Research Fund for Coal and Steel — Programme and guidelines

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2008/376/EC on the research programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and its multiannual technical guidelines

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS DECISION?

Decision 2008/376/EC set up the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and set out technical guidelines for the programme.
Amending Decision (EU) 2017/955 updated the original decision in order to align the RFCS programme with Horizon 2020, the European Union’s (EU) research framework programme which preceded Horizon Europe. This included revising the rules governing the advisory and technical groups to ensure transparency, to achieve a better balance of expertise and gender, as well as simplifying procedures to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to participate in the programme.
Amending Decision (EU) 2021/1094 revises the programme’s research objectives, in line with the European Green Deal (see summary) and the Just Transition Mechanism. This fits with the EU’s objectives to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 — see summary), which were adopted further to the Paris Agreement (see summary) and ratified by the EU in 2016. It also ensures that RFCS research complements the activities of Horizon Europe.

KEY POINTS

Decision 2008/376/EC, as amended by Decision (EU) 2021/1094, revises and refocuses the research priorities under the RFCS:

with regard to coal, they aim to:
- support the just transition of the coal sector and regions,
- improve health and safety in coal mines under closure and in previously exploited coal mines,
- minimise the environmental impacts of coal mining sites in transition;
with regard to steel, they include work on:
- new, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes,
- advanced steel grades and applications,
- conservation of resources, protection of the environment and the circular economy,
- management of the work force (developing and disseminating competencies to keep pace with new near-zero-carbon steel production processes) and improving working conditions (including health, safety and ergonomics in and around the workplace).

Research on breakthrough technologies for the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the steel industrial sector may be implemented through co-programmed European Partnerships (involving the pooling of resources between public or private partners or both). These may be established in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe (see summary).

Procedure

The RFCS is managed by the European Commission.
The Coal and Steel Committee, comprising representatives from the EU Member States, assists the Commission with the RFCS’s overall management.
Coal and steel advisory groups advise the Commission on developing the research programme, including the setting of annual priorities.
Coal and steel technical groups support the Commission in evaluating and monitoring projects.
The RFCS issues annual calls for proposals, namely €40 million to finance collaborative research and €71 million to finance research for breakthrough technologies leading to near-zero-carbon steelmaking and research projects. These projects manage the just transition of formerly operating coal mines, coal mines in the process of closure and related infrastructure, in line with the Just Transition Mechanism and in compliance with Article 4(2) Supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions.
The RFCS programme is monitored by the Commission and is assessed every 7 years.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

Decision 2008/376/EC has applied since 16 September 2007.
Amending Decision (EU) 2017/955 has applied since 27 June 2017.
Amending Decision (EU) 2021/1094 has applied since 25 July 2021.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision 2008/376/EC of 29 April 2008 on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme (OJ L 130, 20.5.2008, pp. 7–17).

Successive amendments to Decision 2008/376/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.