Explanatory Memorandum to COM(1980)552 - Third plan of action (1981-1983) in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation (STID) (submitted to the Council by the Commission) - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(1980)552 - Third plan of action (1981-1983) in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation (STID) (submitted to ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(1980)552  |
| date | 30-09-1980 |
COLLECTION RELIEE DES DOCUMENTS 'COM'
COM (80)552
Vol. 1980/0178
Disclaimer
Conformement au reglement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du ler fevrier 1983 concernant I’ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communaute economique europeenne et de la Communaute europeenne de I’energie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p.
1), tel que modifie par le reglement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 (JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p.
1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas echeant, les documents classifies presents dans ce dossier ont ete declassifies conformement a I’article 5 dudit reglement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p.
1), as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 27.9.2003, p.
1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Obereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar 1983 uber die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europaischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europaischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S.
1), geandert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003 (ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S.
1), ist diese Datei der Offentlichkeit zuganglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Obereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(SO) 552 final Brussels, 1 October 1980
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION
adopting a third plan of action (1981-1983) in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation (STID)
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0M(80) 552 final
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A THIRD THREE-YEAR PLAN OF ACTION IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
•• Budget Plan
BMimeni Jsen Morwst, P's.osu d-j K Irchfcnrc. 8oit3 pc^tsle , 337. Luy.op-.tioura - T4i. <301 i Telex 3423/34-16 COMEUH IU - 2752 EjRDOi:
| jjjttf.cl flail for th' Third Action PIon | 1931 - 1933 . . • ( WS'A ). | |
| Oh.nl .■;• U Euronotes a public network by 1983 | 4.0 | |
| l.l | Network oporutions — deficit finance | |
| 1.2 | Network maintenance and enhancements | |
| 1.3 | Koiwork management | |
| 1.4 | Long term consolidation | ■ . |
| Chapf | ev 2i Development of high quality cervices in Europe | 8.5 |
| 2.1 | Call for proposals • . | |
| • 2.2 | {■tallow-up of proposals ' | 6.0 ’ |
| 2.3 | Sectoral information activities | ' 2-5 |
| Chaotcr 3' User support end marketing | | 3-0 | |
| 3.1 | Promotion of DIANE services | ! |
| 3.2 | Development of information market | |
| 3.3 | rjcport of information | |
| 3*4. | User support and neede | |
| 3.5 | Standardization | |
| 3.6 | Document delivery- | |
| 3.7 | Multilingual aspects | |
| . . ' Chanter 4* tfew technologics end methodologies ' | 1.0 | |
| 4.1 | Monitoring of developments | • |
| 4.2 4.3 | Strategic analysis ’ • | |
| Specific applications | ||
| Total | 16.5 ft |
*} *'k'n euirat iter, .riy not bo trnir-forrod to any other o.X'l\c 1 a of the 2'l Action l-Ian'ur boO^vtf 5 l!uiA uay not b' ur.od Wore 1 Jumery 1932.
Opinion of CIDST of 26 June I98O on the 3rd ACTION PLAN for STID (1981-83)
The Committee for Information and Documentation on Science and Technology (CIDST)
On the basis of point 3 a) of Annex II to the Council Decision of 9 October 1978;
Whereas the actions started under the first two Action Plans for STID must be successfully concluded, and a particular effort must be undertaken to stimulate and promote cooperation between information and service suppliers within the , Community;
As a result of examining, at its 33rd meeting, the proposals of the Commission for the 3rd Action Plan; '
1) Considers that further actions with regard to :
. the consolidation and enhancement of the Euronet network and the extension and improvement of DIANE services, and
’ , _ • the creation of further high quality information services in Europe,
. especially by means of cooperative and/or concerted actions
should be undertaken with- first priority, and, that these should be complemented and supported by appropriate activities related to
. - - ' ' ’ ■ ' V
. the support of users and the 'development of the market, and
. the selective application of new technologies and methodologies for STI;
2) Considers that the proposed new* project areas are of importance with regard to the future orientation of activities in the field of scientific, technical and related specialized information; .
3) Recommends that priority be given to those projects for which obligations
already exist within the framework of ongoing contracts; * .
BH.imo.n Joan Monnot. PlaiotuJ ilu Kifchlieiq, DoitfeUOltatl* iOa7i 4oo*e<"‘>our9TAI. 43011 Telo* 3433/3440 COML UR LU v 2752 EURDOC LU , ,
4) Recommends to the Commission to propose to the Council a third Action Plan for STID for the years 1981-1983, in accordance with document CID5T/460/80 -(final);
5) Takes note that the Commission's proposals in document CIDST/460/8o A are to be regarded as indicative only; ,
6) Is of the opinion that the budgetary funds required to implement the 3rd Action . Plan should be fixed at a ceiling of 16.5 million European units of account
for the 3 years' period with effect from 1 January 1981 of which 6 million European units of account are to be earmarked for the call for proposals and follow-up actions;
7) Recommends that 5 MEUA of the 6 MEUA earmarked for the call for proposals
and follow-up actions are not committed before 1 January 1982, so that improved and satisfactory selection criteria and procedures and appropriate cooperative mechanisms can be established and welcomes the Commission's declaration in this respect;
8) Requests the Commission to keep the Committee fully and regularly informed
of the activities in related programmes of the Community, in particular programmes in new information technologies and in the transfer of information between European languages.
Tiie German, French and UK delegations made the attached statements.
The Secretariat of CIDST is requested to forward this opinion to the Commission and CREST,, with a copy to the Council.
Contents
Point 1
At tliQ meeting on 26 June 1980, it was agreed with other delegations that tho first sentence should read as follows:
"Considers that, parallel to the greater support measures to he introduced by tho Member States to create improved information services for science and technology and promote effective participation in international cooperation in this field, further actions at Community level with regard
Reason: .
The German delegation is still.of the opinion that it is primarily the task of the Member States, by carrying out support programmes and encouraging public and private initiatives, to lay the basis for an efficient information structure, which is appropriate to the situation and requirements in the different subject areas and regions of the Member States, v/hich may vary considerably. The need for close contacts with the users of technical information means that there must be greater decentralization of facilities.
The words 'Document CID3T/460/80/A' should be amplified to read as follows: "which have yet to be brought into line with the final version of document CIDST/46O/0O".
Reason:
Tho Commission's proposals in CIDST/460/80/A no longer reflect the advice given by the CIDST.
...f %•'
Point. 7 . •
The text should "be amended as follows:
"Is of the opinion that the funds earmarked for Community-relevant projeots following the call for proposals should "be made available only when improved end satisfactory support criteria and selection procedures have been laid down and conditions for the granting of Community funds and appropriate cooperative mechanisms have been established".
