89/625/EEC: Council Decision of 20 November 1989 on two specific research and development programmes in the field of the environment - step and Epoch (1989 to 1992)

COUNCIL DECISION of 20 November 1989 on two specific research and development programmes in the field of the environment - STEP and Epoch (1989 to 1992) (89/625/EEC)
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(1),
In cooperation with the European Parliament(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),
Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty provides that the Framework Programme shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity;
Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC(4), as amended by Decision 88/193/EEC, Euratom(5) the Council adopted a Framework Programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991), providing inter alia  for activities in the field of the environment;
Whereas that Decision provides that a particular aim of Community research must be to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European industry, particularly in strategic sectors of advanced technology, and to encourage it to become more  competitive at international level, and that Community action is justified where research contributes inter alia to the strengthening of the economic and social cohesion of the Community and the promotion of its overall harmonious development, while  being consistent with the pursuit of scientific and technical excellence; whereas it is intended that the Science and technology for environmental protection (STEP) and European programme on climatology and natural hazards (Epoch) programmes should  contribute to the achievement of these objectives;
Whereas the Council of the European Communities and the representatives of the Member States, meeting within the Council, declared in their Resolution of 19 October 1987 on the continuation and implementation of a European Community policy and action  programme on the environment (1987 to 1992)(6) that improving the scientific bases of environment policy, inter alia through appropriate research programmes, was one of the priority areas of Community action;
Whereas the participation of certain European non-member States in a Community research and development programme in the field of the environment would be beneficial;
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (Crest) has given its opinion,