26. 8. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 222/19 COUNCIL DECISION of 27 July 1994 adopting a specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of industrial and materials technologies (1994—1998) (94/571/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, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (?), Whereas, by Decision 1110/94/EC (°), the Council and the European Parliament adopted a Fourth Framework programme for. Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) for the period 1994—98 specifying inter alia the activities to be carried out in the field of industrial and materials technologies; whereas this Decision takes account of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision; Whereas Article 130i (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 deemed necessary for carrying out this programme is ECU 1617 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 to the conditions set out in Articles 1 (3) of Decision 1110/94/EC; Whereas a strengthening of cooperation in RTD concerning industrial and materials technologies is needed in order to develop technologies for the sustainable development of European industry; Whereas this programme may make a significant contribution to the stimulation of growth, to the (1) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994 (%) Opinion delivered on 2 June 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] No L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1. strengthening of competitiveness and to the development of employment in the Community, as indicated in the White Paper on ‘Growth, competitiveness and employment’; 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 industrial and materials technologies; Whereas Decision 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; Wherecas precompetitive and multisectoral research activities relating to steel product and process innovation may gradually be taken into account in the context of this specific programme, given the importance attached to these activities and in view of the forthcoming expiry of the ECSC Treaty; 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 provision should be made for measures to encourage the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this programme, in particular through technology stimulation measures; 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 support the implementation of the programme and to facilitate the action which firms, and particularly SMEs, research centres and universities have to undertake in order to participate in a Community RTD activity;