Reason: ■
Processing by CIDST of the applications for Community support received by the CEC in response to the 'Call for proposals' (Official Journal of the European Communities of 29 November 1979) once again showed up the considerable drawbacks and gaps in the current selection procedure, which does not provide a satisfactory basis for a technical and political assessment and follow-up of the projects. Ever since the first preparatory discussions on the call for proposals, the German delegation has repeatedly objected to the fact that there is no comprehensive definition of the procedure, nor has any clear distinction been made between the various CEC procedures for granting funds in the area of IDST or the-support measures required at national level. Only when this issue has been debated by CIDST and these conditions met can the corresponding funds be allocated.
Point 9 (new) • >.
To read as follows:
"Urges the Commission to develop close coordination between its own IDST information activities and those under the Action Plan for IDST and to keep CIDST informed of all its plans in this field."
Reason: ,
The above text was supported by CIDST on 26 June 1930 and should be reinserted in the CIDST opinion. In the past, CIDST has complained on many occasions that — like DG XTII — it hears of the many information activities of the Commission departments and research centres mostly quite by chance, and that Buch projects are generally plannod and managed quite independently of one another, leading, among things, to a duplication of work and abortive developments.
... /...
There iB no coordination and the projects are not geared to the objectives of the Aotion Plan, namely to improve the supply of information within the Community and more specifically via Euronet-DIAKE. It is particularly regrettable that the knowledge and experience acquired by CIPST over many yociro - and what is more, the broadly-based know-how available in DG XIII -have not yet boon put to use in such projects and activities. It is essential to ensure that the Commission's information activities are organized in a rational manner and geared to the objectives of the Action Plan for IDST.
The German delegation is of the view that responsibility for coordinating the information activities described should be transferred to DG XIII and that CIDST should support the latter in carrying out this task.
STATEMENT BY THE FRENCH DELEGATION
The French delegation to CIDST has reserves tor make on the opinion on the 3rd Action Plan for IDST (1981-1983) concerning the I98I-I983 budget as follows: . .
......... 4 MEAU
Chapter X- : Euronet
Chapter 2 : Development, of high quality services
Europe-
2.5 MEAU
in
2.1 : Call for proposals 1.0 MEAU
(with a clause for review in 1982*enabling the budget to be enlarged, by 5 MEAU if the call for proposals mechanism proves efficient) .
2.3 Sectoral, activities 1.5 MEAU
Chapter 3 !r User support ........................................ ... 1 MEAU
Provision only for 3*6. 'Document delivery' and-3.7* 'Multilingual aspects'
Chapter 4 : New technologies and methodologies ..................... 0.5 MEAU
A total, of 8 MEAU (with the. possibility of adding in 1982. 5 MEAU
for the call for proposals if this action is considered satisfactory). •
STATEMENT BY THE U.K. DELEGATION '
The U.K. delegation considers that the- total funds for the 3rd Action Plan should not exceed 15 MEAU and reserves its position on the figure of 16.5 MEAU in- point 6.
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A THIRD THREE-YEAR PLAN OF ACTION IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(The contents of this document are indicative only)
Betlman? Monnet, Plateau du KIrchberg, Boi'te postale 1 9Q7, Luxembourg — T4l. 43011 Tilex 3423/^446 COMEUfl LU - 2752 EU8DOC LU
A. Introduction
The first and second plans of action in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation (STID) have resulted in a number of considerable achievements which have been possible because of close cooperation between authorities and institutions in the Member States and the Commission of the European Communities. The most important results of the previous five years* efforts are the implementation of the standardized network with its variety of information services (Euronet DIANE) provided through a number of hosts on the one hand, and the development and operation of a considerable number of sectoral information systems on the other hand, most of which have been established on a cooperative basis and on . the initiative and under the guidance of the sectoral working groups of the scientific and technical information and documentation committee (STIDC).
The present third action plan for STID builds on the achievements of the past period in such a way that these are consolidated and further developed where this is appropriate and desirable, or that identified gaps and shortcomings are removed. Therefore, the present plan emphasizes two major actions, i.e. the consolidation, extension and development of Euronet and the further creation of high quality information services. These two key areas are complemented by a few supporting and accompanying action fields which are intended either to supplement the activities in the two main areas, or to • prepare the ground for new action fields in future. Thus, the 3rd action
plan pursues the consolidation as well as the improvement of existing in— * etallations and services, and the reorientation of Community activities and policies in STID to comply with future needs.
Chanter 1: V.ui-nnct r.s a public network by IS)33 .
Having become operational in November 1979' Euronet's oapacity ia being considerably increased, by some 150$ in termo of terminals by mid-1980.
The easential objective is to turn Euxonet into a publio network by 31 December I983 at the latest. It is therefore necessary to complete the aotions already initiated in this respect and to undertake appropriate interim measures in agreement with the PTT Consortium for Buronet.
•s
Although the actions described below essentially concern only the further development of the physical Buronet network, most of them in practice affect the various partners in DIANB and their suppliers and subcontractors. Particular importance must therefore be attaohed to the recognized interests of the hosts and the users in the Community.
1.1 Operations and maintenance
Until the end of 1983, Buronet will have to be managed by the PTT administrations under the oontrol of the Commission, which will continue to 00-finance the operational deficit. The means of aooounting for the latter will need to be renegotiated on the basis of maintenanoe 0081s -and with due regard to the delay in the entry into servioe of Buronet and to the emergence in parallel of national networks. '
1.2 Extensions and interconnections with other networks
During the next few years, Euronet will have to be extended geographically in order to' take account of the accession of Greece and other new member countries to the Community and to respond quickly to the increasing demand for STID. The responsibility for the necessary ex— tensions, however, should from now on rest principally with the PTTs. Euronet will also have to be interconnected with other networks in Europe on the basis of cooperation agreements as foreseen in Article 3 of the proposed Council Decision on the 3rd Action Plan; possible interconnections with networks of industrialized countries outside Europe will have to be subject to reciprocity and guarantees of traffic in both directions, in respect of the fundamental provisions of the Treaty of Rome. Opportunity should be taken whenever possible to extend the servioes to developing countries including those of the LOME Convention.
