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Measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel

2020/0142(APP)

The European Parliament adopted by 627 votes to 40, with 29 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision amending Decision 2003/76/EC establishing the measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel.

Parliament gave its consent to the draft Council decision.

The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) is an EU funding programme that finances research projects in the coal and steel sectors. The RFCS has its own legal bases standing outside the Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Commission proposal foresees amendments to the current Decision 2003/76/EC. It aims to allow for the sale of part of the assets of the ECSC in liquidation for the period 2021-2027 in order to provide an annual allocation to the RFCS of EUR 111 million to finance research in the coal and steel sectors, namely:

- EUR 40 billion to fund collaborative research in these sectors and;

- EUR 71 billion to fund research into breakthrough technologies leading to near zero-carbon steel making and research projects for managing the just transition of formerly operating coal mines or coal mines in the process of closure, and related infrastructure in line with the Just Transition Mechanism.

The proposal does not create any new liabilities to be charged to the General Budget under the current multiannual financial framework (MFF). With the exception of some carry-over due to payment requests still to be satisfied within the annual allocation, the assets will stabilise after 2027 and will not be further reduced. In other words, based on the proposal the assets left intact after 2027 should still be intact in 2050, bar the (positive or negative) effect of the ECSC portfolio performance.