CELEX: 51989PC0506
Language: en
Date: 1989-10-13
Title: AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF COMPETITIVENESS OF AGRICULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ( 1989-1993 )

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                  C0MC89) 506 final -SYN 152
                                                  Brussels, 13  October 1989
                           AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A
                               COUNCIL DECISION
   adopting a specific research and technological development programme
               in the field of competitiveness of agriculture
          and management of agricultural resources (1989-1993)
        (Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of
                    the EEC Treaty )
 ---pagebreak---                               AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A
                                  COUNCIL DECISION
      adopting a specific research and technological development programme
                  in the field of competitiveness of agriculture
             and management of agricultural resources (1989-1993)
                           COM (88) 459 final - SYN 152
           (Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of
                       the EEC Treaty )
                                 (89/C    .../   )
(1) O.J. N* C 146, 13.06.1989, p. 15
                                                                           i
 ---pagebreak---                       EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Subject:      Amended Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a
              specific research and technological development
              programme in the field of competitiveness of
              agriculture and management of agricultural
              resources (1989-1993).
The attached Amended Proposal largely takes account of the
amendements proposed by the Parliament. It is in line with the
position taken by the Commission in the Plenary Session of the
Parliament on 24 May 1989. In reality of the 34 amendments
proposed by the Parliament, 26 were accepted by the Commission, 5
were partially accepted and 3 amendements were not taken up by
the Commission. A recapitulative table, attached to this
Explanatory Memorandum, indicates in detail the outcome of the
amendments from the European Parliament in relation to the
Amended Proposal from the Commission.
In addition the form of the initial Proposal from the Commission
has been modified to make it conform with the "harmonised text"
for specific research programmes. The harmonised text was in fact
announced after the initial proposal of the Commission was
transmitted on 22 September 1988 to the Council and Parliament.
                                                                  3
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                                                                                                                  (pREC/FR/een)
                                                                                                                                                                                ANNEXE E -     p. 1
                    P R O P O S I T I O N DE D E C I S I O N A R R E T A N 1" UN PROGRAMME S P E C I F I QUE DE RECHERCHE ET
                      DE DEVELOPPEMENT TECHNOLOGI QUE DANS ; LE D O M A I N E DE LA C O M P E T I T I V I T E DE
                           L ' A G R I CULTURE ET LA G E S T I O N D E S RESSOURCES A G R I C O L E S ( 1 9 8 9 - 1 9 9 3 )
                                                                     COM(88) 459          f i n a I - SYN 1 5 2
                                            P A R L E M E N T                                                                                    C O M M I S S I O N
       DOC. A2 - 151/89           AMEN-                                                                         ACCEP-
       PE 133.157                DEMENT                                CONTENU                                  TABLE                           PROPOSITION MOOIFIEE
       du 24 mai 1989               n*                                                                         OUI/NON                               COMMENTAIRES
   TITRE                              1   Programme specifiqu« de Recherche e t Developpe-                       Oui
                                            nent Technologique
   CONSIDERANTS
     CONS. 1                          2   Suppression                                                            Oui
     CONS. 2                          3   Suppression                                                            Oui
     CONS. 5                          4   Accroissement des ressourcee humaines et f i n a n -                   Oui    Considerant 5
                                            ciered
     CONS.   8                        5   Cohesion economique et s o c i a i e , s t a b i 1 i s a t e u r s . Partiel- Considerants 2 et 6. La n o t i o n de s t o b i 1 1 s a t e u r
                                             regions mediterraneennes                                          lement      n'a pas ete r e t e n u e .
     CONS. 11                         6   Adaptation oux changements et a 1 ' e v o l u t i o n de               Oui    Considerant 9
                                             la PAC
     CONS. 12                         7   Coordination avec autres programmes (ECLAIR -                          Oui    Considerant 10
                                            FLAIR)
     CONS. 13                         8   Suppression                                                            Oui
   DISPOSITIF
     ART. 1 S 1                       9   Duree et montont du programme                                          Oui    A r t . 1 et 2
     ART. 2 S 2                     10    Modalites d ' a p p l i c a t i o n                                    Out    Annexe I "Modalites d ' e x e c u t i o n " § 1 et 2
     ART. 1 § 4                     11    Couts supplemental res - I n s t i t u t e de recherche                Oui    Annexe I "Modalitee d ' e x e c u t i o n " § 2
                                            ou u n i v e r s i t e s
     ART. 1 I 4 (nouveau)           12    Coordination avec ECLAIR e t FLAIR                                     Oui    Considerant 10 e t Annexe I "Modalites d * e x e c u -
                                                                                                                            tion" § 4
     ART. 1 § 5 (nouveau)           13    Procedure budgetaire                                                   Non    Question h o r i z o n t a l s inopproprlee
     ART. 2                         14    Com!tologie                                                            Non    A r t . 5 et 6 : le Comite type I I a ) est coneidere
                                                                                                                           comme etant plus a p p r o p r i e .
