31. 12. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 361/77 COUNCIL DECISION of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme of research and technological development, including- demonstration, in the field of target socio-economic research (1994 to 1998) (94/915/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130i (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas, by Decision No 1110/94/EC (%), the European Parliament and the Council adopted a fourth framework programme for Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) for the period 1994 to 1998 specifying inter alia the activities to be carried out in the field of target socio-economic reserach; whereas this Decision takes account of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision; Whereas Article 103i (3) of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme is to be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity under the framework programme and that each specific programme is to define the detailed rules for its implementation, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary; : Whereas the amount deémed necessary for carrying out this programme is ECU 105 million; whereas the appropriations for each financial year shall be laid down by the budgetary authority, subject to the availability of resources - within the financial perspectives and the conditions set out in Article 1 (3) of Decision No 1110/94/EC; Whereas this programme may make a significant contribution to the stimulation of growth, to the strengthening of competitiveness and to the development of employment in the Community, as indicated in the White Paper on ‘Growth, competitiveness and employment’; (1) OJ No C 228, 17. 8. 1994, p. 177 and OJ No C 262, 20. 9. 1994, p. 23. (2) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 344. (3) Opinion delivered on 14 September 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) O] No L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1. Whereas the content of the fourth framework programme for Community RTD activities was established in accordance with the subsidiarity principle; whereas this specific programme specifies the content of the activities to be carried out in accordance with this principle in the field of targeted socio-economic research; Whereas Decision No 1110/94/EC lays down that a Community action is justified if, inter alia, research contributes to the strengthening of the economic and social cohesion of the Community and the promotion of its overall harmonious development, while being consistent with the pursuit of scientific and technical quality; whereas this programme is intended to help meet these objectives; Whereas the Community should only support RTD activities of high quality; Whereas the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres (including the Joint Research Centre (JRC)) and universities and the rules governing the dissemination of research results specified in the measures provided for in Article 130j of the Treaty apply to this specific programme; Whereas the Commission’s efforts to simplify and accelerate the application and selection procedures and make them more transparent must be continued in order to promote the implementation of the programme and to facilitate the action which firms, research centres and universities have to undertake in order to participate in a Comunity RTD activity; Whereas this programme will help to strengthen synergy between the RTD activities carried out in the field of targeted socio-economic research by research centres, universities and enterprises, in the Member States and between these and the corresponding Community RTD activities; Whereas the activities carried out under this programme must stimulate, utilize and supplement the activities carried out to evaluate the socio-economic impact in the other specific programmes implementing the fourth framework programme; whereas to this end the measures necessay to ensure mutual information and coordination must be taken; Whereas it may be appropriate to engage in international cooperation activities with international organizations and third countries for the purpose of implementing this programme;