CELEX: 51989PC0051
Language: en
Date: 1989-02-07
Title: RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION TO ADOPT A FIRST MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME (1988-1993) FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY-BASED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT "ECLAIR" European Collaborative Linkage of Agriculture and Industry through Research (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149.2(d) of the EEC Treaty)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (89) 51
Vol. 1989/0019
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 concernant
l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique européenne et de
la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1) modifié en dernier
lieu par le règlement (UE) 2015/496 du Conseil du 17 mars 2015 (JO L79 du 25. 3.2015, p. 1), ce
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning
the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the
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In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar
1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und
der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), zuletzt geändert durch die
Verordnung (EU) Nr. 2015/496 vom 17. März 2015 (ABI. L 79 vom 25.3.2015, S. 1), ist dieser Akt
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2015/444 vom      13.   März 2015     über die   Sicherheitsvorschriften für den Schutz von  EU-
Verschlusssachen als herabgestuft angesehen.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                    COM ( 89) 51  final  SYN 113
                                                    Brussels , 7 February 1989
            RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
     TO ADOPT A FIRST MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME ( 1988-1993 )              FOR
  BIOTECHNOLOGY-BASED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
                               DEVELOPMENT
                          • 'ECLAIR''
   European Collaborative Linkage of Agriculture and Industry
                            through Research
        ( presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149.2(d )
                             of the EEC Treaty )
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 ---pagebreak---                                                   ($9*1 H
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                            PART I
        RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
  TO ADOPT A FIRST MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME ( 1988-1993 ) FOR
BIOTECHNOLOGY-BASED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
                         DEVELOPMENT
                    " ECLAIR "
European Collaborative Linkage of Agriculture and Industry
                      through Research
 ---pagebreak--- THE   COS.-Nv'J. i . THE EUROPEAN C ‘/.IMUN ; TIES
Having recia ^ i t o the Treaty setting up the European Economic
Community ,          in particular to Article 130 Q(2 ),
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission
                                                   ( 2 )
In co-operation with the European Parliament             ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Commi ttee ^ ° ,
( 1 ) OJ N c
(2 )  OJ N "
(3)   OJ N °
                                                                 2
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas Article 130 K of the Treaty stipulates that the
Framework Programme shall be implemented through specific
programmes developed within each of its activities ;
Whereas , by its Decision of 28 September 1987 , the Council has
adopted a Framework Programme of Community research and
technological development ( 1987-1991 )      providing for
activities to be implemented to ensure the exploitation and
optimum use of biological resources ;
Whereas the said Decision of 28 September 1987 stipulates that
                                               I
a specific objective of Community research must be to
strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European
industry , particularly in strategic sectors of advanced
technology , and to encourage industry by making it more
competitive at the international level , and whereas the same
Decision also lays down that Community action is justified if
it contributes , among other things , to enhancing the
Community 's economic and social cohesion and to encouraging its
overall harmonious development , while at the same time being
consistent with the pursuit of scientific and technical
excellence ; whereas the ECLAIR programme is planned to
contribute to the pursuit of these objectives ;
Whereas the specialised skills and capabilities relevant to
agro-industrial development are numerous , and Europe s most
internationally competitive capabilities are located in diverse
Member States , mutual benefit shall be derived from
collaboration in a Community programme ;
 ( 1 ) GJ N * L 302 , 24.10.1987 .
