CELEX: 51981PC0448
Language: en
Date: 1981-09-10
Title: Draft COUNCIL DECISION concerning the conclusion of an Agreement on a concerted action project in the field of treatment and use of sewage sludge (COST project 68 ter) between the European Economic Community and certain non-member states participating in the scheme for European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research (COST) (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (81) 448
Vol. 1981/0139
 ---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), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
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 European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
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), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak---  COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                      COM(81)448 final
                                                     Brussels , 10 September 1981
                                    Draft
                              COUNCIL DECISION
              concerning the conclusion of        an Agreement on a concerted
              action project in the field of treatment and use of sewage
              sludge       ( COST project      68 ter ) between the European
             Economic Community and certain non-member states participating
             in the scheme for European cooperation in the field of scientific
             and technical research ( COST )
                   ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
                                              ^ ^            A
                                          , £?•   -■          \-
                                    £ri "S"                   i
                                             . rv            i
C0M(81 ) 448 final                 v        '-        A / ■
 ---pagebreak---  Subject t    Agreement on a concerted action project in the field of
              treatment and use of sewage sludge ( COST project 68 'er )
              to be concluded between the EEC and some Third States
              participating in European Cooperation in the field of
              scientific and technical research ( COST).
 A research project on treatment and use of sewage sludge had been the
 subject of COST project 68 in the period 1972-1974 * The agreement on
 the implementation of this project had been signed by the following
 countries *
                                                i        *
 Member States                                 Non-Member States
 Belgium                                       Finland                 ^
 Denmark         1                           . Norway
 Prance                                        Turkey         -          N
 Germany                                       Sweden
 Italy                                         Switzerland
 Netherlands                                   Yougoslavia
 United Kingdom
 Following the Council decision of 15 March 1976 approving a second
 research programme on the environment and in view of the very encou- -
 raging results obtained in COST project 68 a concerted action project
 on treatment and use of sewage sludge ( COST project 68 bis ) was adopted
 by the Council of 27 September 1977 ( l)® The Third States participating
 in European Cooperation . in the field of scientific and technical; research
 ( COST) were invited to participate in this concerted action project and .
 the relevant agreement Was 'concluded by the Council on 19 March 1979 ( 2 )
 and signed on 26 July 19X9® . Community, Norway, Austria, Switserland ,
 Finland and Sweden yfete the .signatories of this agreement .
 By its decision of *3 March ,*1981 ( 3 ), the Council adopted a sectoral research
 and development programme- oh. the field of environment ( environmental
 protection and climatology). Including a new concerted action project on
 treatment and use of feewdge pludge « Article 8 of the above mentioned
 decision provides for a conclusion of international agreements between the
 Community and Third States , "in particular those involved in European Coope­
 ration in' the field of scientific and technical research ( COST) with a view
 to associating them wholly or partly with this programme . The Commission has
been , pursuant to this provision , authorized to negotiate to this effect .
                                                  *■
  ( 1 ) O.J. N° L267, 19.10'!1977, P« 35
  ( 2 ) O.J. N° L72 , 23.03.1979. P. 35
  (3 ) O.J. N° L101 , 11.04.1981 . p. 1
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 2 -
The negotiations axe now completed and have culminated in the draft
agreement annexed to the attached draft Council decision . This
agreement provides for :
-      the setting up of a Community-COST Concertation Committee ;
-      concertation within this Committee , secretarial services for
       which are provided "by the Commission, "between the Community
       project and the corresponding programmes of the COST non­
     • Member States ;           /
-   , a financial contribution of each non-Member State participating
       in the project equivalent to one-tenth of the Community con­
       tribution to the project , i.e. 20,000 ECU for the duration of the
       project .
The following non-Member States have expressed their desire to participate
in this project : Austria, Norway , Sweden , Switzerland and Finland .
The Commission request the Council to adopt the draft decision attached
hereto .
