The revenue from investments of the net worth of the assets of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, are being assigned to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, which is intended exclusively to fund research projects outside the Community framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry.
(2)
The Research Fund for Coal and Steel is to be managed by the Commission in accordance with principles similar to those governing the former ECSC coal and steel technical research programmes and on the basis of multiannual technical guidelines which should constitute an extension of those ECSC programmes, providing a high concentration of research activities and ensuring that they supplement those of the Community framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities.
(3)
The Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) set out in Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 (3) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Seventh Framework Programme’) provides an incentive to review Council Decision 2003/78/EC of 1 February 2003 laying down the multiannual technical guidelines for the research programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (4) in order to ensure that the Research Fund for Coal and Steel complements the Seventh Framework Programme in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry.
(4)
Research and technical development constitute a very important means of supporting Community energy objectives with regard to the supply of Community coal and its competitive and environmentally friendly conversion and utilisation. Moreover, the growing international dimension of the coal market and the global scale of the problems confronting it means that the Community has to take a leading role in meeting challenges relating to modern techniques, mine safety and environmental protection at worldwide level by ensuring the transfer of know-how required for further technological progress, improved working conditions (health and safety) and enhanced environmental protection.
(5)
With the general aim of increasing competitiveness and contributing to sustainable development, the main emphasis of research and technological development is on the development of new or improved technologies to guarantee the economic, clean and safe production of steel and steel products characterised by steadily increasing performance, suitability to use, customer satisfaction, prolonged service life, easy recovery and recycling.
(6)
The order in which the research objectives for coal and steel are presented in this Decision should not represent a priority as between those objectives.
(7)
In the framework of the management activities of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, the Commission should be assisted by advisory groups and technical groups representing a wide range of interests of industries and other stakeholders.
(8)
The recent enlargement incorporating new Member States requires modification of the multiannual technical guidelines laid down in Decision 2003/78/EC, notably as regards the composition of the advisory groups and the definition of coal.
(9)
In accordance with Statement No 4 of the Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council 2002/234/ECSC of 27 February 2002 (5), the Commission has re-examined the definition of steel and come to the conclusion that it is not necessary to change that definition. Indeed, steel castings, forgings and powder metallurgy products are topics already covered by the Seventh Framework Programme.
(10)
The general approach for revising the Decision 2003/78/EC should be to keep intact the procedures that were considered by the assisting groups as effective, together with a limited but necessary number of modifications and administrative simplifications in order to ensure complementarity with the Seventh Framework Programme.
(11)
Those modifications include the deletion of some accompanying measures as already foreseen in the Seventh Framework Programme. It is also necessary to align the periodicity of the revision and the experts’ nominations concerning the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel on those used in the Seventh Framework Programme.
(12)
The rules on the composition of the advisory groups should be revised, notably as regards the representation of interested Member States and gender balance according to Commission Decision 2000/407/EC of 19 June 2000 relating to gender balance within the committees and expert groups established by it (6).
(13)
The Commission should be given the opportunity to launch dedicated calls in the framework of the research objectives defined in this Decision.
(14)
The maximum total financial contribution from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel for pilot and demonstration projects should be increased to 50 % of the eligible costs.
(15)
The eligible costs approach should be kept together with a better definition of the cost categories and a revised percentage for the calculation of the overheads.
(16)
The Commission has reassessed the multiannual technical guidelines laid down in Decision 2003/78/EC and found that in view of the changes required it is appropriate to replace that Decision.
(17)
In order to ensure the necessary continuity with Decision 2003/78/EC, this Decision should apply from 16 September 2007. Applicants submitting proposals between 16 September 2007 and the date this Decision takes effect should be invited to resubmit their proposals in accordance with this Decision, which should enable them to benefit from the more favourable conditions provided by this Decision, notably as regards the financial contribution to pilot and demonstration projects.
(18)
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (7),
