Brussels, 07/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - After final approval of the 6th Framework Programme on Research and Development (FPRD), on 3 June, the specific programmes and the rules for participation essential for implementation of the FPRD have still not been adopted. In this context, the relevant committee of the European Parliament had almost unanimously adopted seven reports appearing on the agenda of next week's plenary session. A three-way meeting was, moreover, to allow compromises to be reached on the particular aspect of rules for taking part in the Community chapter for FPRD, subject to codecision. An extraordinary meeting of the industry committee should have allowed compromise amendments to be adopted allowing an agreement at first reading. Negotiations have allowed conclusions to be reached on the essential, but a certain number of problems still exist on points of detail and drafting aspects. Under these conditions, it is not expected that the industry committee will be able to give its stance on new amendments on Monday evening. It will examine the strategy to be adopted. This should consist in deferral of the vote on rules of participation for the two sections of the FPRD (EC and Euratom) until the plenary session in July. This procedure would make it possible to safeguard the possibility of reaching an agreement in first reading and, where necessary, of resolving the whole package in July.
Rules of participation are the subject of two reports by German Christian Democrat Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl. The amendments of the industry committee mainly aim to specify certain definitions. It also aims to guarantee that the minimum number of participants in a research project funded by the Commission is never below three independent legal entities established in three Member states or different countries associated for all the instruments (the Commission only provided for this minimum number for new instruments). Other amendments aim at setting up a two-phase project assessment procedure, with rules for the selection of evaluators and confidentiality that are fairly close to what the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) has just recommended. The Quisthoudt report also introduces new assessment criteria (synergy with the world of education, women's participation in research, SME involvement or that of peripheral regions). It also aims to stipulate the different modalities of selection procedures and limit the financial responsibility of participants to the same level as Community credits actually received by each of them. Negotiations with the Council allowed for an agreement to be found on most of the issues, including financial responsibility. The problems that remain are especially linked to questions of interpretation or problems of wording. Regarding the specific aspects of the Euratom chapter, the amendments aim in particular at maintaining a level of Community financing at 24% for projects linked to fusion (the Commission proposed taking this down to 17.5%, whereas its was 25% under the 5th FPRD). For spending on equipment, the report recommends a uniform rate of 23%, whereas the Commission proposed 37.5% for priority projects.
Five reports will be submitted at the Tuesday plenary. They focus on the specific programmes and include a certain number of amendments that the Council and the Council accepted during the adoption of the Caudron Report on the 6th RDFP. A brief summary of it follows:
Integrate and strengthen the European research area (ERA): the report of Christian Democrat, Wim van Velzen insists, but it's the case in the other reports, on the necessity of supporting inter-disciplinary aspects of research, as well as "bottom up" approaches directed towards the real needs of citizens. Use of former and new instruments should be guaranteed in the setting up of the 6th RDFP. Numerous amendments aim both to target aspects of research that the RDFP supports; molecular mechanisms (genomic), cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, accelerated development of GEANT, new Internet protocol, mine clearance, formative tissue, tissue, organ replacements, photonics, doping, bio-terrorism, seismology, vulcanology, animal diseases etc.
Structure the ERA: The report by Greek Socialist, Myrsini Zorba, proposes to introduce a provision banning the RDFP funding for any research for military purposes. He stresses that the implication of universities and higher education establishments calls for the creation of a follow-up mechanism for research mobility.
Common Research Centre (CRC): The report by French Green YVES Pietrasanta calls for the CRC to play a role in the creation of a Community system of scientific and technical reference and through participation in the networks of excellence.
Role of the CRC in Euratom research: The report by Christian Democrat, Konrad Schwaiger insists on the harmonisation of nuclear safety standards.
Specific Euratom programme: the report by Konstantinos Alyssandrakis (GUE, Greece) is calling for support for the ITER installation on a European site. He is opposed to funding for military research. He is insisting on aspects linked to the elimination of waste.