RESOLUTION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

concerning financial aids from the Community for technical steel research projects and steel pilot/demonstration projects under Article 55 (2) (c) of the ECSC Treaty

(90/C 180/03)

(Adopted unanimously at the 285th session of 29 June 1990)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE,

1. REGRETS deeply that, during the meetings of the Subcommittee for Research Projects on 7 and 28 June 1990, the Commission representatives were unable to discuss all the aspects relating to financial aids, stemming from the ECSC levy, to finance:

- a programme of 101 steel research projects for the amount of ECU 28 002 040, and

-a programme of 14 pilot and/or demonstration projects in the steel industry for the amount of ECU 12 996 650;

2.DEPLORES that the Commission has not forwarded to the Consultative Committee a document explaining in detail the nature of the problems which it is experiencing;

3.RECALLS THAT:

-the policy on financing research projects, which the Commission is called upon to implement, should contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Articles 2 to 5 of the ECSC Treaty,

-Community aid for research is derived in its entirety from the ECSC levy, which is paid for by the companies,

-according to Article 55 (2) (c) of the ECSC Treaty, the results of the research so financed should be made available to all concerned in the Community.

In this context, the Consultative Committee also recalls that the Commission has already described, in 1982, the very special nature of ECSC finance for research compared with other forms of financial aid;

4.UNDERLINES once again the vital importance of research in a sector where innovation is increasingly becoming an essential factor for success, as well as the need to develop the research effort by Community financial aid of a sufficient level in the framework of the programmes approved by the Commission;

5.NOTES with concern the delay in the authorization procedure for ECSC finance, which is likely to cause serious injury to the European steel industry;

6.URGES the Commission to take all necessary steps to resolve quickly all the possible formal problems which have delayed the presentation of the steel research project programme to the Consultative Committee, in order to:

-avoid all possible disputes,

-permit the authorization of finance fixed within the framework of the ECSC budget for the year 1990 according to the conditions in force up to now.