )
          ** 1 ) Council Resolution of 3 March 1975 concerning prevention of marine
                  pollution of terrestrial origin ( O.J. C 168 of 25 July . 1975 )
             2 ) Proposal for Directive on the quality requirements of water for .
                  shellfish culture ( O.J. C 283 of 30 November - 1976 )
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 13
          5£§§§££-_2£lSDl2£l2D§_IQd_22i££liy£S_I2r_ljs2ji2j_§D^_li2j:2A
          These two subtopics have not been funded in the first phase -
          although valuable research was proposed . An ad-hoc expert
          group should be called to recommend if and what research should
          be sponsored .                        .
          Funçhn2_ gro£Osal : modest support should be given .
2.        RESEARCH AREA 2 ( Environmental Information Management ) ECDIN
          Implementation of the 6th amendment to the 1967 Directive on
          dangerous substances *     will require a system to store and
          retrieve the data submitted in the notification procedure for ,
          new chemicals ( see Research orientations and objectives for
          1.2 . and 1.4 .) taking into account the confidential character
          of some data . Other directives and draft Directives , such as those
          pertaining to toxic and dangerous washes ** and the control
          of certain industrial activities ( in preparation ) will also
          necessitate the collection and handling of large amounts of
          data on chemicals .
          ECDIN is suited to fulf i 1 1 this function and may become an
          operational network in the future. It will have to establish
          working relationships with other information systems outside
          the EC ( US and UNEP, United Nations Envi ronmentaL Programme ) .
          In view of the future need of such a Community information
          system , the current research effort should be maintained at
          the JRC and in the indirect action .                         '    .
          Fundinc[_|Dro20sal : the present level of funding should be maintained .
3.    . ' RESEARCH AREA 3
3.1 .     Water pollution abatement
3.1.1 . Advanced biological and physico-chemical treatment of waste water
          Research oHent at.ions_and_ob¿ect2ves_for_3 J.1 ,. 2¿
          In view of the implementation of Directives on the reduction of
          pollution in the aquatic environment and on drinking water there
          is a need to test the performance of advanced water treatment
          methods and the relevance of existing parameters to test the .
          effectiveness of treatment . In addition , a review of national R & 0
          activities in this field should be made to ascertain whether a
          concerted action should be     launched , taking into account existing
          international efforts .              /
3.1.2 . Treatment and utilization of sewage sludges : ( carried-out as
          Concerted Action ' " • . follow-up of COST project 68, see pages 18-19 )
           *    O.J , C 260 of 5 November 1976
           **   Q.J. t 194 of 19 August 1976
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                   • %
                                             - -14 - •
3.2 .          Waste disposai : envi ronmental implications
               no change
fyQd2ng_groeosaJ._for_Research_Area_3 : About 10% of avai table funds should be
allocated to this area .            Special attention - should be given to the possibi lity
of coordinating the development of clean technologies .
4.         .   RESEARCH AREA 4
                                                                                      •     f
4.1 .          Ecosystems ecology and biogeochemi cal cycles
               To be combined with 4.4 . Ecological consequences of land use planning
               and 4.5 . Ecological consequences of modern agricultural
               5Ê§ÊHC£D_2El§Q!iâ£22Q§_í!nd_ob;[eçti,ves for 4.1 _.
               The objectives are to predict the effects of environmental disturbances
               caused by man> and to provide the basis for sound management of
               the " natural " environment .                       '
               It is proposed to subdivide 4.1 . as follows :
4.1.1 . Ecosystems studies
               The Communities research effort should be intensified in View
          . of increasing concern with global environmental disturbances
             " and also of the need to improve environmental impact and
               assessment techniques . Besides basic ecological investigations
               on the function of ecosystems , supporting studies for the
               ecological cartography project of the Action Programme should
            ( be funded . A concerted action may also be envisaged .
