{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-955/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-955/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2017/955",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (EU) 2017/955 of 29 May 2017 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",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-955",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (EU) 2017/955\nof 29 May 2017\namending 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\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving 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,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nHorizon 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 (‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’) provides an incentive to review Council Decision 2008/376/EC, 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.\n(2)\nIn 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.\n(3)\nIt 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.\n(4)\nIt 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.\n(5)\nThe 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.\n(6)\nDecision 2008/376/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Opinion of 14 December 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Council Decision 2008/376/EC of 29 April 2008 on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme (OJ L 130, 20.5.2008, p. 7)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2017/955/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:28.191668+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}