 ---pagebreak---            4              DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the conclusion of an      Agreement on a concerted action project in
the field of treatment and use of sewage sludge      ( COST project        68 ter)
between the European Economic Community and certain non-member States par­
ticipating . in the scheme for European cooperation in the field of scientific
and technical research ( COST )
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
Having regard to Council Decision 81 / 213 / EEC of 3 March 1981 adopting a sectoral
research and development programme in the field of environment ( environmental
                                                                       (1 ) -
protection and climatology ) - indirect and concerted actions              ,  and in
particular Article 8 ( 1 ) thereof ,
Having regard to the draft Decision submitted by the Commission ,
Whereas , pursuant to Article 8 ( 2 ) of   Decision 81 / 213 / EEC , the Commission has
negotiated an Agreement with certain non-member States involved in European Coope­
ration in the field of Scientific and Technic^. Research ( COST ) with a view to
associating them wholly or partly with this programme ;
Whereas this Agreement should be approved ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
                                     Article 1
The Community - COST Concertation Agreement oh a . concerted action project in the field
                                                                )                    - .
of treatment and use of sewage sludge ( COST project 68 ter ) between the European
Economic Community and certain no.n-membe,r States involved in European Cooperation
in the field of Scientific and Technical Research ( COST ) is hereby approved on
behalf of the Community .
The text of the Agreement is annexed hereto .
                                     Article 2
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons
empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community .
Done at Brussels ,                                                For the Council
                                                                   The President
    O.J. N° L 101 , 11.04.1981 , p\1
 ---pagebreak---                  COMMON ITV -COST OONCERTATION AGREEMENT
               ON A CCii'CERTEj > ACTION PROJECT IN THE FIELD
                   OP TREATMENT AND USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE
                               ( COST PROJECT 68 ter)
The European Economic Community , hereinafter referred to as "the Community
The Signatory States of this Agreement , hereinafter referred to as
"the participating non-Member States ",
Whereas a European concerted research action projeot in the field of
treatment and use of sewage sludge is likely to contribute effectively
to the reduction of environmental pollution and to more economic use of
natural resource ;
Whereas a Community-COST concertation agreement on a concerted action
project in the field of treatment and use of sewage sludge ( COST Project
68 bis ) has been concluded between the Community and some non-Member
States involved in European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and
Technical Research ( COST) on 26 July 1979 and expired on 18 October 1980 ;
Whereas the above mentioned concerted action project has produced very
encouraging results ;                                      ■       •
Whereas by its Decision of 3 March 1981 the Council of the European
Communities adopted a multiannual research and development programme
in the field of environment ( environmental protection and climatology)
( indirect and concerted actions I98I-I985 ) including a new concerted
action project on the treatment and use of sewage sludge to be carried
out during the period 1st January 1981 - 31 December 1983 ?
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas the Member States of the Community and the participating non-Member
States , hereinafter referred to as "the States ^ intend , subject to the
rules and procedures applicable to their national programmes , to carry out
the research described in Annex A and are prepared to integrate such re­
search into a process of concertat ion which they consider will be of
mutual benefit ;
Whereas the implementation of the Research covered by the concerted action
project will require a financial contribution of approximately 10 million
ECU from the States ,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS :
                                 Article 1
       4                         ––––
      The Community and the participating non-Member States , hereinafter
referred to as "the Contracting Parties 1' , shall participate for the period
                                    ■,       ■        . .                "
1 January 19°1 - 31 December 1983 in a concerted action project in the-
field of treatment and use of sewage sludge *
      This project shall consist in concertation between the Community
concerted aotion programme and the corresponding programmes of the par­
ticipating non-Member States . Research areas covered by this Agreement
are listed in Annex A.
      The States shall remain entirely responsible for the research executed
by their national institutions or bodies#
                               . Article 2
      Concertation between the Contracting Parties shall be effected through
a Comaunity-COST Concertation Committee , hereinafter referred to as
 "the Committee ".
 ---pagebreak---                                      3 -
    Th ? Cc-anittee shall li-aw i.p its rales of procedure .  Its Secretariat
will be provided "by "the Conir ission of the European Communities , hereinafter
referred to as "the Commission"#
     The terms of reference and the composition of this Committee are
defined in Annex B.
