8.12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 359/9 COUNCIL DECISION . of 20 November 1989 on two specific research and development programmes in the field of the environment — STEP and Epoch (1989 to 1992) (89/625/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES: Having - regard to the Treaty. establishing the European Economic Community,- and in particular Article 130q(2) - thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), - In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Article 130k of the Treaty provides that the Framework Programme -shall be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity; Whereas by its Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC (%), as amended by Decision 88/193/EEC, Euratom (5) " the Council adopted a Framework Programme for Community activities - in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991), providing inter alia for -activities in the field of the environment; Whereas that Decision provides. that.a particular aim of Community research must be to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European industry, particularly in . strategic sectors of advanced technology, and to encourage it to become more competitive at international level, and that Community action is justified where research contributes inter alia 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 excellence; whereas it is intended that the Science and technology for environmental protection (STEP) and European programme on climatology and natural hazards (Epoch) programmes should contribute to the achievement - of these objectives; (1) OJ No C 327, 20. 12. 1988, p. 10. (2) O] No C 120, 16. 5. 1989, p. 76 and OJ No C 291, 20. 11. 1989. (3) OJ No C 139, 5. 6. 1989, p. 4. (*) O] No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. (5) OJ No L 89, 6. 4. 1988, p. 35. Whereas the Council of the European Communities and the representatives of the Member States, meeting within the Council, declared in their Resolution of 19 October 1987 on the continuation and implementation of a European Community policy and action programme on the environment (1987 to 1992)(6) that improving the scientific bases of environment policy, inter alia through appropriate research programmes, was one of the priority areas of Community -action; Whereas the participation of certain - European non-member States in a Community research and development programme in the field of the environment would be beneficial; Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research. Committee (Crest) has given its opinion, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Two specific research and technological - development programmes STEP and Epoch for the European Economic Community in the field of the environment, as defined in Annexes I -and II, are hereby adopted for a period of four years, starting from 20 November 1989. Article 2 The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the two programmes amount to ECU 115 million, including expenditure on a staff of 28. The funds and staff are allocated as follows:- — STEP: ECU 75 million (19 staff) — Epoch: ECU 40 million (9 staff) _ An indicative allocation of these funds is -set .out in Annex II. . Article 3 Detailed rules for the implementation of the programmes and the rate of the Community’s financial participation are set out in Annex III. (6) OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987, p. 1.