     ART. 3 § 1                     15    Execution - Contrats                                                 Partlel- A r t . 5 et Annexe I " M o d a l i t e t d ' e x e c u t i o n " § 1 .
                                                                                                               1emen t     La r e f e r e n c e aux p r o j e t s p i l o t e e n ' e s t plus
                                                                                                                            repr i s e .
     ART. 4                         16    Rapports et evaluation                                                 Oui    A r t . 4 et Annexe I " E v a l u a t i o n -
     ART. 4 § 4 (nouveau)           17    Evaluation : consequences ecologiques et eco-                          Oui    Annexe I " E v a l u a t i o n " § 5 point 4
                                            nomique*
-N
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                                                                    (PREC/FR/een)
                                                                                                                                   ANNEXE E - P :
                                    P A R L E M E N T                                                         C O M M I S S I O N
    DOC. A2 - 151/89        AMEN-                                                    ACCEP-
    PE 133.157             DMENT                       CONTENU                       TABLE                    PROPOSITION MOOIFIEE
    du 24 mai 1989           n#                                                     OUI/NON                       COMMENTAIRES
       A N N E X E
TITRE                        18   Programme specif(que de Recherche et Developpe-     Oui
                                    ment Technologique
PARAGRAPHE 1                 19   Oeveloppement et utilisation de la technologie      Oui
PAR. 1 alinea c)             26   StabiIisateurs, cohesion economique et sociole    Port iel- Considerant 6, Annexe I, object if 3. La notion
                                                                                    lement      de stabi 1 isateur n'a pas ete retenue.
PAR. 1 olinea d) (nouveau)   21   Environnement                                       Oui     Annexe I : Object ifs point 4 et Contenu point 1
PAR. 2 alineas a) et b)      22   Technique de production, meilleure qua lite des     Oui     Annexe I : Contenu pointe 1 et 2 et Evaluation
                                    produits                                                    paragraphe 5 point 2
PAR. 2 alinea f)             23   Diffusion des resultats du programme                Oui     Annexe I : Object ifs point 5, Contenu point 4 et
                                                                                                Evaluation point 4
PAR. 2 dernier alinea        24   Conform!te des Objectifs et du Contenu avec         Oui     Consideroats. Annexe I, Objectifs et Contenu
                                    1'Annexe I du Programme-Cadre (1987-1991)
PARAGRAPHE 3                 25   Realisation des objectifs                           Oui     Annexe I
PAR. 3 alinea a) (i)         26   Criteres : preservation de la nature et pro-        Oui     Annexe I : Contenu point 1 5eme tiret. Evaluation
  dernier tiret                     tection de 1'environnement                                  paragraphe 5 points 2 et 4
PAR. 3 alinea a) (1)         27   Amelioration des especee animates et vegetates.   Partiel-  Annexe I : Contenu point 1 1er tiret
  nouveau tiret                     Techniques cellulaires et moleculaires.         lement
PAR. 3 alinea o) (i)         28   Aspects des innovations: methodes sclent ifIques,   Non     Coneiderations sortant du cadre de la proposition
  nouveau tiret                     qua lite, parometre de qualite, onalyse socio-
                                    economi que, consommati on
PAR. 3 alinea a) (ii)        29   Method* de diagnostic et de lutte contre les      Partiel-  Annexe I : Contenu point 1 tiret 1. point 2 ti-
  4eme tiret                        maladies, immunologic, biochimie et biologie    lement      ret 5, Modalites d'execution 4eme paragraphe
                                    molecu 1 aire
PAR. 3 alinea a) (iii)       30   Suppression du tiret                                Oui
  4eme tiret
PAR. 3 alinea b) tltre et    31
  preambule
PAR. 3 alinea b) deux        32     Activitee pilotes ou prioritaires                           La proposition modifiee ne mentionne plus
  dernteres phrases                                                                             specifiquement les activitee pi lotee ou
PAR. 3 alinea c) premiere    33                                                                 prlori tairee
  phrase
 ---pagebreak---                                  AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A
                                     COUNCIL DECISION
           on a specific research and technological development programme
                     in the field of competitiveness of agriculture
                and management of agricultural resources 1989 to 1993
    THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
    Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
    and in particular Article 130q(2) thereof,
    Having regard to the proposal from the Commission       ,
                                                   (2)
    In cooperation with the European Parliament       ,
                                                                         (3)
    Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee       ,
1. Whereas Article 130 K of the Treaty stipulates that the Framework Programme
    shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each
    activity;
                                                   U)
2. Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC        , as amended by Decision
    88/193/EEC, Euratom      , the Council adopted a framework programme for
    Community research and technological development (1987-1991) providing for
    activities to be implemented to ensure the exploitation and optimum use of
    biological resources;
(1) OJ NO C
(2 ; 0J No C ..
