30.9.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 256/1 | (Legislative acts) DECISIONS DECISION No 862/2010/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 September 2010 on the participation of the Union in a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme (BONUS) undertaken by several Member States (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE (20 Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006 EUROPEAN UNION, 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) (%) Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European encourages a cross-thematic approach to research topics Union, and in particular Articles 185 and 188, second relevant to one or more themes of the Seventh paragraph, thereof, Framework Programme, and in this context identified an initiative under Article 169 of the EC Treaty in the field of Joint Baltic Sea research as one of the fields suitable for Community participation in jointly imple- Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, mented national research programmes. Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3), (3)  The Baltic Sea ecosystem, a semi-land locked European Whereas: 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 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 establishing the European Community (EC Treaty). (") Opinion of 29 April 2010 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) Position of the European Parliament of 16 June 2010 (not yet inland sea, is one of the world’s largest brackish water bodies and has been seriously affected by many natural pressures and pressures caused by human activity, such as pollution from dumped chemical weapons, for example war gases dating back to the Second World War, and from heavy metal compounds, organic substances, radioactive material, and heating oil and petroleum spills. The development of agriculture in the Baltic Sea drainage basin has likewise caused excessive inputs of fertilisers and organic material leading to advanced eutrophication, and the introduction of non- endemic alien organisms into the environment. The unsustainable exploitation of fish stocks and climate change are causing the loss of original biodiversity. Those factors, as well as continuing human activity, including infrastructure projects directly on and in the immediate vicinity of the coast and in the Baltic Sea drainage basin, and ecologically unsustainable tourism, are degrading the natural environment. All this is seriously reducing the capacity of the Baltic Sea to sustainably provide the goods and services upon which people depend directly and indirectly for social, cultural and economic benefits. published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 12 July 2010. () O] L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 1. () O] L 400, 30.12.2006, p. 86.