4.1.2 . Ozone_shi e ld_deg_let2on
               There is still a considerable interest , and many questions still
               unanswered in . the field of ozone depletion research . Not all the           .
        -      reactions involved have been assessed , nor the physico-chemical
               factors that govern them . The relative contributions of various
               chemical species such as the nitrogen oxides are not yet clear .
      j        The coordination of on-going national research which has been
               effected will thus be pursued, taking into account the cooperation
               established in UNEP .
4.1.3 . COi accumulation                ■                   :■ ■
               The atmospheric concentration of- carbon dioxide has been steadily
               increasing since the beginning of the industrial _ era . As a
               consequence , there is a growing concern for its possible environ­
               mental impacts . CO 2 accumulation might have serious effects on climate ;
               its relevance to the overall carbon cycle deserves investigation ; its
               relation to fossil energy prpduction and deforestation problems
               i s evident .
               However , preliminary to any impact assessment study, research is
               needed in order to obtain precise data about sources , sinks , levels
 ---pagebreak--- and transfer rates between the various compartments of the
environment .                                                *
The national efforts will be reviewed in order to assess the
feasibility and advisabi lity of a Community-wide coordination
and possible cooperation with the important US programme in this
field .                  •                       *
£yQ^lQa_E£2E2§§J:      A substantial increase in funding is proposed
for 4.1 .
Reclamation of derelict      land                   •  .
^yQËlQa_Q£2E2§âi • Current effort to be maintained .
Applications of remote sensing techniques for the study of
environmental disturbances
                                  X •                    '            '
No contract research will be sponsored in view of the JRC projects
in t hi s area .                                                            '
Ecological consequences of land use planning : see 4.1 .
Ecological consequences of modern agriculture : see 4.1 .
Bird protection ( new point )' '
The future implementation of the Directive *, at present under discussion
by thex Council , on bird protection will require a research effort to cla
rify a number of points in population dynamics and habitat protection .
The Directive stipulates that research in this field should be coordina­
ted at Community level .                 ,
Fund2ng_grogosail : To be funded at modest level .
TOTAL FUNDING
The coordination of environmental research in the European Community .
which was initiated in 1973 should be progressively developed to ful-
fill in the most efficient manner the research needs of environmental -^-
policies at national       and Community , .level . _.
In the short term , i.e. untit the end of the 2nd Programme ( 1980 ), there
is a need , as stated above :
a ) to continue support at about the current levels for research on cer­
    tain topics      support for some topics should be somewhat reduced ;
b ) to expand substantially the current effort in several topics and
    to mount actions on new topics .                       •
     O.J. : C 24 of 1 February 1977
 ---pagebreak---   Consequently , it is proposed to increase the maximum amount of funds'
  allocated to the programme by 30 % nominally i.e. from 16 million
 units 6f account to an overall expenditure committments estimated at
 20.8 million European units of account .
 This would make over 10 million eua available for research contracts
  in 1979-80^ approximately half of which would be allocated to new
  research i.e. new topics or expansion in currently covered topics ,
  and half to the follow-up of current contracts , i.e. completion of
 projects underway and / or new orientations for research by the same
  contractors .                                                 .
  As far as the distribution of funds within the programme is concerned ,
  it will be determined by the Commission services in consultation with
  the ACPM , after examination of the proposals . The following guidelines
  are suggested :
  Research Area 1 : about 65-70 % of total funds for second phase
  ( 1979-80 )            .                        "
            1.1 .  Heavy metals : decreased funding in relation to .
                   1st phaSe                     ,    ;
            1.2 . and 1.4 . Organic mi cropol lutants
            and New Chemicals : substantial increase
            1.3 . Asbestos       : increase
            1.5 .  Air quality : modest increase
            1.6 .  Water quality : no change or slight decrease
            1 .7 . Waste heat    : no change -
            1.8 .  Marine pollution : substantial inerease ;
            1.9 .  Noise         : modest increase        v
. Research Area 2 : about 4 % of total funds : no change
  Research Area 3 : about 10 % of total funds : substantial increase • .
