Specific research programmes (EEC) to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre, 1992-1994

Part of the third Framework programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994) under subactivities I.2.: "Industrial and materials technologies", II.3.: "Environment", and III.6.: "Human capital and mobility", the work of the JRC as set forth in the present Decision is to conduct both basic/strategic and applied/target oriented research. It is carried out as an integral part of the European science and technology system and following the basic principles of customer/contractor and subsidiarity. The aim is to meet the needs of the Community as a whole, its institutions and Member States.

JRC programmes executed during the same period in the fields of nuclear fission and fusion are covered by Council Decision 92/274/Euratom of 29 April 1992 (Official Journal No L 141 of 23.5.1992).
To provide scientific and technical services to Community institutions, make JRC competences and installations available to public and private bodies, and contribute to: the strengthening of the scientific and technological basis for European industry, the development of international competitivity, the enhancement of the quality of the human and natural environment, the improvement of public safety aspects of new technologies and the reduction of scientific and technological disparities between Member States.
- Industrial and materials technologies:
Advanced materials;
Measurement and testing;
Working environment;

- Environment:
Environmental protection;
Centre for Earth Observation;
Application of remote sensing techniques;
Industrial hazards;

- Human capital and mobility;

- Exploratory research.
The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), is responsible for carrying out the specific programmes by means of the services of the JRC and in parallel with corresponding specific programmes of the third Framework programme (1990-1994). It shall ensure, in cooperation with the Board of Governors, periodical consultation with relevant committees to ensure close coordination between Community shared-cost actions, corresponding national activities and those of the JRC in the same areas with the aim of ensuring a coherent approach.

The specific programmes comprise research and technological development (RTD) projects and accompanying measures.

The RTD projects are to be carried out in the relevant institutes of the JRC, in collaboration and in concert, whenever feasible, with national research bodies in the Member States, taking into account as far as possible regional development aspects of RTD activities and their potential socio-economic effects. Particular attention will be paid to associations with industry, notably with SMEs, in collaborative schemes around the projects.

Accompanying measures include:

- The organization of seminars, workshops and scientific conferences;
- Activities of internal coordination, including the organization of particular internal centres, which ensure homogeneity of the approach and a unique common interface to the users of, and partners in the projects;
- Activities of specialized training with accent on multidisciplinarity;
- A system for information exchange;
- The promotion of the exploitation of research results;
- The scientific and strategic independent evaluation of the performance of the projects and the programmes.

The Commission is authorized to negotiate international agreements with third country members of COST, in particular member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Central and Eastern European countries, with a view to associating them with the JRC activities. It may request, assisted by the Board of Governors, that the JRC execute projects with bodies and enterprises established in European third countries in the context of the specific programmes carried out by the JRC.

No contracting body based outside the Community shall benefit from the Community financing granted to the programme. Such a body shall contribute to the general administrative costs.

Research projects open to international cooperation shall include cooperation measures with international research laboratories and make provision for the exchange of researchers. Supplementary measures should allow cooperation with research laboratories and institutions located in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the specific JRC programmes amount to ECU 341.55 million, 6% of which may be used for exploratory research. An additional amount of ECU 3.45 million is reserved as a contribution from the specific programmes to the centralized action on dissemination and exploitation of results.

Knowledge gained through the realization of the projects will be disseminated by the programmes themselves as well as by the centralized action.

The Commission shall each year before 31 March present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of the programmes, together with the observations of the Board of Governors. At the end of the programmes an evaluation of the research shall be conducted by a group of independent external experts and a report on the evaluation, accompanied by the opinion of the Board of Governors, shall be forwarded to these same bodies.