30.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 391/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1906/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 December 2006 laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 167 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 (%), Having regard to the Opinion of the Court of Auditors (?), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: () The Seventh Framework Programme was adopted by 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 Com- munity for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (*). It is the responsibility of the Commission to ensure the imple- mentation of that framework programme and its specific programmes, including the related financial aspects. (2)  The Seventh Framework Programme is implemented in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (°), hereinafter ‘the Financial Regulation’, and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the Financial Regu- lation (°), hereinafter ‘the Implementing Rules’. (") Opinion delivered on 5 July 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () 0] € 203,25.8.2006,p. 1. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 30 November 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 18 December 2006. () OJL412,30.12.2006,p. 1. () OJL248,16.9.2002,p. 1. (®) OJL 357,31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1248/2006 (O] L 227, 19.8.2006, p. 3). (3)  The Seventh Framework Programme is also implemented in accordance with the State aid rules, in particular the rules on State aid for research and development, currently the Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development (7). (4)  Treatment of confidential data is governed by all the rele- vant Community legislation, including the Institutions’ internal rules such as Commission Decision 2001/844[EC, ECSC, Euratom of 29 November 2001 amending its internal Rules of Procedure (¥) regarding provisions of security. (5)  The rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities should provide a coherent, comprehensive and transparent framework to ensure the most efficient implementation possible, taking into account the need for easy access for all participants through simplified procedures, in accordance with the principle of proportionality. (6)  The rules should also facilitate the exploitation of intellec- tual property developed by a participant, taking also into account the way in which the participant may be orga- nised internationally, whilst protecting the other partici- pants’ and the Community’s legitimate interests. (7)  The Seventh Framework Programme should promote participation from the outermost regions of the Com- munity, as well as from a wide range of undertakings, research centres and universities, including SMEs. (8)  The definition of micro, small and medium-sized enter- prises (SMEs) provided in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (°) should apply, for reasons of coherence and transparency. () O] C45,17.2.1996,p. 5. () OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/548/EC, Euratom (OJ L 215, 5.8.2006, p. 38). () OJL124,20.5.2003, p. 36.