  Research Area 4 : about 15-20 % of total funds : substantial increase ..
  IMPLEMENTATION                         „
  The experience gained during the last few years , as well as the advice
  and guidance given by the ACPM have led the Commission services to
  the conclusion that the basic rules applied in managing the programme
  should be maintained but that certain aspects should be stressed .
  Thus :
  a ) Detailed research requirements for new parts of the programme should
      be determined as much as possible by ad hoc expert groups , prior to
      inviting proposals for participation, either through published calls
      for tenders or by direct contacts with qualified research organiza-
      tions .        \                              .
 ---pagebreak--- b ) Discussion of preliminary results takes *        place on the
     occasion of regular meetings of contractors working in
     related fields . This " contact group system" will be continued
   ' and strenghtened . Members of the ,      ACPM and
     independent, experts participate in such meetings during which
     the progress of the research work is evaluated and its
     scientific value assessed .
c ) More visits to contractors' laboratories will be made by Commission
     staff ( and ACPM members ,whenever possible ) to get better
     acquainted with research on hand .                - -
d ) The organi sation of research seminars and workshops covering Commu-:
     nity and non-Community research will , enable better consideration
     of the significance of results of contract research and to
     establish priorities for further research . The publication of the
     proceeding's will facilitate the dissemination of knowledge
     acquired also through Commission sponsored research .
e ) The evaluation of the results of contract research is effected
     on the basis of both preliminary and final reports submitted        -
     by project leaders . It required the analysis of such reports
     by the Commission services and . the ACPM and , wherever possible ,
     by independent experts . The correspondence between the research
 ;   work proposed and that carried-out as well as the justification
     of possible modifications , are verified ; furthermore the
     results are evaluated in relation to their relevance to the objectives
     and principles of the Community environment policy .
     At the same time the publication by project leaders of the results
     obtained in the course of contract research' in the open scientific .
     literature has an echo ( i.e. requests of . reprints , .citation of .
     articles in the lists of bibliographic references ) which
     is a measure of the scientific value of the research .
     Besides a purely scientific evaluation of the research carried out ,
     an assessment must be made of the applicability of the results for
     the implementation of the E.C. environment policy and conclusions
     must be drawn on new orientations for future work .                   ,
f ) Every effort should be made to increase the number of concerted
     actions in suitable areas .            '
 ---pagebreak---                                             - 18
   Concerted actions , indeed ,, may provide efficient means of enlarging the scope
   of Community coordination of environmental research based on the indirect action .
  ^Criteria for launching a concerted action in a given area should be as
   fol lows    i
»                                                        .                           J
   a ) there has to be a significant amount of research on hand in most
        member states ,
   b ) the member-states are willing to submit, all their publicly-funded research
        to the coordination at Community level ..                                            ,
   c ) the programme of the concerted action should be of a certain size
   So far , in . the environmental field , one concerted action * has been formally
   decided by the Council and two** more have been proposed by the
   Commission to the Council . All three are the follow-up of COST projects .
   A rew COST project ( n° 47 ) on base-line studies in coastal ecology
   is also under preparation . On the other hand , coordination of national
   research has been established informally within the framework of the present
   programme , in the area of ozone shield depletion-.
'It is now proposed to assess the advisability and feasibility of initiating -                 , -
   concerted actions in several other areas        ( see    below . ) This will be done /
   although no firm commitments can be made at present , in view of possible
   limitations in staff and financial means for the proper management of
   su ;;.) actions .                                   '   -
   In most cases it may prove advisable to enhance the concertat'ion of national
   research by allocating Community funds to well-defined , usually small*
   research projects which would fill identified gaps in the existing
   programmes .                                                                            -
    *     Concerted action on sewage, sludge decided by the Council on                 . '
          27 September 1977 CO . J , L 267 of 19 OctoBer 1977 )
   **     1 ) Concerted action concerning the analysis of organic micropollutants
              in water ( O.J. C 54 of 3 March 1978 )
          2 ) Concerted action concerning the physico-chemical behaviour of
            ' atmospheric pollutants ( O.J. C 55 of 4 March 1978 )
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 19 -
  List of current and possible concerted research actions in the environmental
  field :
 On-going                                   -
 1 .    . Treatment and utilization of sewage sludge ( O.J. L 267 of 19 October
          1977 )       - .