1.3 Network management . _
The need for day-to-day support for the smooth operation of Euronet DIANE has been recognized by the creation of the Launch Team. The Team 1 has identified the need for help-desk facilities and network news and directory service as priority objectives. It has provided a focus for the implementation of major aspeota of the promotion programme and has supplied praotical support on many occasions for host and user connections to the network®
This support remains all the more necessary since the 20 or so hosts still to be connected are technically less well prepared* Day-to-day assistance will therefore have to ba maintained as long as necessary within the 3rd Action Plan* In addition, the creation of new user support services and the development of common facilities for hosts will be required until the infrastructure is sufficiently developed to ensure suocessful continued operation of Baronet DIANE* It will also be neoesaary to ensure the coordinated collection and analysis of star-tistics on traffic and use, so as to obtain the data needed for medium-term planning© • .
During this period, the long-term management requirements will also have to be analysed in the light of the experience gained. In particular, it will have to be decided whether to transfer all responsibility for the management of joint business to a hosts' association, in which case the Launch Team would be disbanded, or to induce the hosts to delegate certain joint functions to the Launch Team, which in that case would have to be restructured and reinforced.
Euronet has been a contributing factor and a stimulus to PTTs to define European standards and to plan, develop and provide national packetswitching networks. As these networks become available, there will be multi-national pressures and incentives for the PTTs to connect them internationally. This interconnection may occur on a direct country—to— country basis or via Euronet as a transit facility. It is probable that for a lengthy interim period both solutions will apply between different . parts of countries. In either case policy issues and practical problems will occur, many of which can only be satisfactorily solved at Community level (e.g. tariffs).
Although new packet—switching standards are mrt foreseen (X25, X28, X75 being sufficient), standards for new equipment and services using packet — switching (e.g. Teletex, Facsimile, etc.) and for interworking with other types of network (e.g. X25-circuit switched data networks) oan be anticipated. In any event, some kind of Community involvement would undoubtedly be desirable.
The PTTa will also Lave to be suitably encouraged to make sustained efforts to promote third-party traffic on Euronet, in order to provide a bettor financial balance for the network, during its transition to ch.i status of a public network by 31 December 1$83 at the latest under the sole managerial reespons*ibi 1 ity of the PTTs*
BefoJte then, it will be necessary to ensure that the tariff agreewanta are extended long enough to protect the interests of the users ‘of Euronet DlAftE services.
Chapter 2: Accelerated development of high quality services in Europe
The experience with the information services offered within the framework of DIANE proves that there is an increasing demand for high quality services, the further development of which needs to he accelerated. There is an obvious discrepancy between information supply on one side and the steady progress of innovative industrial development on the other side. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the creation of more high quality information services, and this need is a fact which is recognized by all Member States.
In particular, future activities must aim at '
- creating new services or improving existing ones especially in the provision of direct information and value added information which finally provide a better value to users;
- increasing cost efficiency and effectiveness in the supply and delivery of information and services;
- extending the scope of information services to poorly developed, areas such as economic, social and business information.
The creation and improvement of information services must build on a number of agreed principles and procedures. As far as such principles are concerned, the following should particularly be emphasized:
- new services must respond t ;> Community interest, they should overcome existing information barriers between Member States, such as linguistic or technical obstacles, or they should be designed in such a way that their realization requires a European collaboration, e.g. for data collection;
- in realizing and supporting new services, existing national programmes for the support of information supply and development have to be considered and in many cases a combination of national and Community support may be appropriate;
- new actions should.be based on a comprehensive analysis of the market and of user needs, especially in the area of specialized information which should be carried out through all member states;
- new developments should be closely linked with the established and proved infrastructure of sectoral working parties in the areas of agriculture, biomedicine and health, and environment; this infrastructure should be extended to other areas, where appropriate and if need should be;
- new activities should as far as possible be coordinated and linked
not only with activities on national level, but also with correspond- -in,; programmes within the various Commission' u services. '
It must be clear that any Community action in this broad and costly field of new and better information services, be it at the analytical level or im t/io implementation phase, cannot merely be seen as a complement to national activities, but should also stimulate national actions in order to cover japs where this is possible and necessary. Vice versa, national programmes should be transferred to a Community level in such areas, where such an extension increases the economics, viability or the value of-the project, -or where the results of the national projects are valid or transferable to other Member States. In all such cases Community interest must prevail over national programmes. ' , . : •
2.3 Procedures . ... ■ _ • - .. . ,
During the course of the 1st and 2nd Action Plans, the development of Community information services was exclusively inspired and guided by specialized working ijroups of STIDC. -Considering the limited capacity of these groups as compared to the growing demand for services, increased in volume, coverage and quality, which has to be dealt with within the framework of the 3rd Action Plan, STIDC has already, during the 2nd Action Plan, launched a new procedure by intro-uucing the call for proposals which is intended to become the main tool for
the creation of new services. ...
' < ' . • ' . . . •
2.3.1 Sectoral information systems
Within the framework of the previous Action Plans, a number of sectoral in— formation systems and services have been developed, implemented and operated on a cooperative basis or under contract. There will not only be a necessity of continuing such projects, but there will also be new projects which require a cooperative scheme for their realization. Therefore, this mechanism must be maintained on the understanding that such systems are exclusively implemented under the guidance of the sectoral groups of STy)C. As distinct from projects originating from the call for proposals, the cooperative systems in most cases require long-term funding from Community and national sources. Sectoral STIDC activities are under way in various fields of applied sciences. These were, during the 2nd Action Plan, focussed mainly on three selected areas* agricul— . ture, biomedicine and health oare, an4 environment. Additionally, follow-up actions have been oarried out in the field of energy.
The main criteria fur selection of these fields ares
— the existence of defined Community policies, e.g. in agriculture and environment, or tiie fact, that Community interests have otherwise been expressed,, e.g. in biomedicine and health care; and
— the predominance of public sponsorship as opposed to that of private industry.
As a result,, there is already a number of Council Decisions, Regulations and Resolutions which act, explicitly or implicitly, as legal basis for these activities. Thus the support in the Treaty of Rome for agricultural STI activities, the.Environmental Action Programme and the Council Decision on environmental inventories are of particular importance in this regard.
.inphasis is being laid on the need to develop new services in the provision of information. These services are envisaged as being not only bibliographic data bases but also services providing 'value added information' such as information analysis services, factual data banks and review articles.
Whilst the 'Call for Proposals' aims to support commercial initiative mainly, existing sectoral information systems should be further developed and new systems created where appropriate, e.g. where data collection would otherwise be very difficult or where the cost/benefit ratio is optimized at Community level. . _
lienee there are four lines of action:
—'Systems the operation of which is compulsory by virtue of Council
Decisions or Regulations. These systems must obviously be continued and improved, particularly with a view to making them available via Euronet. They consist of permanent inventories covering research projects in agri— culture (AGREP) and environment (ENREP), as well as informati >n sources (EI'DOC) or legal information (ENLEX) in the environment context.
