Research and aeronautics: setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Lena EK (ALDE, SE) amending, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council regulation setting up the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking.

Creation of a Joint Undertaking: the report stipulates that it should be ensured that after the last call for proposals in 2013 projects still in progress are implemented, monitored and funded until 2017. The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking should also be considered as a Community body as referred to in Point 47 of the IIA of 17 May 2006.

Objectives: the Joint Undertaking shall: i) contribute to the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme and in particular to the Theme 'Transport' (including Aeronautics) of the Specific Programme 'Cooperation'; ii) ensure coherent implementation of European research efforts aimed at environmental improvements in the field of air transport; iii) promote the involvement of SMEs in its activities in order to enable at least 15% of the funding available.

Financing: according to the MEPs, the running costs shall not exceed 3% of the total budget of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. Moreover, ITD Leaders and Associates shall contribute resources evaluated in accordance with the practices established under the Seventh Framework Programme. The evaluation and selection process, which shall be carried out with the assistance of external experts, shall ensure that the allocation of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking public funding follows the principles of excellence and competition.

Financial rules: the financial rules applicable to the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking shall not depart from Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002, unless its specific operating needs so require and subject to the prior consent of the Commission. The budgetary authority shall be informed of any such derogation.

Staff: the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking shall recruit its staff in accordance with the rules established in its host country. The Commission may second to the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking as many officials as it regards necessary.

Report: no later than 31 December 2010 and, thereafter, by 31 December 2015, the Commission shall conduct interim evaluations of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking with the assistance of independent experts. These evaluations shall cover the quality and efficiency of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking and its progress towards the objectives set. The Commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations, accompanied by its observations and, where appropriate, proposals for the amendment of this Regulation to the European Parliament and to the Council.

The committee also introduced the following amendments in the annexes:

- decisions of the Executive Board on accession of any other legal entity shall be made taking into account the relevance and potential added value of the applicant for the achievement of the objectives of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. For any new application for membership, the Commission shall provide timely information to the Council on the assessment and, where applicable, on the decision of the Executive Board;

- any Member may withdraw from the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. Withdrawal shall become effective and irrevocable six months after notification to the other Members;

- information on projects, including the names of the participants and the amount of the financial contribution of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking per participant shall be published;

- an Annual Report which shall present the progress made by the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking every calendar year, in particular in relation to the Annual Implementation Plan for that year. It shall be presented by the Executive Director together with the annual accounts and balance sheets. It shall include the participation of SMEs in the R&D activities of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking;

- the Annual Work Programme shall describe the scope and the budget of calls for proposals needed to implement the research agenda for a particular year;

- the report stipulates that the European Parliament needs to be consulted on any important changes to the JU's statutes;

- lastly, a host agreement shall be concluded between the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking and Belgium.