 Submitted to Council
 2.       Physico-chemical behaviour of atmospheric pollutants , submitted
          on 1 . February 1978
 3.   ■ Analysis of organic mi cropol lutants in water, submitted '
          on 30 January 1978
                            ■  -   .                   >
 On-going , informal
 4„       Ozone shield depletion
                     \
 5.    - EURASEP ( remote-sensing of coastal water quality ) with the JRC .
 Under preparation
 6.       Base-line studies in coastal ecology ( COST 47 )
 Under consideration                                 ;
 7.       Effects of atmospheric pollution on plants
 8.       Asbestos .: exposure and effects                 ,
 9.       Thermal pollution
10 .      Advanced waste water treatment technology
11 .      Clean technologies ( in specific industrial branches )
12 .      COp accumulation in the atmosphere .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 20 -
                                                                     Annex I
 Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Programme Management for Environmental
Research on a proposal of the Commission regarding the revision of the Second
             Environmental Research Programme ( indirect action : 1976-80 )
During its meetings of 30 November 1977 , 26 January 1978 and 6 March 1978
the Advisory Committee on Programme Management for Environmental Research
has examined in detail the proposal of the Commission regarding the revision
of the Second Environmental Research Programme ( indirect action : 1976-1980 ).
It has also reviewed the management of this research programme , and in
particular the steps taken to achieve an increasing degree of coordination
between national and Community activities in this field' .
It agreed unanimously that the scientific content of the proposal is based
on a sound assessment of the current and foreseeable research requirements
of the Community Action Programme on ttie Environment , with regard both to
the new topics proposed for introduction in the programme and to topics
earmarked for expansion .
The Committee concurred that significant progress has been achieved in
coordinating national and Community activities in environmental research
since the inception of the 1st indirect action programme ( 1973-1975 )
by means of research seminars , working group meetings , and also through
informal contacts among its members , etc ... This effort , together with the
systematic evaluation of results which has been initiated , should be inten­
sified in the future , in order to increase research productivity both in
quantity and quality and to facilitate the application of its results by
potential users throughout the Community .
In conclusion , the- Committee recommends :
1)   that many projects in the existing programme should be extended for
     a further period to enable their successful completion , others should
     be terminated - within the first phase ;
2)   that research should be expanded considerably on several specific
     problems already under investigation ;
3)   that new topics should be included in the programme taking into account
     national research activities ;    -
4)   that co-ordinating activities should continue to be strenghtened and
     broadened with consideration of concerted action, where appropriate ;
5)   that evaluation procedures . should be developed ( e.g. critical analysis
     of research results , assessment of their applicability for the Imple­
     mentation of the Community environment policy ).
 ---pagebreak--- In view of these existing and additional requirements the Committee
considers it necessary to expand the overall programme as suggested
by the Commission and recommends the adoption of the proposal regarding
the revision of the Second Environmental Research Programme ( indirect
action : 1976-1980).
