Council Conclusions: Competitive role of the JRC
On 14 January 1994 the Council adopted Conclusions on the Role of the Joint Research Centre. These focus on a new, competitive approach, particularly with regard to the JRC's activities within the EC Fourth Framework Programme and the EAEC Framework Programme, 1994-1998. The Council reaffirms its view of the JRC's Community character and its role in achieving the objectives of the European Union. At the same time, the Council emphasizes the need for the JRC to pursue and reinforce its move towards genuine customer/contractor relationships. Under this new approach, the JRC would gradually enter the competitive arena, generally in networks with other laboratories, in the specific programmes under the Framework Programmes to which it contributes, and for activities providing scientific and technical support for Community policies of a kind suitable for that competitive approach. The Council also emphasizes that funding decisions under the two Framework Programmes should reflect this objective. The transition should be carried out gradually and progressively during the period from 1995 to 1998. The proportion of JRC activities within the Framework Programmes to be transferred to the competitive system should average 24% for the EC Fourth Framework Programme and 10% for the EAEC Framework Programme for the 1995-1998 period. Guidelines annexed to the Council Conclusion will be used to define the JRC's activities. These outline the competitive nature of the actions to be carried out under the 1994-1998 Framework Programmes, and external competitive activities. Budgetary and regulatory provisions are also set out. The Commission is asked to take the necessary measures to implement the Guidelines as soon as possible, amending its internal rules where this proves necessary, and proposing all the necessary decisions on legal, budgetary, financial and administrative matters (including rules related to personnel management) to the Council if possible by 31 March 1994 and in any event immediately after the adoption of the 1990-1994 Framework Programmes. Decisions implementing the guidelines, based on the Commission's proposals, will be taken by the Council as early as possible in 1994 in order that they are applicable from 1 January 1995.