                                                               3
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas the activities undertaken in the programme need to be
accompanied by ongoing analysis of their associated costs and
benefits to avoid them giving rise to new industries , which can
only survive on the basis of permanently subsidised sales of
aricultural products , or to agricultural surpluses ;
Whereas such activities should constitute a logical complement
to the Community research programmes in the areas of
biotechnology and of agriculture , promoting the application of
their results to the social and economic objectives of the
Community ;
Whereas the European Parliament has called for a study to be
conducted into the structural and social consequences of
promoting biotechnologies and genetic engineering and has also
pointed to the risks associated with the use , especially the
release , of genetically engineered organisms ; Whereas the
revised Community Biotechnology R&D programme adopted on
29 June 1988          is undertaking research into these risks ;
Whereas development activities at the interfaces between
agriculture and industry could contribute to the solution of
some of the problems which agriculture is currently facing
within the Community ;                                      *
Whereas the principal and most urgent requirements that must be
satisfied centre on the development of types of agricultural
production suitable for industrial purposes , of transformation
technologies , and of industrial inputs in agriculture , such as
pesticides or fertilisers less harmful to the environment ;
 ( 1 ) OJ N 0 L 206 , 30.7.1988 .
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas it is important to avoid ar.y adverse effects for small
and medium-sized agricultural enterprises which may be caused
by a concentration of agricultural structures and further
specialisation ;
WhereaB it  is necessary to involve small and medium-sized
agricultural and industrial enterprises to the maximum extent
possible in this biotechnology-based agro-industrial
technological development, programme ;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee ( CREST )
has expressed its opinion on the Commission 's proposal ;
HAS ADOPTED  THIS DECISION :
                             Article 1
     A research and development programme in the field of
biotechnology-based agro-industrial development is hereby
adopted in the form set out in Annex I for a five-year period
starting or. 1 July 1983 .
     The programme shall consist of work carried out as
contract research and as co-ordination actions and by training /
mobility grants .  Participants may be industrial and
agricultural enterprises - individual enterprises , associations
or co-operatives - research institutions , universities or
combinations cf them , established in the Community .
                                                              5
 ---pagebreak---                               Article 2
1.       In the case of projects carried out by shared-cost
   contracts , the Community contribution will not normally
   exceed 50% of the total expenditure ,   the remainder to be
   provided by the partners , predominantly from industrial or
   agricultural sources .
         Alternatively ,  in respect of projects carried out by
   universities and research institutes , the Community may bear
   up to 100% of the additional expenditure involved .
2.       The proposals for projects shall be submitted in reply
   to a call for proposals and involve , as a rule , the
   participation of at least two independent partners not
   established in the same Member State .    As a rule , research
   institutes and universities should participate in a group
   together with one or more industrial or agricultural
   organisation ( s ) . Research institutes which are funded
   principally or exclusively by industrial organisations shall
   be considered as industrial partners .
                              Article  3
      The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the
programme amount to 80 MECU , including expenditure on a staff
of 13 .
                                                                 6
 ---pagebreak---                                 Article   4
        The Commission shall be responsible for implementing the
programme .
      Tho Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an
advisory nature , hereinafter referred to as " the Committee ",
composed of the representatives of the Member States and
chaired by the representative of the Commission .
                                Art iole  5
1 .        The Commission   shall  submit   to the Committee a draft of
    the  measures    to be taken .  The  Committee  sh&ll deliver its
    opinion within a time limit which the Chairman may lay down
    according to urgency of the matter , if necessary by taking a
    vote .
2.         The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes of the
    Committee ;  in addition , each Member State shall have the
    right to have its position recorded in the minutes .
3 .        The Commission   shall  take the utmost   account of the
    opinion delivered by the Committee .        It shall inform the
    Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken
    into   account .
                                                                    7
 ---pagebreak---                              Article  6
1.       in the third 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 the content and funding , or
   for prolongation .
2.       After the completion of the programme , an evaluation of
   the results achieved shall be conducted by the Commission ,
   which shall report to the Council and the European
   Parliament .   The report shall be drawn up by independent
   experts .
3.       The abovementioned reports shall be established having
   regard to the objectives set out in Annex II to this
   Decision and in conformity with the provisions of
   Article 2(2 ) of the Framework Programme .
                              Article  7
      This  Decision is addressed  to  the Member  States .
