CELEX: 51989PC0309
Language: en
Date: 1989-06-23
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION OF A COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND ON A PROGRAMME PLAN TO STIMULATE THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTERCHANGE NEEDED BY EUROPEAN RESEARCH SCIENTISTS ( SCIENCE )

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                        C0MC89) 309 final - SYN 201
                                                        Brussels,  23 June 1989
                                Proposal for a
                               COUNCIL DECISION
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concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation Agreement between the European
Economic Community and the Republic of Finland on a programme plan to
stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European
research scientists (SCIENCE).
                        (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 2 -
               COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
Subject:  Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of a
          Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and
          the Republic of Finland on a programme plan to stimulate, the
          international cooperation and interchange needed by the European
          research scientists (SCIENCE).
1.  By its Decision of 29 June 1988, the Council adopted a programme plan to
    stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by
    European research scientists (SCIENCE, 1988 to 1992). Article 5 of this
    Decision authorises the Commission to negotiate agreements with third
    countries and in particular with those European countries having
    concluded framework agreements for scientific and technical cooperation
    with the Community with a view to associate them wholly or partly with
    the programme plan.
2.  In the context of the implementation of the Framework Agreement       for
    scientific and technical cooperation between the European Communities and
    the Republic of Finland, the conclusion of which on behalf of the EEC was
    approved by the Council Decision of 9 February 1987,         Finland  has
    expressed an interest in cooperating in the implementation of         the
    above-mentioned programme plan.
3.  Considering that the association of Finland with the implementation of
    the Community programme plan can be of mutual advantage and help to
    improve the efficacy of Europe's scientific and technical potential, the
    Commission has negotiated a draft cooperation agreement with Finland.
4.  The draft agreement, which is annexed to the attached proposal for a
    Council decision, provides for:
    -  the association of Finland with the implementation of the Community
       programme;
    -  a financial contribution from Finland for the funding of the work to
       be carried out in the framework of research contracts and of the
       management and administrative operating expenditure for the Community
       programme plan;     this financial contribution is proportional to
       Finland's gross domestic product;
        the entitlement of Finnish persons and research bodies to submit
       research proposals and to conclude the related research contracts with
       the Commission;
    -  the enlargement of the Committee for the European development of
       science and technology (CODEST) to include a Finnish representative.
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 3-
5. In view of the nature of the cooperation, any additional expenditure paid
   from the Community budget (relevant budget heading 7381) resulting from
   the implementation of this draft agreement will be covered by Finland's
   financial contribution.
   The funds paid by Finland will be credited      to the   Community budget
   (relevant budget article 602).
6. The Commision proposes that the Council adopt the attached proposal for a
   decision.
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 4 -
                                Proposal for a
                               COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation Agreement between the European
Economic Community and the Republic of       Finland on a programme plan to
stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European
research scientists (SCIENCE).
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and
in particular Article 130 Q (2) thereof.
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
In cooperation with the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
WHEREAS by Decision 88/419/EEC (4),    the Council adopted a programme plan to
stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European
research scientists (SCIENCE,    1988 to 1992);     whereas Article 5 of this
Decision  authorises  the  Commission   to   negotiate  agreements  with third
countries and in particular with those European countries having concluded
framework  agreements  for  scientific   and  technical  cooperation with the
Community with a view to associate them wholly or partly with the programme
plan,
(1)  O.J. NQ C
(2)  O.J. N° C
(3)  O.J. N° C
(4)  O.J. N° L 206, 30.07.1988, p. 34
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 5 -
 WHEREAS by Decision 87/177/EEC (1),       the Council approved the conclusion on
 behalf of the European Economic Community of the the Framework Agreement for
 scientific and technical cooperation between the European Communities          and,
among others, the Republic of Finland,
WHEREAS the cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and
the Republic of Finland on a programme plan to stimulate the international
cooperation and interchange needed by European research scientists (SCIENCE)
should be approved,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The Cooperation    Agreement between    the European Economic Community     and the
Republic   of  Finland  on a    programme   plan  to stimulate   the  international
cooperation and interchange needed by European research scientists (SCIENCE),
is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.
The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The President of the Council shall carry out the notification as provided for
in Article 10 of the Agreement.