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   Annex II
                                PROPOSAL FOR A
                              COUNCIL DECISION
     reviewing the second multiannual research and development programme
                        for the European Economic Community
                   in the environmental field ( indirect action )
                           adopted by Decision 76 / 311 / EEC
 The Council of the European Communities ,                               i
 HAVING REGARD to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
                 Community , and in particular Article 235 thereof ;
 HAVING REGARD to the proposal of the Commission ;
 HAVING REGARD to the opinion of the European Parliament ;
 HAVING REGARD to the - opinion "of the Economic and Social Committee ; v
 WHEREAS the Council , in application of Article 235 establishing the
 European Economic Community , in its Decision 76 / 311 / EEC adopted a
 multiannual research and development programme Ï*7  ip ■ the environmental
 field ( indirect action );                             -  N
 WHEREAS Article 4 of the abovementioned Decision provides for the
 review of the said programme ;
 WHEREAS it therefore seems appropriate to review the programme ;
 HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :             .  -
                                 Arti eie 1
 The Annex to Decision 76 / 311 / EEC shall , with effect from . ................ •
 be replaced by the Annex to this Decision . The Annex shall form
  an integral part of this Decision .
                                Artide 2
 The overall expenditure commitments estimated at 16 million units of account
  be replaced by the overall expenditure commitments estimated at 20.8 million
  European units of account , the European unit of account being defined in
'accordance with the financial regulations in force . The staff assigned to
 the programme remains fixed at 10 Community servants .
 ---pagebreak---         - 23 -
                     Annex II
Done at Date   For the Council
               The President
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 24 -
                  Annex to the proposal for a Council decision
                              reviewing the second
         Environmental Research Programme ( 1976-1980 ) indirect action
The topics included in the four research areas of the programme are as
follows :
Research area 1 ( research aimed at the establishment of criteria , i.e.
exposure-effect relationships for pollutants and environmental chemicals )
1 . Heavy metals : especially pathway to man through food , water and air
     and their metabolism
2 . Organic micropollutants and new chemicals : especially evaluation of
     the effects on health and the environment of synthetical chemicals
3 . Asbestos and other fibrous materials : detection methods and health
     effects
4 . Air quality : application of techniques for the remote sensing of
     air pollution ; effects on health and vegetation
5 . Water quality : especially epidemiological survey on health status
     of selected population group in relation to drinking water quality
                                                    I
6 . Waste heat : ecological and microclimatic effects
7 ., Marine pollution : especially effects of hydrocarbons and decontamina­
     tion methods
8 . Noise pollution     continuation of the epidemiological survey on the
     noise effects on sleep ; effects of vibrations and low frequency noises .
Research area 2 ( R&D on environmental information management , concerning'
essentially environmental chemicals )
Continuation of collection and handling of data on chemicals in the
framework of the ECDIN project .    ,
Research area 3 ( R&D on the reduction and prevention of pollutions and
nuisances )
Tests of advanced methods for water treatment .
                                                                   •••/• ■•
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 25
Research area 4 ( R&D concerning the protection and the improvement of
the natural envi ronment )
1 . Ecosystems ecology and biogeochemical cycles , especially studies of
    ecosystems ( contribution to the establishment of an ecological
    cartography) ; ozone shield depletion in the stratosphere and CO^
    accumulation in the atmosphere
2.  Reclamation of derelict  land
3 . Bird protection : population dynamics and habitat protection .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - ν -
                                FINANCIAL DATA
1.      BUDGET ■ CHAPTER :       3354
2.      HEADING OF THE BUDGET TITLE ;
                     Environment research
2.   •  JURIDICAL BASIS :
        - Application of Article 235 of the Treaty establishing the EEC
        - Application of Article 4 of the Council Decision adopting the
           second research programme for the European Economic Community
           in the environmental field- ( indirect action )
4.       DESCRIPTION , OBJECTIVE MID JUSTIFICATION OF ACTION
        4.1 .    Description :
                 Implementation and amplification of a coordinated environ­
                 mental research programme , carried out by means of shared-
                 cost contracts concluded with bodies in the Member States ,
                 It will cover the following four research areas :
                 1 ) research designed to establish criteria ( exposure / effect
                     ratios ) for pollutants and potentially toxic chemicals ) ;
                 2 ) research and development on environmental information
                     management with particular reference to chemicals likely
                     to contaminate the environment
                 3 ) research and development on the reduction and prevention
                     of pollution and nuisances
                 4 ) research and development related to the protection and
                     improvement of the natural environment .