— Systems which support Community policies in other sectors, i.e. where Council Decisions on STI support do not yet exist but which also merit Community assistance at least in- the initial R Sc. D phase (e.g. the proposed information system on waste management and recycling).
— Joint contributions to international systems. The Member States and the Commission are contributing to some major international information systems by running Community su>-systems. This cooperation, exemplified by the link between EUR—ACRIS and AGRIS or that between ENDOC and INFO-TERRA (see Council Decision no 76/-^! of 8 December 1975).
- Tnc Coimriio^ion's own information systems. Many of the data bases and data banks established or operated by the Commission are of interest to the commerojLal and industrial sectors and to tho general public, as for instance CdOWJS.As they were initially created to meet internal needs, they-are not compatible, as yet, with Euronet DIANE and/or do . not lend themselves to commercial exploitation. This major shortcoming should be overcome in tho course of the 3rd Action Plan.
2.3.2 Call for proposals
Thxs mechanism, which has already been introduced as a pilot scheme for tha development of new information projects, will constitute the main meohanism for the creation of more and better information systems and services within the framework of the 3rd Action Plan. On the basis of the experience made within the framework of the pilot call for proposals, this mechanism should be further developed and refined. In particular, an appropriate and effective management structure should be developed and established in order to make the most efficient use of the potential of this mechanism. This structure should ensure that existing national policies are duly considered in the evaluation and implementation of proposals. Thus the call for proposals will complement national programmes, but it will also stimulate them where these need further development. Furthermore, the existing sectoral groups shall be involved in the areas of their competence for the development of the ideas submitted and the investigation of specific conditions related to the subject matter and to the situation in the respective Member States. On the other hand, STTDC and its working groups may assist in defining subject areas for which call6 for proposals should be published.
Selected projects shall be supported by Community funds through direct financial aid which is presently generally 25% of the development cost, it being understood that the long-term viability is ensured by the proposer. In special cases, the Community's financial aid may be up to 49of the development cost. Community funds may supplement the national support of information projects, but may also constitute the only public support available. Support by the Commission shall be limited to a relatively short period, the duration of which will be determined by a number of factors such as the importance of the project and the availability of other public funds. There will be no restrio-tion as far as the legal status of the proposer — private or public — is concerned.
^4f
At a iator stage, the possibility of creating a common fund with contributions from Community and national budgets for the support of proposals should be investigated as an alternative mechanism for financial support.
Finally., it should be stressed that the call for proposals is not restricted to data base projects only, but should also.further all development such as access mechanisms and software packages which facilitate access to information, offer data handling and modelling devices, increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of supply as well as the delays of availability.
r'ol.low-ui) of the call for proposals
l'ne "Call for i-’rop.io.-tl-j’1 mechanism will mobilize idC’C and resources in the .information sector. It is likely that many proposals are qualified for a Comriurti ly support, but the Commission will be able with the available funds 10 finance only a small fraction of them (5 or 10*/j) .
on the other aide, the Community has the duty for achieving the objective of a real promotion of informstion supply.
the basis ol' the proposals received, an overall view can be gamed )1' the European infurtaation supply,anu market trends, opportunities of cooperation, etc. can be identified. Assisted by STIDC and national experts, the Commission could sr.ape tiie information supply developments according to Community interests ;nd market requirements.
•l'nis more active role of the Community would be complementary to the financing scheme and would have a synergic effect on it.
Areas of activity ares
— promotion of cooperation between complementary proposals. The Commission will identify the proposals that can be merged or coordinated, will put in contacts the possible partners and will assist them in setting up joint projects, possibly contributing to the costs of the establishment
, of the cooperation (contribution to market studies, development studies etc., logistic support);
— the Commission will use the technical expertise available in its staff and its advisory committee for suggesting improvement and modifications of projects, that cannot be accepted for a financial support but present, nevertheless, interesting features; the modified projects can possibly bo supported at a later 6tage;
— for problems that are common to a sufficient number of projects, the Commission could underwrite the financial studies and position reports, e.g. in areas such as software development, market research, selection of dissemination media, etc.
In undertaking suen actions assistance will be provided by the sectoral groups of STIDC which will advise on all actions that fall within their field of competence.
•' - I0‘ -
Chapter l: User support and market development
■> •
The actions and projects envisaged under Chapters 1 and 2 must be accompanied by a number of supporting measures in order to ensure the economic viability of information supply in Europe, to encourage users to make the most efficient and coat effective use of services offered and to guide suppliers ‘ ,
to provide the right products. This chapter acknowledges this vital .
need and proposes a series of target activities which mainly aim ‘ .
at the economic success of Euronet DIANE and at guiding users to make ' •
the most beneficial use of the services. , . -- >
. j.l Promotion of DIANE services . - . ■
The aim of the promotional effort during the perio.d of the 3rd Action - Plan should be twofold: # -
- to widen the circle of users, and hence to help to increase .
the information market; .
' • . ■ ■ . ' • ' ■ ^ . .
' . - to encourage more intensive use of the facilities among existing -
' and future users, making use in both cases of the existing hosts '■ and ancillary services. . . ■
Among the specific promotional activities necessary during the 3rd Action ' Plan, will be: launching of Euronet DIANE in new geographical areas
'(c.g. Greece), a new and detailed forecast study of STID traffic (urgent— ly requested by the PTTs) and participation in major exhibitions.
- The progressive reduction in the proposed expenditure on the promotion
, of DIANE during the period of the 3rd Action Plan is based on the assump
tion that the various partners in DIANE will gradually take over the pro—
, motion activities financed up. till now from Community funds, the size of
which will thus be reduced. Certain basic support will continue to be re— quired, however, notably for: .
- directory and fact sheet updates; '
' - publishing of brochures and general information;
' - Euronet DIANE Newsletter; . '
, - coordination of participation in exhibitions. ; C
In addition, there is a need for more information of a market evaluation
kind, enabling DIANE hosts better to identify market gaps, factors affect— / • - . , ' ■ • 4 - ' 1 :
ing the marketability of existing new products, price sensitivity, etc.
. iiuch information acquired at a Community level would contribute substan-ilvUMti.atigclt^etd'?thfbdveralI strategic planning of the partners in DIANE for the 'i rrt^>,*A,^(vve>j3p1tent'!'effraervices in the iljliJOs.-
Witnin the framework--of the 2nd Action Plan the Commission has already undertaken a series of studies in the field of specialized information,supply.
These should be completed within this Action Plan with regard to:
— the access of data base producers to unclassified data and information accumulated by ministries and public institutions;
— the legislation and practices in the area of copyright;
— Member States' educati ;nal programmes concerning the economic use of information, and developing curricula for intermediaries.