Article 3
The   present  Decision   shall   enter  into   force on  the  day   following   its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Done at ....
                                                               For the Council
                                                               The President
(1)   O.J. N° L  71, 14.03.1987, p. 29
 ---pagebreak---                           - 6 -
                  COOPERATION AGREEMENT
                         BETWEEN
             THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
                           AND
                 THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND
                            ON
              A PROGRAMME PLAN TO STIMULATE
THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTERCHANGE NEEDED BY
         EUROPEAN RESEARCH SCIENTISTS (SCIENCE)
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 7 -
                             COOPERATION AGREEMENT
                                    BETWEEN
                        THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
                                      AND
                            THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND
                                       ON
                         A PROGRAMME PLAN TO STIMULATE
           THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTERCHANGE NEEDED BY
                    EUROPEAN RESEARCH SCIENTISTS (SCIENCE)
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, hereinafter called "the Community",
and
THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, hereinafter called "Finland",
both hereinafter called the "Contracting Parties",
WHEREAS, by its Decision of 29 June 1988, the Council of the European
Communities, hereinafter called "the Council", adopted a programme plan to
stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European
research scientists, - 1988 to 1992 - (SCIENCE), hereinafter called "the
Stimulation Plan";
WHEREAS the Contracting Parties concluded a framework agreement for
scientific and technical cooperation which entered into force on 17 July
1987;
WHEREAS the association of Finland with the Stimulation Plan can help to
improve the efficacy of Europe's scientific and technical potential;
WHEREAS the Contracting Parties expect to obtain        mutual  benefit from
Finland's association with the Stimulation Plan;
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS :
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 8 -
Article 1
Finland is hereby associated with the implementation of the Stimulation Plan.
The summary of the Stimulation Plan and its objectives are set out in Annex A.
Finland shall take part in a range of measures to promote training and improve
the mobility of research scientists of the Contracting Parties, to develop,
support and promote intra-European scientific and technical cooperation and
interchange networks in all fields relevant to exact and natural sciences.
Article 2
The financial contribution of Finland, deriving from its association with the
implementation of the Stimulation Plan shall be established in proportion to
the amount available each year in the general budget of the European
Communities   for appropriations covering    commitments to meet financial
obligations of the Commission of the European Communities,         hereinafter
referred to as "the Commission", resulting from work to be carried out in the
framework of     research contracts necessary to the Implementation of the
Stimulation Plan and from management and administrative operating expenditure
for the Stimulation Plan.
The proportionality factor governing Finland's contribution shall be given by
the ratio between Finland's gross domestic product (GDP), at market prices,
and the sum of gross domestic products, at market prices, of the Member States
of the Community and of Finland. This ratio shall be calculated on the basis
of the latest available OECD statistical data.
The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the Stimulation Plan,
the amount of Finland's contribution and the timetable of the commitment
estimates are set out in Annex B.
The rules governing Finland's financial contribution to the execution of the
Stimulation Plan are set out in Annex C.
Article 3
For Finnish research and development bodies and persons, the terms and
conditions for the submission and evaluation of proposals and the terms and
conditions for the granting and conclusion of contracts under the Stimulation
Plan shall be the same as those applicable to research and development bodies
and persons in the Community.
The contracts,    drawn up by the Commission,      shall show the rights and
obligations of Finnish research and development bodies and persons, and in
particular the methods of disseminating,       protecting and exploiting the
research results.
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 9 -
Article 4
In the implementation of the Stimulation Plan,        the Commission shall be
assisted by the Committee for the European Development of Science and
Technology (CODEST),     set up by Commission Decision 82/835 (1), and by
consultants.
From a list submitted to it by the Finnish authorities, the Commission shall
appoint a Finnish delegate to CODEST. He shall participate in the definition
of outline plans for the stimulation of the international cooperation and
interchange needed by European research scientists and in the examination of
applications submitted under the Stimulation Plan.
Article 5
After 30 months from the beginning of the implementation of the Stimulation
Plan,   the Commission shall address a report to the Council and to the
European Parliament on the basis of an evaluation of the results so far
achieved.    This report shall be accompanied by suggestions for changes which
may be necessary in the light of these results.    A copy of that report shall
be transmitted to Finland which,      in addition shall be informed of any
possible suggestions for changes.
