Brussels, 17/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - By unanimously adopting the opinion of Giannino Bernabei (Italy, employers' group) and Gerd Wolf (Germany, various activities) on "The 6th Research and Development Framework-Programme 2003-2006", at its July plenary session, the Economic and Social Committee essentially recommended: - setting as medium-term political goal a 50% increase in the budget for research and development; - proceeding with a redistribution of the financial resources provided for the 6th framework-programme, by combining it with a "modest increase from 17,500 to 18,930 million euro"; - ensuring the current programme's continuity and reducing the inherent risks of the introduction of new and unproven structures and instruments. In addition, the Committee calls for a specific "energy and transport" chapter with a 1,500 million euro budget (placing emphasis on renewable energies) and a strengthening of the Euratom programme. Its priority objectives are, notably, genome and biotechnology for health, information society technologies, nano-technologies, new intelligent products and materials, energy and transport, aeronautics and space, the environment, agriculture and natural resources (including food safety). The Committee also calls for increased SME participation in the 6th Framework-Programme over and above its current level (20 to 22%), notably through co-operative research.