31988Y0727(01)

COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 29 June 1988 concerning the activities to be undertaken by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) (88/C 197/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Commission's communication entitled 'A new outlook for the Joint Research Centre' submitted to the Council on 29 October 1987, Having regard to the modified proposals submitted to the Council by the Commission on 29 March 1988 containing specific research programmes to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre for the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community,

1. REAFFIRMS the Community character of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and considers it vital for the JRC's future success that it should attain internationally acknowledged scientific excellence and become more competitive, in order to play as full a part as possible in achieving the Community's aim of strengthening the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encouraging it to become more competitive, and urges the Commission to take all necessary measures to achieve this end;

2. CONSIDERS that, with a view to contributing to the objective of the economic and social cohesion of the Community, the JRC should also develop practical and significant initiatives to reinforce collaboration with the research centres and laboratories of all Member States, thereby assuming the role of catalyst of European scientific integration;

3. RECALLS its conclusions of 11 April 1988 in respect of the strengthening of the role of the Board of Governors of the JRC and therefore welcomes the Commission decision on the revised terms of reference of the Board;

4. URGES the Commission to introduce all necessary measures to improve the scientific excellence, age profile and mobility of staff in and out of the JRC, with the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of the JRC and reducing overall staff costs;

5. CONSIDERS further that the JRC should, in addition to its predominant task, for the period 1988 to 1991, of executing specific programmes including preparatory research, nevertheless utilize the facilities and manpower at its disposal to strengthen and develop its work for other Commission services and for third parties in those areas in which it is competent so to do;

6. BELIEVES it essential that work for third parties should be developed, under the control of the Director-General of the JRC and in cooperation with the Board of Governors, on the basis of clearly defined contractual arrangements with the Commission's services and third parties involved;

7. URGES that, during the period 1988 to 1991, an increasingly important share of the overall financial turnover of the JRC should be devoted to such work, so as to enable the financial targets set out at point B of the Annex to be reached;

8. CONSIDERS it appropriate that, on the basis of the aforementioned financial targets, the necessary budgetary provision should be included by the budgetary authority in the general budget of the European Communities on an annual basis by taking into account inter alia the anticipated contractual work for third parties in the year in question and performance in this area in previous years;

9. INVITES the Commission to include appropriate information on all the aforementioned categories of activity in the annual implementation report which it is called upon to submit to the European Parliament and the Council;

10. INTENDS, during the course of 1990, on the basis of an examination of progress achieved towards a reorientation of the JRC and the work it undertakes, to consider possible adjustments or additional measures required.

ANNEX Estimate of the overall financial turnover of the JRC (1988 to 1991) (in million ECU) A. Implementation of the framework programme by means of specific research programmes and preparatory research:

- EEC research programmes,

- EAEC research programmes 251,7 448,3 subtotal A 700

B. Work for third parties:

- Scientific and technological support for the Commission 120

- Work for external private or public bodies 130 subtotal B 250 Total 950