                                     Article 3
     In order to ensure optimum efficiency in the execution of this
concerted action project , a project leader can "be appointed by the
Commission in agreement with the Committee *
                                    Article 4
     The maximum financial contribution by the ^Contracting Parties to
the co-ordination costs shall be :
–    200,000 ECU from the Community
-     20,000 ECU from each participating non-Member State for the
      period referred to in the first paragraph of Article 1 *
     The ECU is that defined by the Financial Regulation in force applic­
able to the general budget of the European Communities and by the finan­
cial arrangements adopted pursuant thereto *
     The rules governing the financing of the Agreement- are set out in
Annex C *
                                    Article 5
1*   Through the Committee , the States shall exchange regularly all
useful information resulting from the execution of the research covered
by the concerted action programme *      They shall also endeavour to provide
information on similar research planned or oarried out by other bodies * ~
Any information shall be treated as confidential if the State which
provides it BO requests *
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 4 -
2 . In agreement with the Committee the Commission shall prepare annual
progress reports on the basis of the information supplied acd shalj for­
ward them to the States .                      -
3.     At the end of the concertation period , the Commission shall , in
agreement with the Committee , forward to the States a general report on
the execution and results of the project . This report shall be published
by the Commission six months after it has been forwarded , unless a State
objects . In that case the report shall be treated as confidential and
shall be forwarded on request and with the agreement of the Committee ,
solely to the institutions and undertakings whose research or production
activities justify access to knowledge resulting from the performance of
the research covered by the concerted action project .
                                  Article 6
1.     This Agreement may be signed by the Community and by the non-Member
States of that Community which took part in the Ministerial conference
held in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 1971 *
2.     As a condition precedent to its participation in the concerted action
project defined in Article 1 , each of the Contracting Parties shall , after
signing this Agreement , have notified the Secretary-General of the Council
of the European Communities not later than 30 June 1982 the completion of
the procedures necessary under its internal provisions for the implemen­
tation of this Agreement .                       ,
3 « For the Contracting Parties which have transmitted the notification
   \
provided for in paragraph 2 , this Agreement shall enter into force on the
first day of the month following that in which the Community and at least
one of the participating non-Member States transmitted these notifications
       For those Contracting Parties which transmit the notification after
the entry into force of this Agreement , it shall come into force on the
first day of the second month following the month in which the notifica­
tion was transmitted .
     ν
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 5 »
     Contracting Parties which have not yet transmitted this notification
at the time of entry into force of this Agreement shall be able to take
part in the work of the Committee without voting rights until 30 June 1982 .
4*   The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities
shall notify each of the contracting parties of the deposit of the notifi­
cations provided for in paragraph 2 and of the date of entry into force
of this Agreement .
                                   Article 7
     This Agreement , drawn up in a single original in the Danish , Dutch ,
English , French , German , Greek and Italian languages , each text being
equally authentic , shall be deposited in the archives of the General
Secretariat of the Council of <the European Communities which shall trans­
mit a certified copy to each of the Contracting Parties .
                                                  Done at
 ---pagebreak---                                                              ANNgX A
             RESEARCH AREAS COVERED BT THE AGREEMENT
1 . Sludge stabilization and odour problems :                               *
    - Definition and determination of 'degree of stability' and
      relation to odour nuisance
    - Comparative evaluation of stabi lization proc.edures
2 . Problems related to sludge dewatering :
    - Research on water binding forces
    - Development and standardization of methods for the assessment
      of dewatering properties
    - Problems related to the use of flocculants
    - Comparative evaluation of thickening and dewatering equipment
3 . Analytical problems related to sludge treatment and use :
    - Characterization of pathogens and evaluation of disinfection
      procedures
    - Characterization and determination of polluants ( heavy metals ,
      persistent organic compounds ) in sludge and development of
      standardized analytical methods
A. Environmental problems related to sludge use :
    - Special processing of sludge for agricultural use ( e.g. composting )
      including the improvement of disinfection procedures and polluant
      removal
    - Transfer of polluarvts to plants and harmful effects on vegetation
    - Effects of long range sludge application on soil quality and
      ground water
    - Optimum land use of sludge , including sludge from dephosphatation plants .
