CELEX: 51988PC0587
Language: en
Date: 1988-10-27
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

23. 11. 88                             Official Journal of the European Communities                          N o C 298/17
              Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technological development
                                 programme in the field of marine science and technology
                                               COM(88) 587 final — SYN 162
                            (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 4 November 1988)
                                                        (88/C 298/07)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES                           Whereas it is widely recognized that a good knowledge
                                                                  base and reliable predictive techniques are essential for
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European             long term management and protection strategies for the
Economic Community, and in particular Article 1302 (2)            marine environment;
thereof,
                                                                  Whereas to achieve these objectives much can be gained
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,                from effective coordination of the research programmes
                                                                  of the Member States and joint execution of European
                                                                  projects in marine science and technology;
In cooperation with the European Parliament,
                                                                  Whereas participation by certain European non-member
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                  States in a Community R & D programme in marine
Social Committee,                                                 science and technology would be beneficial;
Whereas Article 130 k of the Treaty provides that the             Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research
framework programme shall be implemented through                  Committee (Crest) has been consulted on the following
specific programmes developed within each activity;               measures,
Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC ('), the
Council has adopted a framework programme of                      HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION
Community research and technological development
(1987 to 1991), providing inter alia for activities in                                    Article 1
exploitation of the seabed and use of marine resources;
                                                                 A specific research and technological development
                                                                 programme for the European Economic Community in
Whereas, for the selection of Community actions, the
                                                                 the field of marine science and technology, as defined in
framework programme sets out criteria including that of
                                                                 the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of three years,
contributing to the strengthening of economic and social
                                                                 starting on
cohesion of the Community, consistent with the pursuit
of scientific and technical quality;
                                                                                          Article 2
Whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 10          The amount deemed necessary for the execution of the
October 1986 (2) stresses the necessity for cooperation,         programme is 50 million ECU, including expenditure on
coordination and complementarity of national policies in         a staff of 13.
the field of oceanography and recommends that the
Commission undertake a number of actions to that effect
under the framework programme;                                                            Article 3
                                                                 Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme
Whereas other Community programmes (e.g. environ-                and the rate of the Community's financial participation
mental protection, climatology and natural hazards,              are set out in the Annex.
fisheries, technological development in the hydrocarbons
sector, non-nuclear energy and some activities of the
JRC) have a bearing on topics in marine science and                                       Article 4
technology, but none are directed specifically at marine
research;                                                         1.    In the second year of the programme implemen-
                                                                 tation, the Commission shall undertake a review of the
                                                                 programme and it shall report to the Council and the
Whereas in the present context of expanding industrial-          European Parliament on the results thereof, together, if
ization, increasing pressure is being placed on the marine       necessary, with any proposals for modification of
and especially the coastal environment;                          prolongation.
                                                                 2.    An evaluation of the results achieved shall be
(') OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1.                             conducted by the Commission, which shall report
O OJ No C 283, 10. 11. 1986, p. 104.                             thereon to the Council and the European Parliament.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 298/18                              Official Journal of the European Communities                                 23. 11. 88
3.    The abovementioned reports shall be established                                           Article 6
having regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to
this Decision and in conformity with the provisions of                  1. The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate,
Article 2 (2) of Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC.                         in accordance with Article 130 N of the Treaty,
                                                                       agreements with non-member States and international
                                                                       organizations, in particular with those countries partici-
                            Article 5                                  pating in European cooperation in the field of scientific
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the                         and technological research (COST), and those having
execution of the programme and shall be assisted in its                concluded framework agreements in scientific and
implementation by a Management and Coordination                        technical cooperation with the Community with a view
Advisory Committee (CGC), which shall be set up in                     to associating them wholly or partly with the
accordance with the provisions laid down in Council                    programme.
Decision 84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC ('), and called                     2.    Where framework agreements for scientific and
the MAST Committee.                                                    technical cooperation between non-member States and
                                                                       the European Communities have been concluded, organ-
2.    The contracts entered into by the Commission shall               izations and enterprises established in those countries
regulate the rights and obligations of each party,                     may participate in a project undertaken within this
including the methods of disseminating, protecting and                 programme.
exploiting the research results.
                                                                                                Article 7
(') OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25.                                    This Deciiion is addressed to the Member States.
                                                               ANNEX
                         R & D PROGRAMME ON MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MAST)
                                                             I. Objectives
             The objectives of the MAST programme are:
             — to contribute to better knowledge of the marine environment, especially of European coastal and
                regional seas (including the NE Atlantic), in order to improve their management and protection and to
                predict change,
             — to encourage the development of new technologies for the exploration, protection and exploitation of
                marine resources (with the exception of fisheries, hydrocarbons and renewable energy, which are
                addressed by other Community programmes),
             — to improve coordination and cooperation amongst national marine R & D programmes in the Member
                States, and to help increase the effectiveness of these programmes through better use of research
                facilities,
             — to strengthen industrial competitiveness in the relevant sectors,
             — to provide the technical basis for, and encourage the development of, common norms, standards and
                design guidelines, in view of the completion of the internal market in 1992,
             — to assist European participation in worldwide ocean programmes,
             — to facilitate training and exchange of personnel.
             The programme comprises four main headings:
             — Basic and applied marine science
             — Coastal zone science and engineering
             — Marine technology
             — Supporting initiatives.
 ---pagebreak--- 23. 11. 88                              Official Journal of the European Communities                                       No C 298/19
                                                              II. Contents
           PART I —BASIC AND APPLIED MARINE SCIENCE
           1. Modelling
               1.1. Continental shelf and regional seas
               1.2. Coastal waters
               1.3. Ecosystem models
               1.4. Modelling coordination
           2. Oceanography
               2.1. Circulation and exchange of water masses
               2.2. Biogeochemical cycles and fluxes
               2.3. Interface and boundary processes
               2.4. Biological processes
               2.5. Sedimentary processes
           PART II — COASTAL ZONE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
           1. Coastal morphodynamics
           2. Coastal ecosystems
           3. Meteomarine predictions
           4. Coastal engineering
           PART III — MARINE TECHNOLOGY
           1. Instrumentation for science
           2. Generic enabling technologies
           3. Design aspects of large scale facilities
           4. Studies on the outlook for the 1990s
           PART IV — SUPPORTING INITIATIVES
            1. European ocean data and information network
           2. Research vessel and heavy equipment coordination
           3. Advanced training
           4. Surveying for resource evaluation
           5. Preparation of norms and standards
           6. Marine polar research, marine geoscientific lithospheric research
                                                          III. Implementation
           The programme shall be implemented by means of (i) shared-cost research contracts, (ii) coordination
           activities (including concerted action), (iii) supporting initiatives, (iv) study contracts, and (v) training and
           exchange of staff.
           The programme is open to universities, research organizations and industrial companies, including small
           and medium-sized entreprises, individuals, or any combination thereof established in the Community.
           Shared-cost projects involving research centres (and/or universities) and industry are particularly welcome,
           and mandatory for Part III, Marine technology. In general projects must involve participants from more
           than one Member State.
           The association and involvement of non-member States, international and national organizations shall be
           founded on the criterion of mutual advantage. In the case of organizations and enterprises established in
           EFTA countries suitable arrangements shall be made on a case by case basis.
           For shared-cost contracts, the Community participation will generally be 50 % of the total expenditure, but
           this percentage may be varied according to the nature and the stage of development of the research. In
           respect of universities and research institutes carrying out projects, the Community may bear up to 100 %
           of the additional expenditure involved.