The European Parliament adopted by 630 votes to 14, with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on participation by the Community in a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme (BONUS-169) undertaken by several Member States.
It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure). The amendments adopted in plenary are a result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council.
They amend the Commission proposal as follows:
Implementation of BONUS: according to the amended text, the strategic phase of the Programme shall last up to 18 months. Parliament stressed the need to encourage an adequate participation of SME. They also state that the grant and payment of financing to participants in BONUS shall comply with common rules in line with the Seventh Framework Programme. Projects shall be selected according to the principles of equal treatment, transparency, independent evaluation, co-financing, no-profit, financing not cumulated with other Union sources, as well as the principle of non-retroactivity.
Conditions for the Union contribution: Parliament added here that the Union financial contribution for the implementation phase shall be conditional upon, inter alia, the establishment by the participating Member States of the Strategic Research Agenda, Stakeholders Consultation Platforms and the implementation modalities referred to in the text as well as the progress made towards the achievement of objectives and deliverables set out in Annex I, section 2 (strategic Phase.) The Commission may, if appropriate, make recommendations for improving the Strategic Research Agenda.
Evaluation: in the light of an interim evaluation conducted by the Commission, assisted by independent experts with a good knowledge of the local conditions, the Commission should assess the quality and efficiency of the implementation of BONUS and progress towards the objectives set, as well as conduct a final evaluation.
Annexes: it is stipulated that the BONUS EEIG shall be the recipient and administrator of the Union contribution. A Participating State may decide to administer its own national funding and to devote its cash contribution exclusively to domestic research that is selected at central level or to have its cash contribution administered centrally by the BONUS EEIG.