Done at Brussels ,
                                            For  the Council
                                             The  President
                                                               8
 ---pagebreak---                                                             ANNEX I
                              PROGRAMME
          FOR  THE FIRST MULTIANNUAL ACTION  PROGRAMME  FOR
             BIOTECHNOLOGY-BASED INDUSTRIAL  RESEARCH  AND
                TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ( 1988-19931
AIMS
       The objective of the Programme here proposed is to promote
in Europe the useful application of recent developments in the
life sciences and biotechnology .    This shall be achieved by a
programme of precompetitive research and technical development
projects and co-ordination activities , based on close
collaboration between agriculture and industrial activities ,
and supported by training / mobi lity grants .  The Programme will
contribute in the medium and longer terms to enhancing Europe 's
competitiveness in the economic activities which will be based
on these developments and to strengthening economic and social
cohesion in the Community .
       The Programme shall avoid adverse effects on public health
and the environment , and the creation of problems in respect of
the protection and enhancement of nature .
       The principle objectives of this Programme are enumerated
be low :
 ( ANNEX I )
 ---pagebreak---    (L)  research , adaptation and development of agricultural
        products destined for industrial use , as well as the
        research and promotion of new industrial techniques for
        processing and transforming agricultural raw materials
        with a view to obtaining , under economically viable
        conditions , industrial products which respond to the needs
        of  the market ;
( ii ) research and development of industrial inputs in
        agriculture , such as pesticides , fertilizers and of
        eradication and disease control systems less harmful or
        better adapted to the environment ; the reduction and
        elimination of by-products of processing by recovering
        resources and reducing waste .
CONTENT
        The Programme shall be pursued through the measures set
out    below :
1 .  EVALUATION TRIALS AND PRODUCTION OF NEW SPECIES OR ORGANISMS
             This sector shall consist of test trials at appropriate
     scale and under various    conditions of novel  or modified
     species or organisms ( plants , livestock , others ) in order to
     test performance , pest resistance , input requirements , and
     aspects relevant to suitability for industrial processing ,
     animal nutrition and market acceptability of the organism ,
      its constituents , and the products derived from them with
      special emphasis on the use of new biotechnological methods
      in the identification ,  characterisation , selection ,
     modification , propagation , cultivation or other aspects of
     developing and appraising the candidate organisms .
 ( ANNEX   I )                                                    10
 ---pagebreak--- 2 - INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
            This sector shall consist of ;
     2.1 . more precise and effective inputs to agriculture
            through research and development work , based on the use
            of life sciences and biotechnology , aiming at the
            creation of products and services for use in
            agriculture , offering advantages in terms of precision ,
            cost-effectivenesB , enhanced plant or animal
            performance , suitability for subsequent product
            processing and / or marketing , and avoiding possible
            undesirable side effects ;
     2.2 . more precise and effective extraction , transformation
            and production processes through research and
            development work on methods to increase the use and
            value of agricultural produce , by extraction ,
            transformation or other processes , in industry or
            elsewhere , which by biotechnological or other means
            make greater or more valuable use of the intrinsic
            properties of these materials .
3 .  INTEGRATED    APPROACHES
            This  sector  shall consist of :
     3.1 . the improved utilisation of the entire crop by the
            development , through trial systems , of systems for
             harvesting the whole crop , its preservation and
             fractionation into constituents appropriate for
             subsequent applications ; such trial aystem(s ) to be of
             adequate scale to provide a basis for economic
             appraisals , and the significant participation of
             industrial and agricultural interests .    Priority will
             be given to projects using new biotechnology ;
                                                                    11
 ( ANNEX   I )
 ---pagebreak---     3.2 .  studies and development projects for the integrated use
           of new technologies which shall focus on the joint
           exploitation of progress in biological knowledge and
           techniques in conjunction with new - technology - based
           agricultural systems .
IMPLEMENTATION
      Implementation of the projects shall be through
cost-shared research and development actions and co-ordination
activities .      Tr a i ni ng / mobi 1 i ty grants shall be included to
facilitate the assembly of relevant skills at appropriate
locations for the work of the projects , and to promote
effective diffusion of the knowledge resulting from them .               The
programme shall also include the organisation of meetings ,
consultation of experts ,            studies on related topics , and
diffusion of information on the progress and results of the
projects to all appropriate groups .
