RESOLUTION of the Ministers of States participating in European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) (signed in Vienna on 21 November 1991) (91/C 333/01)

The Representatives of the Governments of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of France, the Republic of Greece, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Iceland, Ireland, the Republic of Italy, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Portugal, the Republic of Finland, the Swiss Confederation, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Council and the Commission of the European Communities, meeting in Vienna on 21 November 1991,

Whereas COST, instituted at the Conference of Research Ministers on 22 and 23 November 1971, has demonstrated its importance as a means for promoting European Cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research;

Whereas the number of COST projects and the areas of research covered by COST collaboration has increased considerably over the years, and in particular during the last 10 years;

Whereas COST and European Community research projects have mutually benefited from their complementarity;

Whereas COST is an important means for creating the necessary synergy between Community research and research carried out in non-Community countries

and is progressively becoming the main instrument for concerted action activities among European countries;

Whereas COST concerted actions are characterized by their flexible and adaptable structure as well as by their pragmatic approach, thus ensuring that most projects emanate from the scientists and technical experts themselves and those with a direct interest in achieving international collaboration;

Whereas COST activities promote R& D cooperation between industry, universities and national research centres in the area of pre-competitive research, and the COST framework encourages an interdisciplinary approach to R& D cooperation;

Whereas the COST framework supports and encourages the creation of scientific networks;

Whereas the COST framework promotes new areas of international R& D cooperation;

Whereas the evaluation of the COST system demonstrates its continued relevance to international R& D collaboration;

Whereas, in its resolutions of June 1989 and June 1990 (2), the Council of the European Communities has reaffirmed in particular its view that COST is an important means for promoting European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research;

Whereas the Commission, in reinforcing the help it provides to COST, plays a vital role in the successful execution and management of COST R& D projects;

Whereas COST concerted action projects outside Community programmes have, since 1989, been open to participation by organizations established in non-COST States on a case by case basis;

Whereas the advantages of broadening the scope of COST by the progressive inclusion of States from central and eastern Europe have been recognized;

Whereas the European Parliament has welcomed the extension of COST to other European countries;

Whereas the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Iceland and the Republic of Poland have requested membership of COST;

Welcome the enlargement of COST to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Iceland and the Republic of Poland and look forward to fruitful collaboration between old and new members of COST;

Agree to consider with interest applications from other European States, after careful consideration of the scientific justification and the scope for mutual benefit;

Confirm their clear commitment in both material and financial terms to COST as an important and flexible means for promoting European research and development collaboration by means of concerted actions among a large number of participating countries in different areas of research;

Stress the importance of encouraging initiatives from the scientists and technical experts themselves to promote R& D efforts on an international basis;

Welcome the dynamic character of COST and its adaptability to the changing needs of international R& D cooperation, especially in terms of investigating new areas of research and of seeking solutions to concrete R& D problems in transfrontier collaboration between partners in science, research and industry;

Undertake to promote COST as an important means of R& D cooperation between Industry, universities and research centres in the different European countries.

(1) The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not sign the resolution.(2) OJ No C 171, 6. 7. 1989 and OJ No C 172, 13. 7. 1990.