Article 6
Each Contracting Party undertakes, in accordance with its respective rules
and regulations, to facilitate the movement and residence of research workers
participating in Finland and in the Community in the activities covered by
this agreement.
Article 7
The Commission and the Academy of Finland shall ensure the implementation of
this Agreement.
Article 8
This agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community is applied and under the
conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territory
of the Republic of Finland.
Article 9
1.  This agreement is concluded for the duration of the Stimulation Plan.
    Should the Community revise the Stimulation Plan, the agreement may be
    renegotiated or terminated under mutually agreed conditions. Finland
(1) OJ N u L 350 of 10.12.1982, p. 45
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 10 -
    shall be notified of the exact content of the revised plan within one
    week after its adoption by the Community.    The Contracting Parties shall
    notify each other within three months after the Community decision has
    been adopted if a termination of the agreement is envisaged.
2.  This agreement shall be renewed by tacit agreement when the Community
    adopts a new Stimulation Plan, for the duration of the new plan, unless
    it is terminated by one Contracting Party by written notification to the
    other Contracting Party within three months following the adoption of the
    new plan. The provisions of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 above
    remain applicable.
3.  Whenever a decision on a Stimulation Plan is taken by the Community,
    Annexes A and B shall be amended in accordance with the Community's
    decision, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Contracting Parties.
4.  This agreement shall not be regarded as having expired merely because
    there is a delay in the adoption of a future Stimulation Plan.
5.  Excepted as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, either
    Contracting Party may at any time terminate the agreement with 6 months'
    notice. The projects and work in progress at the time of termination
    and/or expiry of this agreement shall be continued until they are
    completed under thé conditions laid down in the contracts referred to in
    Article 3 of this agreement.
Article 10
This agreement shall be approved by the     Contracting Parties in accordance
with their existing procedures. Subject    to the Contracting Parties having
notified each other of the completion of    the procedures necessary for this
purpose, it shall enter into force on 1st  July 1989.
Article 11
This agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English,
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Finnish languages,
each of these texts being equally authentic.
Done at
                                                   For the Council of the
                                                   European Communities
                                                   For the Republic of Finland
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 11 -
                                    ANNEX A
         OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE STIMULATION PLAN (1988 to 1992)
    The Stimulation Plan consists of a range of activities selected on the
   basis of their scientific and technical quality, which have as their aim
    the establishment of a network of scientific and technical cooperation
   and interchange at European level which will gradually be extended.     The
   overall objective is to improve the efficacy of scientific and
   technological research in all the Member States and to contribute thereby
   to the reduction of scientific and technical disparities between the
   different Member States of the European Community.     It covers all fields
   of science and technology (the exact and natural sciences).
   Whilst the Stimulation Plan therefore aims to improve the overall
   scientific and technical quality of research and development in all
   Member States of the Community, its specific objectives are to:
   -   promote training through research and, by means of cooperation,     the
       better use of high level researchers in the Community,
   -    improve the mobility of research scientists of the Member States of
       the Community,
   -   develop    and  support   intra-European   scientific   and   technical
       cooperation on high quality projects,
   -   promote the setting-up of intra-European cooperation and interchange
       networks with a view to reinforcing the overall scientific and
       technical competitivity of the Community and thereby strengthening its
       economic and social cohesion.
2. The objectives set out above will be achieved by means of support
   measures for research scientists, teams of research and development
   organisations to ensure the harmonious scientific and technical
   development of the Community. These will take the following forms:
   -   Research bursaries
       Financial support granted to scientists to enable them to acquire
       additional training by participating in a research project in a
       laboratory in a Community country other than their own for a period of
       at least one year and at most two years.
   -   Research grants
       These cover the cost to the laboratories concerned of the transfer or
       secondment of a research scientist from one Community country to
       another, either to allow a scientist to be taken on in a team in a
       country other than his own or to enable a science graduate to
       specialise before joining a university or industrial research
       laboratory.
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 16 -
                                     ANNEX C
                                FINANCING RULES
Article 1
These provisions lay down the financing      rules for Finland referred to in
Article 2 of the agreement.
Article 2
At the beginning of each year, or whenever the Stimulation Plan is revised so
as to involve an increase in the amount estimated as necessary for its
implementation,    the Commission shall send to Finland a call for funds
corresponding to its contribution to the costs under the agreement.