On the basis of the results of these investigations, appropriate actions should be undertaken with a view to improving the situation for European
information production and market*
• '
Particular types of action will be geared to the development of international cooperation between the operators in the information supply sector, with the emphasis on incentives for professional organizations at Community level;
— Euronet DIANE Host Group; '
— European Information Providers Association (EURIPA);
— European Section of IFLA (international Federation of Library
Associations); .
. * v ,
— User forums and conferences, etc.
An appropriate means for improving the transfer of information not only to small— and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) but also to other target groups is the Betting up of an interface (intermediaries) between specialized information services and the users. On the basis of an analysis made through various studies, which were commissioned under the 2nd Action Plan, various measures could be undertaken at national or Community level such ass
- training facilities for information intermediaries; •
- promotion activities for the use of new technologies;
— demonstration projects; _
— pilot actions in some areas of relevance for Community regional policy.
The stimulation of world-wide exports of European information products and services should enable the European suppliers to attain the profitable operating scale already enjoyed by American producers, but achieved in Europe by a negligible minority only. '
Although it is recognized that the principal responsibility for extending European information services to outside markets lies with the PTTs and the hosts who finally are supposed to earn the profits, the Community should give an initial stimulating support to the export exercise by organizing workshops with the parties concerned, financing market research and feasibility studies and providing initial support to hosts and suppliers in export efforts. In particular, the creation of the technical and legal framework as a basic element for such export schemes should be supported by the Community.
The increased range of services offered by Euronet DIANE makes it more necessary than ever to have user support action in addition to the promotion measures described above.
A considerable proportion of the user support must clearly be provided at national level and by the hosts themselves. Nevertheless, Community action will still be required in a number of fields, so as to make available to all users a range of tools for guidance, referral and advice.
The activities undertaken under the 2nd Action Plan must be continued and further developed, with particular reference to the information and reference service, making completely impartial use of all hosts integrated into Euronet DIANE.
Relations with intermediaries, librarians, information specialists and brokers must be strengthened so as to establish, with their help, a suitable framework for developing all types of user support throughout the Community.
et
A better knowledge of useru1 needs is more important than ever for the development of the Community's range of information services. In choosing between the services offered, users are undoubtedly guided by considerations of price — absolute and relative — cost/effectiveness, the cost/satisfaction ratio, etc. However, next to nothing is known about the value these very users attach to the various elements of a composite service ranging from telecommunications facilities to on-line information, source listing, delivery of complete documents, etc.
In-depth studies are therefore necessary, and these are now feasible with the emergence of national user groups, the establishment of the Euronet DIANE network and formal PTT involvement in SIT traffic management. These analyses can thus be based on statistics on the real use made of the service.
In this context, a specific user group must be taken care of with particular attention, i.e. the small*and medium—sized enterprises (SME). The transfer of information to SMEs has repeatedly been emphasized without concrete results so far. Therefore, it is urgent to investigate the real requirements within the framework of studies and symposia and to develop on the results of tnese investigations the required services, preferably within the framework of the call for proposals.
3.5 User aspects of standardization
The general field of standardization naturally lies outside the scope of the 3rd Action Plan.
Nevertheless, there is frequent interaction between the various bodies involved in standardization, and some of the work done under the 1st and 2nd Action Plans made a significant contribution, especially as regards network interfaces and a common command language.
Close attention should therefore be paid to standardization work at European and international level and every effort made — in the various bodies and in the face of powerful industrial interests — to ensure thnt the SIT user's point of view prevails, in particular as follows:
— the proposed standards must be as user-friendly as possible; ,
— speeding up the standardization process when this appears useful;
— identifying sectors neglected up till now.
Within the period of the 3rd Action Plan, aroas which will need to be tackled include: content description of data bases and data banks (rot'inement of work already initiated), extension of the common command lan,;uage to data banks in a multilingual context, and the interfaces necessary for the introduction of new services (e.g. Videotex) on Euronet DIANE.
Whether it relates to Videotex, to Teletex, to the establishment of relations between X21 and X25 devices or to integrated digital networks, the standaidization work of the PTTs is of extreme importance, and the Commission should participate actively in the work of the relevant working groups of CCITT and CJLPT, not to mention the ISO and other bodies.
There, is little standardization work in this field- at . national level and a considerable impact could be made by taking account of the users' interests at Community level.
3.6 Document delivery '
This problem is constantly raised by users who want quick and low-cost access to primary information. It is inherent to all bibliographic information systems, but it is obviously much more acute in the case of on-line services. The creation of document delivery services would thus considerably enhance the market image of the Euronet DIANE hosts.
There is no doubt that new technologies will have an impact on the delivery of full texts. However, there is a number of issues to be examined such as copyright, dispatching of documents ordered through Euronet, tariffs which do not necessarily depend on the technologies applied and which were made more transparent with the advent of Euronet.
Die framework for such a system is already well developed in the Community — better tnan in the USA for instance — since the Member States have a number of centres which, supply large numbers of primary documents efficiently
In order to provide for a basis for further discussion, a number of relevant items are already being investigated within the framework of the 2nd Action Plan such as the current practice in Member States for ordering, supplying, invoicing and payment, and the impact of on-line services on int ex'—library loan requests, as well as the libraries' acquisition policies and the various cost elements, n ^
It is huwever essential to proceed beyond the stage of studies. The main uiaxm.’.-should be to establish, before the end of the 3rd Action Plan, the '
beginnings of a Community document order and delivery -system which meets the users * needs ns regards noeed. si.molicitv and cost.
lv
Multilingual aepoctB '
Although there is a separate programme for the huge area covering Community needs in this field, S'flDC has expressed its wish to remain involved in the d'ii aspecta of the Community multilingual policy and its applications. The 3rd Action Plan has thus been oriented towards widening
tho market for STI, in particular by applying multilingual tools and by making it easier to use the systems already developed or being developed. Efforts will be made to improve the multilingual tools and the new technologies involved, and oare will be taken to ensure that all those linked to Euronet DIANE can derive benefit from it under fair conditions.
To ensure the necessary complementarity between the various Community activities in the field of multilingualism, there should be regular harmonization of the respective multi-annual programmes, encouragement of consultations between the working groups, and a request to Member States to make known their own projects in this field.