(3) O: No C   56, 06.03.1989, p. 22
(4) OJ No L  302, 24.10.1987, p. 1
(5) 0.7 Ne L  8 9 , 06.04.1988, p . 35
 ---pagebreak---                                           2 -
 3. Whereas the same Decision also lays down that Community action is justified
     if it contributes, inter alia, to strengthening the Community's economic
     and social cohesion and to promoting its overall harmonious development,
    while at the same time being consistent with the pursuit of scientific and
     technical excellence, whereas the specific research and technological
     development programme on the competitiveness of agriculture and management
     of agricultural resources is planned to contribute to the attainment of the
    objectives of the common agricultural policy;
4. Whereas the Framework Programme foresees a specific research and
    technological development programme on the competitiveness of agriculture
    and management of agricultural resources to assist in increasing the
    efficiency of human and financial resources devoted to agriculture and in
    providing a response to the economic, social, environmental and regional
    challenges arising from the way farming and farming methods are changing
    rural areas;
5. Whereas in the Community efforts are needed to overcome the problems of
    agricultural surpluses, production has to be adjusted in line with market
    demand, agricultural incomes have to be maintained at a reasonable level,
    agricultural structures have to be rationalised and modernised, and to
    assure competitiveness of agriculture in the European Communities on the
    world market, and at the same time to care for and improve the environment;
6. Whereas efforts must be directed to the promotion and development of
   products which are in deficit in the Community, on the improvement of the
   quality of agricultural products and the development of new uses for
   traditional and novel agricultural products to give higher added value;
7. Whereas numerous areas in the Community lag behind others in development
   and whereas there is therefore a need to define viable solutions, to meet
   existing opportunities, to reduce the economic and social disparities
   between the slower zones to develop, for example in the Mediterranean
   regions, and the economically more developed parts of the Community;
                                                                                 >
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 3 -
  8. Whereas one of the major problems facing agricultural research will be
     confining the rapidly escalating costs of agricultural inputs by inter
      alia developing new production, processing and conservation systems aimed
      at reducing costs;
 9.  Whereas the elaboration of long-term schemes in resource management can
     result in new ways of managing land and water to the advantage of
     agriculture, the environment and the countryside;
 10. Whereas the development of methods and services to disseminate
     agricultural research results will facilitate adaptation to change and to
     the evolution of the common agricultural policy;
 11. Whereas the programme will be developed and implemented in close
     coordination with the actions of the Framework Programme, in particular
     the ECLAIR and FLAIR programmes.
 HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                     Article 1
A specific research and technological development programme in the field of
competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources is
hereby adopted, in the form set out in Annex I, for a five year period
beginning on                  1989.
                                     Article 2
The funds estimated as necessary for the Community contribution to the
execution of the programme amount to ECU 55 million, including expenditure on
an additional staff of 8 people.
An indicative internal allocation of these funds is set out in Annex II.
 ---pagebreak---                                        _ 4 _
                                     Article 3
 Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme are set out in Annex I
                                     Article 4
 During the third year of implementation, the Commission shall review the
 programme and send a report on the results to the European Parliament and the
Council.   This report shall be accompanied, where necessary, by proposals for
the amendment or extension of the programme.
At the end of the programme, an evaluation of the results achieved shall be
conducted by the Commission which shall report thereon to the European
Parliament and the Council.
The reports referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be established having
regard to the objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision, and in
conformity with the provisions of Article 2(2) of Decision 87/516/Euratom/EEC.
                                    Article 5
The Commission shall be responsible for the execution of the programme.