       Each proposal shall include an environmental impact
statement ,     indicating the possible effects of the project on
man ,  fauna ,   flora ,    soils , water ,    air and on the interactions
between     these  different       factors .    This statement must also
include an undertaking to respect existing national safety
regulations .
       The contracts entered into by the Commission shall
regulate the rights and obligations of each party , including
the methods of disseminating , protecting and exploiting of
research      results .
( ANNEX   I )                                                              12
 ---pagebreak---                                                                ANNEX  ir
                            EVALUATION CRITERIA
             - OR–THE–FIRST_MULTI - ANNUAL ACTION PROGRAMME
         FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY-BA SED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
               AND_TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ( 1988 - 19 9 3 )
       The Commission' 8 communication to the Council concerning a
Community Plan of Action relating to the evaluation of
Community research and development activities for the years
1987-1991 ( COM ( 86 ) 660 final ) states that the objectives and
milestones of each research programme have to be set out in a
testable form .       The objectives and milestones of the above
programme are       set out below .
1*        The long-term objective of this programme is described
    in  Annex   I .
2.        The primary short term objective is that the programme
    should succeed in eliciting proposals , with commitments to
    co-finance from industry and / or agriculture , for development
    projects on a scale commensurate with the Community
    resources proposed .      This objective shall be testable in
    1991-1992 .
          At this time ,    the programme should also demonstrate its
    promotion and encouragement of intersectoral collaboration
    across   the Member    States .
( ANNEX II )                                                       13
 ---pagebreak--- 3.         The criteria for the evaluation of the objectives to be
    attained during the first three years of the implementation
    of the programme are :
    3.1 .  that tests of new or modified species or organisms have
           been conducted , and have given grounds to expect that
           these organisms , or the processes used to produce or
           modify them , represent progress and could find
           appl ications ;
    3.2 .  that  tests have  been  conducted of new or modified
           products , techniques or services for use in
           agriculture ; that advantages in terms of precision ,
           effectiveness , or the avoidance of possible adverse
           side effects have been indicated ;   and that , as a result
           of the tests , the products , techniques or services have
           practical applications ;
    3.3 . that tests have been conducted of more precise and
           effective exraction , transformation and production
           processes ,  applying biotechnological and / or other
           methods to an agricultural output ; and that , as a
           result of the tests , the processes are useful ;
    3.4 .  that , through the Programme , arrangements have been
           organised between farming and industrial / processing
           interests and facilities or equipment created , modified
           or made available ,   to test on one or more crops the
           technical feasibility of harvesting and using the whole
           plant ; and that corresponding measures of performance
           have been , or are in course of being , defined to
           provide a basis for further system improvements and a
           basis for decision on the replication and diffusion of
           similar larger scale activities ;
( ANNEX   II )                                                    14
 ---pagebreak---     3.5 . that studies have been financed and completed , and
          development projects supported , involving the use in
          agriculture of new technologies ( e.g. _ involving
          sophisticated detect ion / measurement / recording
          techniques , information processing , automation of
          equipment and facilities ), in conjunction with the
          application of biotechnology ; and that , as a result of
          such studies and projects , new applications have been
          found ;
    3.6 . that studies have been carried out examining the socio -
          structural and ecological impact of promoting
          biotechnology and genetic technology in agriculture .