This contribution shall be expressed both in Ecu and in the Finnish currency,
the composition of the Ecu being defined in the Council Regulation 3180/78
(1).    The value in Finnish currency of the contribution in Ecu shall be
determined on the date of the call for funds.
Finland shall pay its contribution to the annual costs under the agreement at
the beginning of each year and at the latest three months after the call for
funds is sent. Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise
to the payment of interest by Finland at a rate equal to the highest discount
rate ruling in the Member States of the Community on the due date. The rate
shall be increased by 0.25 of a percentage point for each month of delay.
The increased rate shall be applied to the entire period of delay. However,
this interest shall be payable only if the contribution is paid more than
three months after a call for funds has been made by the Commission.
Article 3
The funds paid by Finland shall be credited to the Stimulation Plan as budget
receipts allocated to its appropriate heading in the statement of revenue of
the general budget of the European Communities.
Article 4
The Financial Regulation in force applicable to the general budget of the
European Communities shall apply to the management of the appropriations.
Article 5
The travel arid subsistence costs of the Finnish delegate to CODEST deriving
from his participation in the meetings of this committee, shall be reimbursed
by the Commission in accordance with the procedures currently in force for
the delegates of the Member States of the Community.
Article 6
At the end of each year, a statement of appropriations for the Stimulation
Plan shall be prepared and transmitted to Finland for information.
<1>  OJ N U L 379 of 30.12.1978, p.1
 ---pagebreak---                                     -4?-
               FICHE D'IMPACT SUR LA COMPETITIVITE ET L'EMPLOI
Ce projet a trait à une décision du Conseil concernant la conclusion d'un
accord de coopération entre la CEE et la Finlande relatif au plan de
stimulation des coopérations internationales et des échanges nécessaires aux
chercheurs européens (1988-1992) (SCIENCE).
En tant que tel, ce projet peut avoir un impact positif sur les PME, dans la
mesure où il constitue un Instrument facilitant l'accès à la connaissance et
à l'échange d'expériences.
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 14 -
                                    ANNEX B
                             FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the Stimulation Plan
amount to 167,000,000 Ecu.
Article 2
Finland's financial contribution to the execution of the Stimulation Plan is
estimated to be 2,460,000 Ecu.
Article 3
The timetable of the commitment estimates       and of  Finland's  financial
contribution is given in the following page.
 ---pagebreak---                                - 15 -
                                 TIMETABLE OF THE COMMITMENTS ESTIMATED AS
                                NECESSARY FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE STIMULATION
                                        PLAN (COMMITMENT APPROPRIATIONS)
                                      AND OF FINLAND'S CONTRIBUTION (ECU)
|        |                  COMMITMENTS FOR                   j                 FINLAND'S CONTRIBUTION           |
I I                                   *                       I                                               I
| YEAR   | MANAGEMENT AND    I                I               I MANAGEMENT AND j                  |             |
I        | ADMINISTRATIVE    j   CONTRACTS    |     TOTAL     j ADMINISTRATIVE | CONTRACTS        |    TOTAL    |
I        |    OPERATION      |                I               j    OPERATION        j             j             j
I 1988   |       220,000     I   28,780,000   |   29,000,000  I         -           |       -     |       -     |
I 1989   |    1,930,000      I   28,070,000   |   30,000,000  |       19 / 300*     |    280,700* |    300,000* |
I 1990   |    2,120,000      |   32,880,000   |   35,000,000  |       42,400        |    657,600  |    700,000 I
I 1991   |    2,250,000      I   32,750,000   |   35,000,000  I       45,000        I    655,000  |    700,000 I
I 1992   |    2,380,000      I   35,620,000   |   38,000,000  |       47,600        |    712,400  |    760,000 I
| j™*}?   I    8,900,000      | 158,100,000   | 167,000,000   |      154,300        | 2,305,700   | 2,460,000 I
* contribution for the period 1st July to 31st December 1989
 ---pagebreak---                                - 12 -
  Depending on the type of scientist and the purpose of the research
  allocation, it may take different forms:
     funding to enable a research scientist to make short stays (from 15
     days to 2 months) in a foreign country within the Community to
     carry out specific experiments in a particular scientific or
     technical facility not available in his own country;
     funding to cover the costs associated with mobility (travel,
     subsistence, Insurance, removal, etc.), the research work and
     possibly the salary of a scientist seconded to or incorporated in a
     research team in a country (in the Community) other than his own,
     for a period of at least six months and at most three years;
     funding to cover the costs associated with the mobility and
     research work of a scientist taken on in industry, who goes to
     follow a lengthy training course (from one to three years) in a
     public sector laboratory in a foreign country (within the
     Community);
     subsidies for high-level training courses:       financial support
     granted to a body offering a specialised high-level course held
     within a Member State so that it can accept scientists from
     different Community Member States to give them additional training
     or enable them to retrain for other functions.