The Commission shall be assisted by a committee, hereinafter referred to as
'the Committee', composed of the representatives of the Member States and
chaired by a representative of the Commission.
                                                                               q
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 5 -
                                     Article 6
 The representative of the Commission shall submit to thé Committee a draft of
 the measures to be taken.  The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the
 draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the
 urgency of the matter.  The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid
 down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the
Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission.   The votes of
the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be
weighted in the manner set out in that Article.   The chairman shall not vote.
The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately.   However,
if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee,
they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith.   In
that event the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has
decided for a period of not more than one month from the date of such
communication;
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision
within the time limit referred to in the previous paragraph.
                                                                               \0
 ---pagebreak---                                       .- 6 -
                                    Article 7
This Decision is addressed to the Member States
Done at Brussels                                For the Council
  The President
                                                                AA
 ---pagebreak--- The specific objectives are set out at the beginning of Annex I above.
Two years after its implementation the programme will be assessed on the
following :
    1. that new research has been conducted in selected agricultural production
       systems to improve the outlets, and whether there are indications that
       the results of this research have any benefits;
   2. that new research on quality has resulted in superior products,
       healthier crops and animals;
   3. that for regions lagging behind in development additional research has
       identified the constraints, how to begin to overcome the difficulties
       and how some specific actions might improve the economic and social
       cohesion of these regions;
   4. that in addition to the better use of the A6REP and EUR-AGRIS systems,
       development has taken place to assist the use of the new technology to
       improve the dissemination of the results of agricultural research
       particularly from this programme;
   5. that the coordination activities are consistent with the objectives of
       the programme, that they add to its utility and impact, and to the value
       of the important national research programmes in the Member States, that
       they are being widely promoted and appropriately monitored;
   6. that the work has been complementary and coordinated with other
      Community actions.
                                                                                Af>
 ---pagebreak--- At the end of the programme the evaluation, in addition to reconsidering the
 above at that time will include an assessment to establish :
 1. that the results obtained from this specific Community research programme,
    might contribute solutions to some major problems encountered by the common
    agricultural policy;
    thai in exploiting biological resources for Community agriculture, the
    competitiveness of Community agriculture is enhanced, resources are well
    managed, harmful effects on health and the environment are reduced and that
    greater attention is accorded to protection and enhancement of nature and
    the rural society;
3. that the programme has produced added value attributable to the
    multinational Community character of the shared-cost and coordinated
    act-or. s and has avoided duplication of research effort;
4. that the results which can be applied have been assessed in terms of
    ecological, structural, social and economic consequences;
5. that the dissemination of results has contributed to the transfer of
    methodologies and research activities into regions where the research was
    not conducted;
6. that adequate consideration has been accorded to all the selection criteria
    set out in Annex III to Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC.
                                                                                <>
 ---pagebreak---      - effects of residues, toxins and other noxious substances occuring in
        agricultural products,
     - preparation for and packaging of agricultural products to ensure better
       quality and environmental safety,
     - detecting and controlling crop and animal diseases that threaten the
       Community and improving the welfare of farm animals,
     - developing alternative uses and improving the quality of traditional
       products.
 3. Socio-economic aspects and specific actions for all regions in the
    Community lagging behind in development :
    - assessment of the structural, social and economic consequences of
       applying the agricultural policies of the Community in these regions,
    - investigation of constraints to development in these regions and
       orientation of subsequent research and development actions,
    - specific regional problems arising from the conversion, diversification
       and extensification of crop and animal production,
    - specific regional problems arising from conversion into woodland and
       forest production,
    - specific regional actions to overcome the problems posed by the poor
       composition, excess and/or lack of water,
    - actions to improve agricultural mechanisation in specific regions,
    - integrated rural development.
4. Methods and services to disseminate agricultural research information
    particularly from this programme
   - integrating Community Agricultural Research Information Systems to
      improve access, to disseminate results to research and extension services
      and to respond to the needs of the common agricultural policy and the
      rural society;
   - developing agricultural information technology to avoid duplication, to
      improve the quality of agricultural research in the Comunity, and to
      increase its added value;
   - applying computers and information modelling to agricultural production
      systems to better identify the research and information needs of
      Community programmes.
                                                                                w
 ---pagebreak---  Implementation
 The programme has activities carried out by means of shared-cost research
 contracts to be awarded following a selection procedure based on a call for
 proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.    The
 participants may be public or private bodies such as research establishments
 and universities; industrial and agricultural enterprises; individuals,
 associations and cooperatives; or any combination thereof established in the
 Community.
