Research programme (EEC) in the environmental field (indirect action), 1976-1980

The second Community programme on environmental protection constituted an integral part of the second Community research and development programme in the environmental field. The latter was adopted with reference to the Council Resolution of 14 January 1974 on an initial outline programme of the European Communities in the field of science and technology (Official Journal No C 7 of 29.1.1974) and was complementary to the Council declaration of 22 November 1973 in which the Council approved the objectives and principles of an environmental policy within the Community and set out a description of the projects to be undertaken at Community level (Official Journal No C 112 of 20.12.1973).
To acquire the scientific and technical know-how necessary for the implementation of the environmental programme of the Community.
Four research areas:

- Research designed to establish criteria, i.e. exposure-effect relationships for pollutants and chemicals which could contaminate the environment:
. Heavy metals (especially pathway to man through food, water and air and their metabolism);
. Organic micropollutants and new chemicals (especially evaluation of the effects on health and the environment of synthetic chemicals);
. Asbestos and other fibrous materials (detection methods and health effects);
. Air quality (application of techniques for the remote sensing of air pollution; effects on health and vegetation);
. Water quality (especially epidemiological survey on health status of selected population group in relation to the quality of drinking water);
. Waste heat (ecological and microclimatic effects);
. Marine pollution (especially effects of hydrocarbons and decontamination methods);
. Noise pollution (continuation of the epidemiological survey of the effects of noise on sleep; effects of vibrations and low-frequency noises);

- Research and development on environmental information management, essentially concerning chemicals which could contaminate the environment:
Continuation of collection and handling of data on chemicals in the framework of the ECDIN project;

- Research and development on the reduction and prevention of pollution and nuisances:
. Reduction of water pollution, including tests of advanced methods for water treatment;
. Waste (effects on the environment, relevant technology);

- Research and development concerning the protection and improvement of the natural environment:
. Ecosystems, ecology and biogeochemical cycles, especially studies of ecosystems (contribution to the establishment of an ecological cartography) (ozone-shield depletion in the stratosphere and CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere);
. Reclamation of derelict land;
. Bird protection (population dynamics and habitat protection).
The Commission, assisted by the Advisory Committee on Environmental Research Programme Management, was responsible for the implementation of the programme by means of shared-cost contracts.

Following the 1979 revision of the programme, the Commission was authorized to conclude agreements with non-Member States participating in European cooperation in scientific and technical research (COST) with a view to associating them with the programme.

The results of implementation were required to be disseminated in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2380/74.

The Commission was required to submit an annual report to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of the programme.