4.        In addition , the Programme should ensure that the
    following general criteria are met :
    4.1 . that the potential increase in market opportunities , in
          the medium or long-term , as a result of the
          improvements or benefits demonstrated , is of a size to
          justify the Community expenditures committed , which
          imply an analysis of the costs and benefits of these
          activities and their possible applications ;
    4.2 . taking account of the final reports on the
          Biotechnology Action Programme , which ends in December
          1989 , and of the Biomolecular Engineering Programme
           ( 1982-1986 ), and of the evaluation report(s ) on these
          programmes , consideration should be given whether this
           Programme is in fact effectively promoting the transfer
           towards application of the results of the earlier
          biotechnology ( or biomolecular engineering ) research
          programmes ;
                                                                 15
( ANNEX II )
 ---pagebreak---     4.3 . that the execution of the Programme has avoided harmful
          effects on public health and the environment ;   and has
          not created problems with respect to the protection and
          enhancement of nature ;
    4.4 . taking account of the results of Community , national or
          private sector research activities in biotechnology ,
          the Evaluation Panel  shall consider whether  the  ECLAIR
          programme has given adequate consideration to all the
          selection criteria set out  in Annex III to  the
          Framework Programme which includes that of contributing
          to the strengthening of the economic and social
          cohesion of the Community , while being consistent with
          the pursuit of scientific and technical quality .
( ANNEX II )                                                     16
 ---pagebreak---                           PART II
COMMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS OF PARLIAMENT
          WHICH ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION
 During its meeting of 18 January 1989 , the European
 Parliament , in its second reading of the Common Position on
 ECLAIR , adopted the attached three Amendments .         (
 The Commission can not accept these amendments because of
 the following reasons :
 The   first   amendment   refers   to  the  annual budgetary
 procedures and has been tabled repeatedly . The Commission
 believes that this amendment is not necessary as Art . 13 Op
 of the EEC Treaty already covers this issue .
 As for the two other Amendments , the Commission considers
 that the Common Position contains sufficient and adequate
 safeguards concerning the protection of the environment and
 health , and has informed Parliament it will ensure that the
 safeguards are adhered to .
 ---pagebreak---                                PART II - Annex
AMENDMENTS OF PARLIAMENT WHICH ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION
             AMENDMENT 1
             Article 3
              The funds estimated as necessary for
              the execution of the programme amount
              to 80 tnECU , including expenditure on
              a staff of 13 . The Commission shall
              each year , as part of the annual
              budget procedure , propose to the
              budgetary authority that it enter the
              relevant appropriations for the
              programme ulth due regard to . the
              actual requirements of the financial
              year in Question land the financial
              forecasts as provided for in the
              Interins tl tutional Agreement
 ---pagebreak---  6пйея_1
  AIMS
  The objective of the programme hc.- t. - v
 proposed is to promote in Europe the '
  useful application of recent
 developments in the life sciences and
 biotechnology . Inis shall be
 achieved by a programme of                  :
 precompetitive research and technical j
 development projects and coordination )
 activities , based on close
 collaboration between agriculture and
  industrial activities , and supported
 by training/mobility grants . The
 programme will contribute in the
 medium and longer terms to enhancing
 Europe 's competitiveness in the
 economic activities which will be
 based on these developments , and to
 strengthening economic and social
 cohesion in the Community .
Deleted
 The purpose of the prooramnme shall
be to attain the following objectives
 in particular :
 iDJtesgfl rch
appropriate agricultural product^ far'
 Industrial purposes and research into
and promotion of_new industrial
processes _usinc agricitlturaLjaw
materials with a view to obtaining
 industrial products with hi oh added
yaluc. . aL .
 < 1 1 } Research Into and development ^
(tort readily dtioradabie pes&lofefeg
and JterUUztra and giylmtpsniallx.
less harmful , or more beneficial .
systems :     reduction and elimination
of the. by-products of processing , by
recovering resources and reducing
waste .
Nature con servation , the enhancement
of na tu re . Public heolttL.
environmental protection and , the.
 ---pagebreak--- AMENDMENT    3
ANNEX II
EVALUATION CRITERIA-
Paragraph 3.1
 3.1 that tests of new or Modified
 species or organisms have been
 conducted , and have given grounds \Q
 expect that these organisms , or iht
 processes used Co produce or modify
 them , represent progress and could
 find applications .. Genetically
 engineered micro-organisms       not be
 celeas,
 regulations have been enacted :