Decision 2017/955 - Amendment of Decision 2008/376/EC on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme - Main contents
7.6.2017 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 144/17 |
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2017/955
of 29 May 2017
amending Decision 2008/376/EC on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to the Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 2 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Whereas:
(1) |
Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) set out in Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of European Parliament and of the Council (2) (‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’) provides an incentive to review Council Decision 2008/376/EC (3), in order to ensure that the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (‘RFCS Programme’) complements the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry. |
(2) |
In order to ensure a coherent framework for participation in both the RFCS Programme and Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, it is necessary to align certain rules for participation under the RFCS Programme with those applicable under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. |
(3) |
It is necessary to revise the rules on the competencies and on the composition of the Advisory Groups and of the Technical Groups, notably as regards the nature of the experts appointed by the Commission to ensure increased transparency as well as compliance and coherence with the framework for Commission expert groups, and contribute, as far as possible, to a balanced representation of relevant areas of expertise and areas of interest as well as to an optimal gender balance. |
(4) |
It is appropriate to consider simpler funding rules to ease the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the RFCS Programme and to permit the use of ‘unit costs’ to calculate eligible staff costs for owners of SMEs and other natural persons not receiving a salary. |
(5) |
The measures necessary for the implementation of Decision 2008/376/EC should be adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4). |
(6) |
Decision 2008/376/EC should therefore be amended accordingly, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Decision 2008/376/EC is amended as follows:
(1) |
Article 21 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 21 Tasks of the Advisory Groups For the coal- and steel-related RTD aspects respectively, each Advisory Group shall advise the Commission on the following:
|
(2) |
Article 22 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 22 Composition of the Advisory Groups
Appointments are made for a period of 42 months. Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group's deliberations, who resign or who, even after their duties have ceased, disclose information of the kind covered by the obligation of professional secrecy, in particular information about undertakings, their business relations or their cost components, shall no longer be invited to participate in any meetings of the Advisory Groups and may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.
They shall be active in the field concerned and be aware of the industrial priorities.
|
(3) |
Article 24 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 24 Establishment and tasks of the Coal and Steel Technical Groups
Members of the Technical Groups shall be appointed in their personal capacity by the Commission. Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group's deliberations, who resign or who, even after their duties have ceased, disclose information of the kind covered by the obligation of professional secrecy, in particular information about undertakings, their business relations or their cost components, shall no longer be invited to participate in any meetings of the Technical Groups.
They shall be active in the field concerned and have responsibility for research strategy, management or production in the related sectors.
The Commission shall ensure that rules and procedures are in place in order to properly avoid and manage conflicts of interests of members of the Technical Groups entrusted with the assessment of a specific project. Those procedures shall also ensure equal treatment and fairness throughout the whole monitoring process of projects. Meetings of the Technical Groups shall, whenever possible, be held at venues chosen in such a way that project monitoring and results assessment are best ensured.’; |
(4) |
Article 25 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 25 Call for proposals
Dedicated calls for proposals shall indicate the dates and modalities for the submission, including whether it shall take place in one or two steps, and for the evaluation of the proposals, the priorities, the type of eligible projects as referred to in Articles 14 to 18, where necessary, and the envisaged funding.
The information package shall provide information on the detailed rules for participation, the methods of managing proposals and projects, application forms, rules for the submission of proposals, model grant agreements, eligible costs, the maximum financial contribution allowable, methods of payment and the annual priority objectives of the Research Programme. Applications shall be submitted to the Commission in accordance with the rules laid down in the information package.’; |
(5) |
in Article 27, the second paragraph is replaced by the following: ‘The Commission shall ensure that a manual for the evaluation and selection of RTD actions is made available to all potential participants.’; |
(6) |
in Article 28, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. The Commission shall draw up a list of the proposals adopted in order of merit.’; |
(7) |
the following Article is inserted: ‘Article 29a Implementation of actions
Costs incurred by those third parties may be deemed eligible if the third party meets all the following conditions:
(*1) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1);" (*2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1).’;" |
(8) |
Article 33 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 33 Staff costs Eligible staff costs shall cover only the actual hours worked by the persons directly carrying out the work under the action. Staff costs of owners of small and medium-sized enterprises and other natural persons not receiving a salary may be reimbursed on the basis of unit costs.’; |
(9) |
Article 39 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 39 Appointment of independent and highly qualified experts For the appointment of independent and highly qualified experts referred to in Article 18, Article 28(2) and Article 38, the provisions set out in Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*3) shall apply mutatis mutandis. (*3) Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in “Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)” and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1906/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 81).’;" |
(10) |
in Article 41, point (d) is replaced by the following:
|
(11) |
in Article 42, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*4) shall apply. (*4) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).’." |
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 29 May 2017.
For the Council
The President
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C.CARDONA
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Opinion of 14 December 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
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Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104).
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Council Decision 2008/376/EC of 29 April 2008 on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme (OJ L 130, 20.5.2008, p. 7).
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Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.