COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 18 July 1977 on advisory committees on research programme management

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION: 1. Advisory Committees on Programme Management shall be set up or, where appropriate, retained in the following areas: A. DIRECT ACTION (1): - reactor safety,

- plutonium fuels and actinide research,

- measurements, standards and reference techniques (METRE) - nuclear,

- operation and utilization of the HFR reactor,

- high-temperature materials,

- informatics,

- fissile material control.

B. INDIRECT ACTION (1): - plutonium recycling in light-water reactors,

- energy conservation,

- geothermal energy,

- systems analysis : development of models,

- biology : health protection (radiation protection).

C. DIRECT (2) AND INDIRECT (1) ACTION: - solar energy,

- production and utilization of hydrogen,

- environment and resources,

- reference materials and methods,

- management and storage of radioactive waste,

- fusion and plasma physics.

The non-nuclear part of the (direct action) programme "Measurements, standards and reference techniques (METRE)" has been entrusted to the Advisory Committee on Programme Management for Reference Materials and Methods (indirect action).

The programme for the management of nuclear materials and radioactive waste (direct action) has been entrusted to the Advisory Committee on Programme Management for the Management and Storage of Radioactive Waste (indirect action).

(1) Programme adopted by Decision 77/488/EEC, Euratom (OJ No L 200, 8.8.1977). (2)Programmes adopted by Decisions: - 74/642/Euratom (OJ No L 349, 28.12.1974, p. 61),

- 75/406/Euratom (OJ No L 178, 9.7.1975, p. 28),

- 75/510/EEC (OJ No L 231, 2.9.1975, p. 1),

- 76/309/Euratom (OJ No L 74, 20.3.1976, p. 32),

- 76/310/EEC (OJ No L 74, 20.3.1976, p. 34),

- 76/311/EEC (OJ No L 74, 20.3.1976, p. 36),

- 76/345/Euratom (OJ No L 90, 3.4.1976, p. 12),

- 77/54/EEC (OJ No L 10, 13.1.1977, p. 28).

The programme on thermonuclear fusion technology (direct action) has been entrusted to the Liaison Group for indirect action on fusion and plasma physics. The Joint Research Centre is a member of this group which, while continuing to carry out the tasks entrusted to it by other means, is subject to the provisions of this resolution.

The part of the programme on environment and resources (direct action) concerning renewable resources has been entrusted to the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) (1).

2. Without prejudice to the Commission's responsibility in the implementation of these programmes, it shall be the task of each committee to contribute, in its advisory capacity, to the best possible implementation of the programme for which it is responsible (in particular the detailed definition of projects) and to assess the results and ensure better liaison (2) between the implementation of the programmes at Community level and the corresponding research and development work being carried out in the Member States.

3. The direct action committees may be consulted by the General Advisory Committee (GAC), established by Commission Decision 71/57/Euratom (3), on draft proposals for reviewing programmes in progress and on draft proposals for future research programmes.

4. The indirect action committees shall be consulted on draft proposals for reviewing programmes in progress and on draft proposals for future research programmes as well as on the choice of "project leaders" and the selection of the laboratories to which the work is to be entrusted.

5. Committees in fields where direct action and indirect action co-exist shall ensure that both actions form a coherent whole.

6. Each committee shall deliver opinions prepared by the secretariat and submitted for the committee's approval. Any member of a committee may request that his views be recorded in these opinions. Opinions shall be forwarded to the Commission, a copy being sent to the Council.

7. Each committee shall consist of not more than: (a) three officials appointed by the Commission (Commission delegation);

(b) three experts appointed, by applying whatever criteria it deems appropriate, by each of the governments of the Member States taking part in the programme under consideration (Member States' delegations) ; the absence of any government's experts shall not deprive a committee meeting of its validity.

In exceptional circumstances derogations may be made from these provisions following agreement among the delegations.

8. Each committee shall appoint its chairman for a period of one year on a proposal from the Commission delegation.

9. Secretariat services for the committees shall be provided by Commission officials placed for this purpose at the disposal of the committee under the authority of the chairman of each committee.

10. Each committee shall meet in principle three times a year.

11. This resolution cancels and replaces the Council resolutions of 30 June 1969, 22 July 1972, 19 November 1973, 10 December 1973, 17 December 1974, 26 June 1975 and 22 August 1975 respectively establishing Advisory Committees on Programme Management.

(1) OJ No L 200, 8.8.1977. (2) The concept of "liaison" refers solely to implementation of Community programmes and not to the coordination of national programmes. (3) OJ No L 16, 20.1.1971, p. 14.