L 64/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 12.3.1999 COUNCIL DECISION of 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on competitive and sustainable growth (1998 to 2002) (1999/169/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 Parl iament (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), (1) Whereas by Decision No 182/1999/EC(*), the European Parliament and the Council adopted the fifth framework programme of the European Community (hereinafter referred to as the fifth framework programme) for research, technological development and demonstration (hereinafter referred to as RTD) activities for the period 1998 to 20002 setting out the general outlines and scientific and technological objectives of the activities to be carried out in the field of competitive and sustainable growth; Whereas Article 130i(3) of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme shall be implemented  through specific programmes developed within each activity under the framework programme, and that each specific programme shall define the detailed rules for implementing it, fix its duration and provide for the means deemed necessary; Whereas, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision No 1110/94/EC of the European O] C 260, 18.8.1998, p. 33. Opinion delivered on 15 December 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal). QO] C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 123. OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1. ) ) Parliament and of the Council of 26 April 1994 concerning the fourth framework programme of the European Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (1994 to 1998) (°) and Article 4(2) of the Council Decisions on the specific programmes implementing the fourth framework programme, the Commission has arranged for an external assessment to be conducted which it has transmitted to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions together with its conclusions and comments; Whereas, in accordance with Article 130j of the Treaty, Council Decision 1999/65/EC  of 22 December 1998 concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of research results for the implementation of the fifth framework programme of the European Community (1998 to 2002)(®) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the rules for participation and dissemination’) applies to this specific programme; whereas these rules allow the participation of the Joint Research Centre in the indirect actions covered by this specific programme; Whereas, for the purpose of implementing this programme, in addition to cooperation covered by the Agreement on the European Economic Area or by an Association Agreement, it may be appropriate  to engage in international cooperation activities, in particular on the basis of Article 130m of the Treaty, with third countries or international organisations; Whereas implementation of this programme will also comprise activities and mechanisms aimed at stimulating, disseminating and exploiting RTD results, in particular vis-a-vis small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and activities to stimulate the mobility and training of researchers; OJ L 126, 18.5.1994, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision No 2535/97/EC (O] L 347, 18.12.1997, p. 1). OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 46.