The measures envisaged under the 3rd Action Plan for STID are aimed at the followingi
— the creation and updating of multilingual termiaologioal tools (thesauri and other reference lists, lexical databases, etc.), of use to the users of Euronet DIANE and other servicesj improvement of the infrastructure needed for information retrieval} technical and exploratory studies;
— pilot projects aimed at overcoming the language barriers. Two different approaches are envisaged hare;
(a) the setting up, on a bilateral basis, of a group of intermediaries in bilingual information retrieval, to help users at the technical and linguistic levels;
(b) the use of some existing system for the translation of data bases (abstracts and/or full texts), taking into account the effeot on translation quality of a moderately restricted syntax;
— a feasibility studs'- into the production of unrevised machine translations
for certain- categories of Euronet DIANE users;
#-
— collaboration with qualified translation centres within the Commaty,
to help themi .
16 -
- i - i \ .
(a) to extend their activities to translations between European languages
(b) to supply, on request, tho full text of selected translations;
, ■ - x . • •
- the creation of a translation fund allowing publishers of STTD material to obtain loans to cover the cost of translating documents (articles, monographs, books, etc.). ,
In combination, all these measures would help to^alleviate the effects of the linguistic barrier currently hampering the use of the SUD resources in the Community. ' .
Ch.-tpti.-r 4: Application of new technolorries arid methodologies
In the near future there will be far-reaching and unavoidable changes in method of information handling and transfer in the wake of the technological developments. Within the framework of STID policies and activities of the Community it is important that developments can be introduced in an appropriate way so as to enable both information providers and users to share in the economic and other benefits of new technology. Lastly, this will be a decisive factor not only for the future viability o£ STID produots and services in the Community, but also for its success on extra-European markets.
Within the 3rd Action Plan the intention is not to develop new information technologies but to adapt and apply these in an optimal way and as rapidly and effectively as possible within the Community. For that purpose, a sustained effort is planned to ensure among other things that*
- attention is focussed on applications and adaptations of new technologies that open up new means of accessing information, especially to non-information experts;
- the components of STID transfer (production, storage, transmission and interrogation of data) are fully developed for the benefit of users as well as of producers and hosts;
- the standardisation work currently being carried out at European level, particularly by the PITs, is reinforced;
- the development of national and Community activities, in this field is carried out in a harmonized and increasingly coordinated manner.
4.1 Monitoring of developments
The aim here is to promote a common market of ideas, to pool studies of the impact of new technology and to mobilize and concert the efforts made by Member States on how to put the new information technologies at the service of society. Both this activity and the strategic analysis which is proposed are seen as leading to the identification and concentration of effort on topics where Community and/or collaborative initiatives will be useful and timely. The framework of this action will be with*
- Components, i.e. mass storage (videodisco, optical discs, bubble
. . memories, microforms)
. Transmission (optical fibres, satellites) >
Processing (microprocess>rs, vocoders (voice-coders), digitizers)
- Techniques, (digitizing of text and graphics
_ including facsimile and character
recognition; telesoftware)
— Systems, . ' (digital networks, word processing,
. Videotex, intelligent terminals, high speed facsimile, voice recognition, man-machine communication, tele-conferencing)
- Applications, (electronic journals, micro-publishing,
, . electronic access to documents)
Two main mechanisms are envisaged: workshops and studies. Workshops on selected topics should bring together people expert in a given technology with potential users of the - technology for information purposes and with policy makers, thus mobilizing and mutually fertilizing expertise spread over Member States of the Community and confronting such expertise with (potential) user needs. In order to prepare and follow-up such workshops, appropriate studies will be needed. These studies should comprise a description of the state of development of the selected topics in the Member States. Illustrative of the activities planned are workshops on (l) new technologies for characters, - / graphics and speech input and output, and (2) document digitization and teletransmission. . , - .
4.2 Strategic analysis ' - ' . ,
' • V ' I . . ■
The objective of the strategic analysis is to establish a consensus on the relative importance, time scale and repercussions of new information transfer technologies during the 1930's. This consensus will provide a framework within which coordinated actions in the Member States of the Community can be implemented, thus providing a firm basis for any pilot projects agreed to be desirable and timely at the Community level and for any other appropriate support actions. 1
The general aim of the strategic analysis will be not only to give a coherent overall view of the main trends, put also to arrive at;
- an indication of how market resources should be exploited to create information services which can be accessed directly by a much wider range of end users than is generally the case with present systems (for example Euronet DIANE in its present form);
- an identification of priority markets where immediate action seems
justified in economic terms; . .
r- a consensus on the most appropriate points on which a policy of launching and supporting new services should form. .
4.3 Specific applications . • .
There are two important areas where the opportunity of application of new technologies is already identified now: user-oriented information retrieval systems and electronic publishing (the storage, processing, transmission, translation, retrieval, etc. of full texts for the benefit of authors, editors, referees, publishers, librarians,''documentali'sts and users)'.-Tn these fields a number of specific studies must be undertaken, which them-may.be followed by pilot implementations. Furthermore, adequate follow-up of those studies which have already been undertaken under the 2nd Action Plan, has to be taken care of. '
Annex I
20
• junctions' of sectoral working groups . ' ' 1 • • ■ .
iieotoral, ;;orki.rig Groups lor the subject fields mentioned under chapter 2.3.J above have been set up. They are composed of representatives of competent ministrie or departments and of experts from I & B centres to make sure that the results of GIDiiT's actiuna find maximum application at national level in these fields and that Community’and. national activities are in line vdth each <
other. , . ■ _ ' , . ■ ' / . ; ■ ■ '
Thus being an integral part of STIC, the sectoral WG's have four main . functions: . \ ; , -
- to assist the Commission in formulating a common SIT policy in selected > ^
subject fieldu and in harmonizing the corresponding national activities.
To this end the WGs act as 'foruins for the exchange, of up-to-date information on pertinent national and Coimnunity policies and programme. Furthermore, ’ they outlihe proposed policies and programmes for submission to the'Commission and to CIDST while presenting the possible ■. activities Of a given sector in the broader framework of underlying and related policies and general orientations;
- to assist the Commission in the application of new mechanisms, e.g. the
"Call for Proposals", for the development of information services. . :
Functions of these mechanisms would be to stimulate, receive and assess ” proposals for, new or upgraded services, to ensure that there is .a geographical distribution of services providing information able to en- \
. hunce regional development within the Community; '. i' .
