RESOLUTION of the Council and of the Representatives of the Member States, meeting in the Council with a view to coordinating the action of the Member States regarding scientific and technical information and documentation (STID) (adopted at the 157th session of the Council held on 24 June 1971)

THE COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING IN THE COUNCIL,

Having regard to the report drawn up by the "Scientific and Technical Research Policy" working party of the Medium Term Economic Policy Committee, in pursuance of the Resolution adopted on 31 October 1967;

Whereas in order to achieve economic, scientific and technical progress it is important that scientific, technical, economic and social documentation and data should be made available by the most modern methods to all persons needing to use such information, under the most favourable conditions as regards speed and expense;

Whereas it is necessary to encourage efforts aimed at this objective and, to this end, to seek the coordination of action being carried out throughout the Community in such a way as gradually to establish a European documentation and information network;

Whereas the establishment of such a network could only be effectively realized by the proper coordination of Member States' policies in this regard, and whereas therefore the procedure for such coordination should be laid down.

HAVE AGREED:

1. In order to encourage progress in scientific and technical information and documentation and gradually to establish a European documentation and information network, the Member States shall coordinate their action regarding: (a) the encouragement of initiatives of whatever origin for the creation and rational development of scientific and technical information and documentation systems, so that through their permanent association a European network will be established;

(b) the drawing up of rules and procedures aimed at ensuring the cohesiveness of such a network;

(c) the encouragement of the training of specialists and the education of users;

(d) the encouragement of technological progress in the science and processing of documentation.

The centres in the Member States will be prepared to associate the centres of other European States in the establishment of systems or, where appropriate, to facilitate their eventual access to such systems.

As regards relations and negotiations with third countries in scientific and technical information and documentation, the Member States shall keep one another regularly informed and shall compare their points of view in order to harmonize them as much as possible without prejudice to the provisions of the Treaty.

2. With a view to the implementation of coordinated action by the Member States, the general guidelines and, where necessary, the common positions shall be adopted by the Council or by the Representatives of the Member States meeting in the Council, on a proposal from the Commission or from one or more of the Member States.

Where action or expenditure by the Community or by the Member States as a whole might appear necessary, the Council or the Representatives of the Member States meeting in the Council shall be responsible for adopting the appropriate decisions.

3. The preparation of projects or other measures arising out of the provisions of paragraph 2 above shall be the responsibility of the Commission and of the "Scientific and Technical Research Policy" working party of the Medium-Term Economic Policy Committee.

In order to assist them in the performance of these tasks and to ensure that the current duties in regard to coordination and management are carried out the Medium-Term Economic Policy Committee will, within the framework of the "Scientific and Technical Research Policy" working party set up a "Scientific and Technical Information and Documentation Committee" (STIDC).

This Committee shall be composed of persons responsible for drawing up policy on scientific and technical information and documentation policy in each of the Member States, together with representatives from the Commission. Secretarial assistance will be provided by the Commission.

Where a revision of the structures responsible for the analysis of problems and the comparison of national policies regarding scientific and technological research might alter the powers of the Scientific and Technical Research Policy group of the Medium Term Economic Policy Committee, the Council will adopt all necessary measures to ensure the accomplishment of the tasks set out in paragraph 3 of this Resolution.