Brussels, 29/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 April, the European Commission unveiled a communication that seeks to simplify participation procedures in EU financed research projects. The European commissioner for research, innovation and science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said that the Commission's proposals aimed to reduce the administrative burden in European research programmes. She also said that they had to ensure the participation of the best researchers and most innovative companies, which would allow them to concentrate on the results and not on the red tape. The commissioner stated that they want to give a boost to the European economy and the quality of life. She declared that they had to particularly focus on encouraging the participation of SMEs and said that she was convinced that this could be done without compromising on financial control. The Commission proposals primarily aim to improve the current legislative and regulatory framework. They consist of better information technology systems, more coherent application of the rules, particularly with regard to auditing and improvements to the structure and calls for proposals. A second raft of measures seeks to amend current financial rules in an effort to introduce much greater simplification, whilst maintaining sufficient controls. This consists of, for example, using the “average cost method”, which means project leaders do not have to account for each item of spending separately. The Commission also wants projects to be able to apply the same accounting methods for European funding as those used for funding research at a national level. A third raft of amendments is envisaged in the context of future research framework programmes. The options put forward contain the gradual introduction of “results-based pay”- beneficiaries will receive payment for carrying out specific scientific tasks and must demonstrate that they have acted effectively and efficiently instead of justifying each individual post receiving funding. The great majority of these measures will be backed up by revision of the financial regulation that the Commission is presenting next month. The Commission also launched intermediate assessments of the ongoing programme (the 7th CP). A group of independent experts, headed by Rolf Annerberg, has been put in charge of this evaluation and will present a report next October. Finally, Geoghegan-Quinn indicated that she wished to change the name of the EU framework programmes (FP 7, FP 8…). (B.C./transl.fl)