 For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will be normally up to
 50% of the total expenditure.   Alternatively, in respect of universities and
 research establishments carrying out projects, in the context of this
 programme, the Community may bear up to 100% of the additional expenditure
 involved.   Contracts should, in general, be carried out by participants from
more than one Member State.
The programme also has coordination actions, and training and mobility
grants.   Meetings, seminars, workshops and grants will be well publicised and
results from all the actions will be thoroughly promoted in the Community.
In executing the programme, the Commission shall ensure close coordination
with other research activities of the Community, in particular, the current
programmes involving agriculture, biotechnology and the environment.
Evaluation
The Commission's communication to the Council concerning a Community plan of
action relating to the evaluation of Community research and development
activities      states that the objectives of each research programme have to
be set out in a testable form.
The overall objective of this programme is to strengthen the competitiveness
of agriculture and the management of agricultural resources.    The programme
responds to the needs of the common agricultural policy and the rural
society.   The programme promotes greater economic and social cohesion, and
protection of the environment.
(6) OJ No. C 14, 20.01.1987, p. 5
                                                                                 4S
 ---pagebreak---                                       ANNEX I
            Specific research and technological development programme
                in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and
                 management of agricultural resources (1989-1993)
Objectives
The research programme, in particular through the development and use of
technology, will be directed at the following objectives :
1. to help farmers to adapt to the new situation created by over-production
   and a restrictive policy on prices and markets;
2. to maintain the incomes from holdings and encourage structural reform
   whilst controlling output and reducing production costs;
3. to care for and improve the agricultural situation, in line with the market
   situation, in all regions with weak agricultural structures and which have
   been slow to develop, thus promoting greater economic and social cohesion
   in the Community;
4. to conserve natural resources and the countryside, ensuring that an
   improved environment will result from the application of the technologies
   to be developed and from changes in production systems;
5. to develop agricultural information services and infrastructures to improve
   the dissemination of research results within and between Member States.
                                                                               AZ
 ---pagebreak---  Content
 The research activities have been divided into four sectors :
 1. Conversion, diversification, including extensification of production.
     reduction of costs and protection of the rural environment :
     - introduction of new and improved varieties of crops, out of season
       products, and by-products, especially to encourage higher added value;
    - alternative livestock systems to avoid surpluses involving in particular
       goats, sheep, suckler cows, horses and game;
    - examination of farm woodland production systems, integrated forest
       grazing systems, and the cultivation of a wider range of crops in
       woodland and forest undergrowth;
    - improved biological and integrated pest control, better utilisation and
       reduction in the use of fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides
       in farming systems;
    - development of alternative agricultural practices, especially of organic
       farming, aimed at conserving natural resources and the countryside;
    - support for the development of the common agricultural structures policy
       by providing the range of data necessary for its conception, evaluation
       and management;
    - identification of alterative uses for land which may no longer be
       required for agriculture, including the establishment, in environmentally
       sensitive areas, of systems of land and water use and management;
2. Product quality, new uses for traditional products, and aspects of plant
    and animal health :
    - definition, measurement and determination of quality in agricultural
      products where market opportunities might exist especially where there
       are possibilities for higher added value,
   - pre and post-harvesting techniques, including transport and storage, to
       improve quality,
                                                                                 45
 ---pagebreak---                                        Annex II
      Indicative Internal Allocation of Funds               %
 I.   Contract actions
      1. Conversion, diversification,
          including extensification of production,        32.5
          reduction of costs, and protection of the
          rural environment
      2. Product quality, aspects of plant
          and animal health and new uses for
          traditional products                            20.0
     3. Socio-economic aspects and specific actions
          for all regions lagging behind in development  17.5
     4. Improvement in the dissemination and
          application of results, particularly
          from this agricultural research programme        5.0
II.  Coordination actions
     Operating costs for meetings, seminars,
     publications, promotion of results,
     the permanent inventory of agricultural
     research, and programme evaluation                  15.5
III. Training and mobility grants                          5.0
:v   Staff costs                                           4.5 ( 1 )
                                                        100.0
        i percentage corresponds to a staff of 8 referred to in Article 2 of
        s Incision
                                                                             IB
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     ISSN 0254-1475
                                                              COM(89) 506 final
                                                     DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                         16 03
                                Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-462-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-53746-9
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