- to assist the Commission and STIC' in testing new information technologies where these are of specific interest to given sectors, e.g. '
VIDlOTbX for agricultural extension service; and
- to advise the Commission'in drawing up and managing appropriate study
- and action programmes.-This includes studies for decision making where ■ :
necessary, the drafting of short- and medium-term working programmes, the definition of priorities, the selection of projects and project develop—
ment. • ...■ ■ ■ ' . '
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A THIRD THREE-YEAR PLAN OF ACTION IN TEE FIELD OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Proposal for a Council Decision
Batimant J#an Monnet. Ptataau du K irchborg, Boita postal* 1907, t.UMamt>ourg - Tot. 43011 Ta''* 3423. 3446 COME UR LU - 2752 EUROOC LU
COUNCIL .DECISION
adopting a third plan of action (1981-1933) in the field of scientific and technical information and documentation (STID)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
Whereas, under Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community shall have as one of its tasks that of promoting throughout the Community the harmonious development of economic activities and a continuous and balanced expansion;
Whereas it is important, since the use of information is emerging as one of the prime factors in economic activity and innovation and in science, education and administration, that current action with regard to scientific and technical information should be actively extended to include the socio-economic field by encouraging and supporting both public and private initiatives of all kinds; ’
Whereas the Heads of State and of Government, meeting in Strasbourg on 21 and 22 June 1979' declared that "the dynamic complex of information industries, based on the new electronic technologies offered a major source of economic growth and social development"; ..
Whereas the concurrent development of the production and use of information in the Community must permit the progressive attainment of a reasonable "balance between ingoing and outgoing flows of information, in particular between the Community and non-member'countries, on'a basis of reciprocity, which will inter aLia ensure freedom of access by Community users to sources of information and data outside the Community; • t .
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Information and Documentation Committee (STIDC) and the Scientific and Technical Research Committoe (CREST) have delivered their opinions on the Commission propooal; ,
Whereas the need to strengthen and consolidate activities in the STID field, already commenced under the first two action plans for STID, justifies the implementation of a third plan of action which should contribute effectively towards achieving the above-mentioned objectives of the Treaty;
Whereas the Treaty has not provided tke necessary powers; ... , ,
Whereas, in addition, it is necessary to define the lines along which suitable coordination of actions at the national and Community levels in this field could be effected; ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS* 1 ;
' i ' . • i , _ . .
' ' . i
* v . ■ ' ’ ■
■' Article 1 ' .
A third . .. plan of action in the field of scientific, technical and
related specialized information and documentation as set out in Annex I is hereby adopted for a period of three years with effect from 1 January 1981.
The ceiling for expenditure commitments necessary for t-he realisation of this plan is estimated at- 16.5 million European units of account, the European unit of account being defined by the relevant -Financial Regulations. This amount constitutes onl,y an indication.
; : ’ Article 2
\ ! ■
The Commlsoion shall implement the .plan of action, aeeisted by STIDC, the duties and method of operation of which were defined in Annex II of the Council
Decision of 9 October 1978 adopting a second three-year plan of action in the field of sc-’entific and technical informat-ion and doeumentat ion . This Committee and ChEST shall be !:ept regularly informed by the Commission of the progress of the work in this field and in associated fields,- The Commission shall also submit .each year to the Council and the European Parliament a full report on the .
1
0 J L. 31 1,
.r.,
Article 3 . . ,
- ! • •' ’
In accordance with Article 228 of the Treaty, the Community may conclude
cooperation agreements with non-member-countries participating in the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT).
The Commission shall "be authorized to negotiate cooperation agreements under the conditions defined in the Council Decision of 9 October 1978^' and particu larly in Article 3 thereof .and Annex II thereto. <- .
Done at ~
' ' ’ ' , ■- . #
For the Council The President
ANNEX 1
THIRD ACTION PLAN IN THE FIELD OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION FOR THE TEARS 1981 - 1983
In order to build upon Euronet DIANE and other achievements of the first two Action Plans between 1975 and 1980, and to reinforce and complement national measures of the Member States, the Third Action
Plan aims :
1)
2)
3)
4)
to consolidate and enhance Euronet and to extend and improve DIANE services?
to contribute to the creation of further high quality information services in Europe, to meet a wide variety of needs and to stimulate both public and commercial activities in this area;
to support users and intermediaries, and the development of the information market in the Member States of the Community;
to encourage the application of new technologies and methodologies to information services, z .
Of these objectives the first two have high priority at present; the remaining two are complementary and will mainly consist, for the-period of the Third Action Plan, of monitoring and assessing developments, ' carrying out exploratory studies, coordinating national views and activities, identifying actions which might be appropriate at Community level and defining.projects that can ensure such actions*
In general, significant efforts must be made within the Third Action Plan in the field of scientific, technical and other /specialized information and documentation to achieve all the objectives laid down by the Council in its Resolution of 24 June 1971 ana to help prepare the Community, its economy and industry, science, research and administration, to face the challenges of the 1980so '
2 '■
The Third Aotian Plan comprises four principal chapters?
1. Euronet as a public network by 1933
The Euronet network.,, which has been operational sine® November 1979 and has & substantially larger capacity since mid-1980s m '
— will be managed until the end of 1983 by the national PTT administrations under the supervision of the Commission which will continue to co-finance any operating deficit. The means of accounting for the deficit must be
- renegotiated on the basis of maintenance costs having due regard to the ' delay in bringing the network into service and the emergence of parallel national networks;
— must be extended, particularly to new Member States and within all Member States of the Community, in order to respond quickly to the evolving demand for STTD. The responsibility for any necessary extensions should increasingly rest with the PTTs, and Community funds should not be used for regional extensions within Member States;
— should be interconnected with other networks in Europe, on the basis of '
the cooperation agreements foreseen in Article 3 of this decision; connections with networks of industrialised countries outside Europe should be approached on the basis of reciprocity and guarantee of traffic in both directions, respecting the basic provisions of the Treaty and taking into account the best interests of the DIANE hosts; opportunity should be taken whenever possible to extend the services to developing countries including LOME Convention countries;
— . must continue to benefit from the active support of the Launch Team as
long as necessary; .
, ■ . . \
— will require measures, particularly from the PTTs, to promote third party
traffic in order to guarantee a better financial balance;
— must make a smooth and gradual change to the status of a public network
by the end of 1983 at the latest, when it will become the sole managerial responsibility of the PTTs. This change will require the extension of tariff agreements for a period long enough to protect the interests of the users and to help in promoting the services of the DIANE hosts.
Accelerated development of high quality services in Europe
The further development of information supply of both private and publio origin for European users is a major target to be achieved in the Third Action Plan with a view to prepare the oohditions for the creation of further value added information services. Measures carried out in this area should!
— contribute to the creation of further high quality services and
; cover existing gaps where this is of importance for the Community}
— respond to Community interest and, where appropriate, contain ■ elements which require European cooperation}
— take account of national programmes and combine Community support with activities in the member countries whenever this is possible and appropriate',
Two mechanisms can be effective for this purpose :
— the study, definition and implementation of specific actions through task forces or sectoral groups, particularly in those areas where a Community policy or a priority Community interest exists (e'g' agriculture, environment, energy, health care)} two different procedures can be appropriate for the financing and implementation of such actions :
— the execution of projects under contracts being financed by the Community, with possible contributions from other sources}
— the creation of new systems and services through the cooperation of specialized centres in the Member States being coordinated by the Commission?
