Petersen, K.

Archive of European Integration

8 July 1974 English Edition { , ; i \ ,I European Communities EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Working Documents 1974-1975 DOCUMENT 161/74 / ANNEX OPINION of the Committee on Public Health and the Environment on the progress required in Community research and on the proposal from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council (Doc. 89/74) for a /~evision of the multiannual research programme Draftsman: Mr K. PETERSEN PE 37.139/fin. The Conunittee on Public Health and the Environment appointed Mr Petersen draftsman of the opinion at its meeting of 2 July 1974. It unanimously adopted the draft opinion at its meeting of 2 July 1974. The following were present: J.Vrr Della Briotta, chairman Mr Scott-Hopkins, vice-chairman; Mr Petersen, draftsff.an of the opinion; Mr Adams, Mr Albertsen, Mr Eisma, .Mr Martens, Jl/',x Willi Milller, Mr Premoli, Mr Radou:x: (deputizing for Mr Lago:.·ce), Lord St. Oswald and Mr Walkhoff. ..J, '"'"' Introduction 1. The Commission's document contains six proposals for Council decisions on the revision of the multiannual research programme. This annual revision is stipulated in the decisions of the Council relating- to the four-year programme of research adopted on 14 May and 18 June 1973. The first revision :.,D.oul.d, t,0\1V'\:::\ beginning of the second year, i.e. t:,sc been carrie~ out at the of 1974. 2. The sixth and last. proposal for a Council decision concerns the amending of the research prog-ramme fo..:· the Economic Community on the protection of the environment ( indirect n: · ,~et) . The programme was adopted by the CouncLL on i8 ,.·,une 197 3 (OJ No. L 189 page 43) and contains the follov,1ing stipulations: the programme was established for three years from 1 January 1973; - maximum commitments were fixed at 6.3 million u.a. and four members of staff; - the programme was to be revised at the beginning of its second year; - the programme was to comprise the following·: (a) The establishment of a data bank on chemical products likely to conta;ninate the environment; (b) Harmful effects of lead; (c; Epidemiological surveys of the effects of air and water pollution; (d) Effects of micro-pollutants on man; (e) Appraisal of the ecological effects of water pollution; (f) Tele-detection of air pollution. 3. The Commission's proposal for the amendment: of this programme cons:is::s solely of an increase in the staff. The number of staff allowed for in the Cc.mncj.l' s decision of 18 June 1973 was four; it is proposed to increase i::his number to eight. No changes are proposed to either co1~·.trc.:.tments or subjects for research under this part of the programir.e. ;; - X -Discussion 4. The committee notes that, despite the stipulation in the Council decision of 18 June 1973 adopting a research programme on the protection of the environment (indirect project) (OJ No. L 189 of 11 July 1973, page 43) to the effect that this programme should be reviewed at: the beginning of the second year, i.e. at the beginning of 1974, the p:i::opcs2,l for an amendment was only su:Omitted to the Council on 3 Apr:tl :;974 Moreover, it took more than on,o month, Le. until 7 May 1974 fc,r d•.(;' Council to forward the document to the European Parliament fo:,~ · .,, opinion (Doc. 89/74). Moreover, the date on which the revised research programme to come into force was l May 1974, that is, :Oefore the ParliameE .:,ac., had any opportunity to examine the proposal. 5. In this connection the committee must recall the resolution on the programme of environmental action adopted by the E'.ll'opean Parliament on 3 July 1973 which states (paragraph 7): 'The European Parliament .... explicitly reserves its final opinion on the implementing provisions and expects the Council to consult it on time in each case in order to avoid having to deliver its opinicn under pressure of time' (OJ No. C 62, 31.7.1973, p.16). 6. It was apparent from the start of the work on the research progr.:mt. in the field of the protection of the environment that the number of staff allocated (four) was inadequate. The number of research contracts to be supervised is expected to be between 60 and 80. To ensure efficient use of Corrununity resources the research projects must be followed very closely, coord::.nated and adjusted to new requirements. The secretariat also has to deal with a considerable administrative work load. The Commission therefore proposes to the Council. that t:11e staff which at present numbers four cffi.cials ( 3A and le) t,hould be increased to eight (4A, lB and 3C) without modification of the approp.riations allocated. 5 Conclusions 7. The Committee on Public Health and the Environment: (1) Agrees that the number of staff should be increased from four to eight for the research programme on the protection of the environment, as it believes that this adjustment may lead to more efficient implementation of the research programme; (2) Notes with regret that its opinion was not sought until after the research programme had already come into effect:; (3) Therefore reserves the right to undertake, at a later date, a detailed study of the research programme on the protection of the environment (in.direct project) in the light of the second revision of the programme; (4) Requests the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology, as the committee responsible, to include the full text of the above points in its motion for a resolution. - 6 -

OPINION

of the Committee on Public Health and the Environment

on the progress required in Community research and on the proposal from the

Commission of the European Communities to the Council (Doc. 89/74) for a

revision of the multiannual research programme. EP Working Document, Document 1974-1975 161/74/ANNEX, 8 July 1974

http://aei.pitt.edu/97745/1/1974%2D75.74.161.annex.pdf

OPINION
of the Committee on Public Health and the Environment
on the progress required in Community research and on the proposal from the
Commission of the European Communities to the Council (Doc. 89/74) for a
revision of the multiannual research programme. EP Working Document, Document 1974-1975 161/74/ANNEX, 8 July 1974

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