Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and multiannual technical guidelines: advisory groups and technical groups

The European Parliament adopted 562 votes to 103, with 45 abstentions (following the consultation procedure), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision 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.

Parliament approved the Commission proposal subject to the following amendments:

Research projects: those research projects to which preference will be given include the following: projects on: (a) the impact on the employment of workers and the local community; (b) the impact on the health and safety of workers and of the local community.

The resolution stressed that the working conditions in the coal and steel sectors are demanding and have often resulted in damage to the health of workers and citizens.

Installations and companies should therefore respect all legal requirements on social responsibility, bring definitive solutions, and minimise the social implications of transition or closure of installations. The social partners need to be consulted to the extent possible on issues relating to social responsibility.

Tasks of the Advisory Groups: Members stated that the Advisory Groups will advise the Commission on tasks that include assessment of finalised projects of coal and steel production in the areas concerned.

Advisory Groups shall act individually and shall not represent an individual stakeholder. They shall be active in the field concerned and be aware of the industrial and sectoral priorities.

Technical Groups: Members urged the Commission to provide the maximum transparency possible, including publication of the agenda, background documents, voting records and detailed minutes, including dissenting opinions in line with the recommendation of the European Ombudsman.

Appointment of independent and highly qualified experts: for the appointment of independent and highly qualified experts, the provisions set out in Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council shall apply by analogy together with, for expert groups as a whole, the Commission Decision of 30 May 2016 on establishing horizontal rules on the creation and operation of Commission expert groups and a forthcoming European Parliament resolution on Control of the Register and composition of the Commission’s expert groups.