         4.2 . Obiectives :
                 To ensure accomplishment of the task               of the
                 Community as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty establishing
                 it , of promoting and developing economic activities harmo­
                 niously as part of a continuous and balanced expansion
                 by providing scientific and technical support to the Action
                 Programme on the environment *
         4.3 .   Justification :
                 Coordination of the research carried out as part of the
                 Environmental Research Programme will mai-'e it possible
                 to optimize results by encouraging specialized national
                 laboratories to find solutions to problems of common
                 interest . A review of the above-mentioned programme will
                 make it possible to "implement ano improve that cooroination .
 * O.J.   nr , L 74 / 36 of 20.3.76
 ---pagebreak---                                              - VI -
         5.       TOTAL FINANCIAL INCIDENCE OF ACTION ( in EUA)
         5.0 .     Incidence on expenditure
         5.0.0 .   Total cost during the term envisaged
                   - on Community budget                                          fl6.000.000
                      .          ,    . . . „ ...                                 I 4.800.000
                   - by national administrations                                         QQQ QQQ
                   - by other sectors at national level                           l 4.800.000
                                                   Total                           38.600.000
         5..0.1 .  Multi annual schedule
                    Commitment
                    1976         1977 .       1978           1979        1980            1981
 Staff                                         508.500    544.000       574.000
 Manag .                                       121.000     130.000   -  137.000
ITechn .                                        25.000      27.000     " 29.000
 Contracts                                   1.652.000   4.800.000
                                                                                    i
                         :
                                                                                               / ■
 Total            328.420    12.081.585                  5.501.000      740.000
                                             2.306.800 j
                                            –       __
                    Payment
                     1976          1977       1978           1979        1980             1981
                                                                                      I      !
 Staff   v                                     508.500      544.000       574.000
 Manag .                                       121.200      130.000       137.000
 Techn .                                        25.000        27.000       29.000
 Contracts                                  4.702.100    4.800.000      4.800.000       296.764
 Total             328.420    3.777.016     5.356.800    5.501.000      5.540.000       296.764
 ---pagebreak---                           - VII -
Method of calculation
                                                         • •
a ) Personnel expenditure                                    . .
     Needs were assessed on the basis of the officials
     required for the programme
               6   category   A   officials
                1  category   B   off i cial
               3   category   C   of f i cials
     Apart from these posts the calculations take account of
     the parameters set for the purpose of drawing up the
     preliminary draft budget for the financial year 1979 .
      No increase in purchasing power has been provided fcr .
      A change in the weighting applicable to remuneration was
      the only alteration introduced to take account of the
      general trend in prices within the Community .
b ) Expenditure for administrative and technical operations
      They cover travel , mission and meeting expenses as well
      as the cost of scientific and technical assistance
      whenever it proves necessary for the implementation
      of the programme .        ■
 c ) Expenditure in respect of contracts
                                                                   i
       Since the nature of the work and the qualifications of
      the contracting parties vary , it is impossible to
       introduce a standard method of calculation .
       However > the Advisory Committee on Programme Management
       ( ACPM ) will always be consulted on the allocation -
       of funds .
  d > Multiannual forecasts                         .
       The rates fixed for calculating estimates are :
       1979 - 1.07 ; 1980 - 1.31 ; 1981 - 1.20
  Implications in respect of revenue
  Type of control to be applied                       :^         -
  Scientific controls : Management Committees
                              ACPM
                              Officials appointed by DG XII
   Administrative controls :
   Budget imp lementation : Financial Control
   Regularity of expenditure : Contracts Division of DG XII
                                       and Financial Control .
 ---pagebreak---                              - VIII -
7.      FUNDING ACTION
7.0 .                               .  , •
7.1 .
7.2 . .
7.3 .   Funds to be included in future ( s ) budget Cs )