"(I)
the call for proposals vjhich was first implemented under the second Action Plan and which has the potential to be steadily developed and reoriented in accordance with previous experience and actual requirements in order to promote new ideas .and stimulate interest* The Commission shall grant direct short-term subsidies to projects of Community relevance proposed by public or private organisation? in Member States and shall ,.
combine, whenever- possible and desirable, Community action with -similar existing or proposed mechari-re '-n the national level* The Community's direct financial support p: . gently is generally 2cjfc of th? development cost, but may be up to d9pl baoft financial su'onori is given on. the under—
standing that the long-term viability of projects is guaranteed without recourse to further Community subsidies.
Additional measures of indirect support should be considered in order to follow up proposals which may not be financed under the above mechanism, but which deserve further attention and may call for appropriate assistance.
3. - User support and market development
In complement to the priority activities under chapters 1 and 2,a series of accom--panying measures are to be undertaken which are required at Community level to evaluate the situation and to prepare future supportive policies and actions :
- to stimulate a wider and more discerning market for European information services and in particular those of Euronet DIANE, where an increasing involvement of and a progressive transfer of responsibility to the hosts, data base producers and other interested parties is planned;
- to improve the information market in Europe on the basis of systematic analyses;
- to stimulate the export of information products and on-line services from within the Communities to other industrialized countries and to developing countries including those of the LOME Convention, in particular through seminars, studies, workshops and other actions;
- to evaluate user needs and to support them in an appropriate way, in particular through guidance and referral services;
— to encourage efficient document delivery services, taking account of existing arrangements in member countries;
— to develop suitable multilingual tools in order to lower language barriers for the users;
— to consider especially the requirements of small— and medium-sized enterprises and to encourage the further development of intermediary and other services which would take care of the particular needs and constraints of these enterprises^
— to consider users' interests when European or international standards are defined or implemented8
4* Now technologies and methodologies need to be monitored and designed in a selective way with a view to improving quality, increasing efficiency, lowering cost, developing competitiveness of information systems and services in Europe and broadening their scope. Jt is particularly important that such developments be introduced in an
appropriate way so as to enable both information providers and users to shore in the benefits of new technology. Within the Third Action Plan the intention is not to develop new technologies but to promote the application and adaptation of these as rapidly and effectively as possible within the Community. Initially this should be achieved through the ;
- monitoring of evolving technologies and their applications;
) - . '
- establishment of a coordinated strategic view on developments which have a potential impact on STID j
'* execution of specific studies, for example in the fields of more usen-oriented information retrieval systems and electfonio publishing;
- identification and definition of actions that would be appropriate at Community level.
Plan (faction ICST.
FICHS FINANCIERS •;
Liftne buc’getaire concernee r ' .'•.
•_ posts 3620 : Plans (faction 1:riennaux
. 3eme Plan d’action en matiere c'infor-
. • mation et de documentation scientifiques
et techniques. (IDST) -
Base juricique : ' . ; - ■
Proposition c.e decision du Conseil relative au 3eme Plan d'action en IDST (en preparation cans les services de la Commission)
Description c*e - I-1 action :
ci-jcinte et Commission.
voir proposition ce decision du Conseil communication de Monsieur DAVIGNOH a la
Justification de l'action : .
ci-jointe et Commission.
’ voir proposition de decision du Conseil
communication de Monsieur DAVIGNON a la
Incidence financiers de 11 action sur-les creelts d*intervention : • . . ' - . -
5.1. Cout total 6e l'action: > ■
16,5 MUCS a repartir sur trois exercices buccetaires.
5.2. Depense integralerr.ent supportes par ie budget ccrr.munau-
taire. . '
- z -
5.3.
Echeancier ces credits necessaires :
5.3.1. Credits issocies
(e n m. u . c . e .)
| ! ' credits g engagement | credits | de paiemen | t | ||
| 1931 | ' 1932 | L 1933 i | 1984 1 | i r. c' - J ? O 5 | |
| exercice 1981 : 2,000 | 0,500 | ; 1,000 i | 0,500 ! i | | i i | - |
| exercice 1582 : 8,000 - . | - | i 3,500 | • i : 2,500 • | ! 2,000 ; i | \ |
| exercice 1933 : ; 6,500 | - _ | j— . | | . i ’ 2,500 ‘ | 2,500 | 1,500 ; ■ 1 |
| total : 16;500 | 0,500 | 4,500 | . 5,500 | 4,500 | i i 1,500 ! 1 ;l |
5.3.2. Node de calcul
L'estimation des credits destines a financer le
3eme plan d'action est bases sur i
- les couts reels de la mise en place cu re-
seau EURO:;ET-DIANE; ■ ,
, - 1'experience acquise et les couts reels c.es
systemes actuellement operationnels, completes sur les indications fournies par les experts -nstionau::; .
- les estimations faites par des experts natic-naux cu dans le cadre d'etudes de faisabilite detaillees, ccncernant en particulier les couts de ceveloppement ce services de haute qualite et cu marche eurcpeen ce l'IDST;
- les tarifs en vigueur notamr.ent dans certains contrats d'etudes et de prestaticns eh matiere docurnenta ire et infcrmatique ;
- les taux d’inflation constates ou prevus pour les annees ulterieures a 1930.
• Incidence financiere sur les credits de personnel et de fonc
tionnement courant : ■ '. .
6.1. Personnel necessaire1 2 l'execution de l'action :
En place, (action demandee en continuite des deux precedents plans).
' ' . . ■ - ' ‘
7. Financement des depenses d''intervention :
Credits a inscrire dans les budgets futurs.
8. Incidences sur les ressources :
. - neant. ' ■
9. Regime de contrcle prevu : . ■ ' .
9.1. -La mise en oeuvre du plan d'action est subordonnee a . l'avis prealable du Comite pour 1'Information et la
Documentation Scientifiques et Techniques - (CIDST) , aux conditions cefinies par le Conseil dans sa decision du 3 octobre 1978 (annexe II), portent adoption d'un 2eme plan d'action (JO n°L 311 cu 4.11.1978). ...
9.2. L'etat d'avancement des travaux ainsi les resultats obtenus feront l'cbjet d'un controle periobioue c';e la part cu Parlement et du Conseil a l'occasion de
la presentation par la Commission de son rapport annuel d'activite. . . .