- Twinning of laboratories in different countries
  This enables researchers who are working in isolation in an advanced
  field in several Community countries to bring their efforts together,
  without coming into one laboratory, and thus encouraging the formation
  of a research team exceeding the necessary "critical size".     Funding
  is granted to allow the researchers to meet, to carry out joint
  experiments, to exchange results, to add to their equipment or to
  strengthen their teams by temporarily taking on other scientists,
  preferably from a different country.
- Development of muttidlsciplinary, multinational operations
  This would, by virtue of the financial resources made available,
  enable the associated research teams to have enough resources
  (including equipment) and be able to bring together the best expertise
  available in different countries and disciplines, in order to achieve
  a pre-determined objective or to undertake jointly a pre-determined
  scientific task in the framework of a S/T cooperation "network".
  In addition, the Plan will be complemented by sectoral incentive
  measures: research bursaries, research grants and subsidies financed
  in the framework of each of the Community research and development
  programmes following the agreement of the appropriate Management and
  Coordination Committee (CGC).
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 13 -
    Measures to stimulate interchange and cooperation apply to all fields
    relevant to the exact and natural sciences, such as:
    -  mathematics
    -  physics
    -  chemistry
    -  life sciences
    -  earth sciences and ocean sciences
   -   scientific instrumentation
   -   engineering sciences.
4. In the fields in which support will be granted, multinational projects to
   benefit from the Community support measures will be chosen essentially on
   the basis of their quality,           the extent    to which they are
   multidlscipllnary in content, their innovative aspects and their value in
   terms of breaking down barriers between different forms of research and
   development in all parts of the Community.          Where scientific and
   technical quality is comparable, particular attention will be given to
   projects    likely  to reduce scientific      and  technical development
   disparities between Member States and thereby to contribute to economic
   and social cohesion within the European Community.
5. The choice of stimulation incentive measures and the teams concerned will
   be made by the Commission which, with the help of the Committee for the
   European Development of Science and Technology (CODEST), will make use of
   a peer review system.      The Commission will see to it that there is
   consistency between the stimulation activity and programmed Community
   R & D activities.
6. The Commission will at the same time undertake a series of consultations,
   surveys and seminars with the cooperation of Community scientific and
   technical circles in order to analyse and evaluate scientific and
   technical needs and opportunities, with the aim of providing more detail
   to the content of the Stimulation Plan.
   The Commission will cooperate closely with the national authorities to
   ensure consistency between these activities and national policies on
   research stimulation.
7. In order to evaluate the scientific and/or technical quality of requests
   for support, as well as to analyse scientific and technical opportunities
   and needs or to assess projects which have been financed or the actilty
   itself, the Commission may call upon expertise from outside Its own
   staff.
 ---pagebreak--- Commission of the European Communities
COM(89) 309 final
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation Agreement between the
European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland on a pro-
gramme plan to stimulate the international cooperation and interchange
needed by European research scientists (Science)
(submitted by the Commission)
23.6.1989
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L - 2985 Luxembourg
Series: DOCUMENTS
 1989 - 17 pp. - Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm
EN
ISSN 0254-1475
ISBN 92-77-51682-8
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-275-EN-C
 ---pagebreak---                                            ISSN 0254-1475
COM(89) 309 final
DOCUMENTS
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the conclusion of a Cooperation
Agreement between the European Economic
Community and the Republic of Finland on a
programme plan to stimulate the international
cooperation and interchange needed by
European research scientists (Science)
(submitted by the Commission)
11      16                               23.6.1989
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-275-EN-C
ISBN 92-77-51682-8
€
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES