L 25712 Official Journal of the European Union 30.9.2009 DECISIONS ADOPTED JOINTLY BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL DECISION No 912/2009/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 September 2009 on the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme undertaken by several Member States (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 169 and the second paragraph of Article 172 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (), Whereas: (1) Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (}) (the Seventh ~ Framework  Programme)  provides for Community participation in research and development (R & D) programmes undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for the execution of those programmes, within the meaning of Article 169 of the Treaty. (2)  The Seventh Framework Programme has defined a series of criteria for the identification of areas for such Article 169 initiatives: relevance to Community (") Opinion of 25 March 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 22 April 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 27 July 2009. () OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 1. objectives, a clear definition of the objective to be pursued and its relevance to the objectives of the Framework Programme, the presence of a pre-existing basis  (existing or envisaged national research programmes), European added value, a critical mass with regard to the size and the number of programmes involved and the similarity of activities they cover, and the efficiency of Article 169 as the most appropriate means for achieving the objectives. (3)  Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006 concerning the specific programme ‘Cooperation’ imple- menting the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological devel- opment and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (%) (the specific programme Cooperation) encourages a cross-thematic approach to research topics relevant to one or more themes of the Seventh Framework Programme, and in this context identified an Article 169 initiative in the field of metrology as one of the initiatives suitable for Community participation, in national research programmes jointly implemented on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty. (4)  Metrology is a cross-disciplinary scientific field which is a vital component of a modern knowledge-based society. Reliable and comparable measurement standards, and appropriate validated measuring and test methods underpin the processes of scientific advancement and technological innovation and thus have a significant impact on the economy and quality of life within Europe. (5) At present, a number of R & D programmes or activities undertaken by Member States individually at national level to support R & D in metrology are not sufficiently coordinated at European level and do not allow for the gathering of the necessary critical mass requested in strategic R & D areas. (4 O] L 400, 30.12.2006, p. 86.