 ---pagebreak---                                                           ANNEX B
TERMS OF REFERENCE AND COMPOSITION OF THE COMMUNITY-COST CONCERTATION
            COMMITTEE ON TREATMENT AND USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE
1.     The Committee shall :
1.1 .  contribute to the optimum execution of the concerted action
       project by giving its opinion on all of its aspects ;
1.2 .  evaluate the results of the project and draw conclusions as to
       their application ;
1.3 .  be responsible for the exchange of information referred to in
       Article 5 ( 1 ) of the Agreement ;
1.4 .  suggest guidelines to the project leader .
2.     The Committee 's reports and opinions shall be forwarded to the
       States .
3.     The Committee shall be composed of one delegate from the
       Commission , as coordinator of the Community concerted action
       project , one delegate from each participating non-member State ,
     • one delegate from each Member State representing its national
       programme , and the project leader . Each delegate may be
       accompagnied by experts .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     ANNEX C
                             FINANCING RULES
                                Article 1
These provisions lay down "the financial rules referred to in Article 4 of .
the Agreement on the concerted action projeot in the field of Treatment
and utilisation of sewage sludge ( COST Project 68 ter) •
                                Article 2
At the beginning of each financial year , the Commission shall send to each
of the participating non-Member States a call for funds corresponding to
its sh&re of the annual coordination costs under the Agreement , calculated
in proportion to . the maximum amounts laid down in Article 4 of the Agree­
ment .
This contribution shall be expressed both in ECU and the currency of the
State concerned , the value of the ECU being defined in the Financial
Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities
and determined on the date of the call for funds#
The total contributions shall cover the travel and subsistence costs of
the delegates to the Committee , in addition to the coordination costs
proper .
Each participating non-Member State shall pay its annual contribution to
the coordination costs under the Agreement at the beginning of each year ,
and by 31 March at the latest . Any delay in the payment of the annual
contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by the partici­
pating non-Member State concerned at a rate equal to the highest discount
rate jftiling in the States 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 , such inte­
rest shall be ohargeable only if payment is effected more than three
months after the issue of a oall for funds by the Commission .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                    ΑΐίΝΕΧΕ 0
                                                                   ■atwirirwaw.<iww
     $
                             Article 3
The funds paid by participating non-Member States shall be credited to the
concerted action project as budget receipts allocated to a heading in the
statement of revenue of the Budget of the Commission *
                             Article 4
The approximative timetable for the coordination costs referred to in
Article 4 of the Agreement is annexed *
                             Article 5
The Financial Regulation in force applicable to the general budget of the
European Communities shall apply to the management of the appropriations .
                             Article 6
At the end of each financial year ,- a statement of appropriations for the
concerted action project shall be . prepared and transmitted to the parti­
cipating non-Member States for information *
 ---pagebreak---                  PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE FOR THE CONCERTED ACTION PROJECT "TREATMENT ANO USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE "
                                                        ( ACCORD COST 68 ter )
                                              1981                     1982                   1983                       TOTAL
                                         AC .        AP             AC           AP        AC          AP          AC            AP
1 . Initial estimate of overall
     requirements
     - Staff
     - Administrative operating     70.000         70.000       70.000      70.000     60.000      60.000       200.000        200.000
        expenditure
     - Contracts
     TOTAL                          70.000         70.000       70.000      70.000 .   60.000      60.000       200.000        200.000
2 . Revised estimate of expen-
     diture taking into account                                                                                                I
     additional requirements ar-
      riving from the accession of                                                                  \
     participating non-member
      States
      - Staff
      - Administrative operating
        expenditure                  70.000(1 +^: 70.000(1+^) 70.000(1·^) 70.000CH^jj) 60.000a+^) 60.000 (1+,^) 200.000 α+^> 200.000(1+^)
      - Contracts
      NEW TOTAL                      70.000(1+^) 70.000(1·^) 70.0000+^ 70.000(1+^ 60.000Cl·^) 60.000(1+^) 200.000(1+^) 200.000(1+^
 3 . Difference between 1 and 2                                 /
      to be covered by contributio τ
      from participating
      non-member States             ^ 70.000 ^ 70.000 ^ 70.000                 70.000  jg· 60.000     60.000       200.000        200.000
    n   =  number of participating non-member States
    AC =   account credited
    AP =   account paid