Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 2 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^f1,

Whereas:

Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) set out in Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of European Parliament and of the Council^f2 (‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’) provides an incentive to review Council Decision 2008/376/EC^f3, in order to ensure that the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (‘RFCS Programme’) complements the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry.

In order to ensure a coherent framework for participation in both the RFCS Programme and Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, it is necessary to align certain rules for participation under the RFCS Programme with those applicable under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme.

It is necessary to revise the rules on the competencies and on the composition of the Advisory Groups and of the Technical Groups, notably as regards the nature of the experts appointed by the Commission to ensure increased transparency as well as compliance and coherence with the framework for Commission expert groups, and contribute, as far as possible, to a balanced representation of relevant areas of expertise and areas of interest as well as to an optimal gender balance.

It is appropriate to consider simpler funding rules to ease the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the RFCS Programme and to permit the use of ‘unit costs’ to calculate eligible staff costs for owners of SMEs and other natural persons not receiving a salary.

The measures necessary for the implementation of Decision 2008/376/EC should be adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f4.

Decision 2008/376/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: