Brussels, 08/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - French MEP, Gérard Caudron (United Left) has been appointed EP rapporteur for the Draft Decision on Community participation in the clinical trials on vaccines against transmitted diseases linked to poverty (AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis), which forms part of a programme in developing countries. The EDCTP programme (see EUROPE 29 August p 8) offers the first possibility of using Article 169. The Community contribution to the 6th Framework Programme (which Mr Caudron knows well, as he was the rapporteur on it) will be EUR 200 million out of an overall budget of EUR 600 millions over four years (EUR 200 million will come from national contributions and EUR 200 million from a third of that contributed by industry). During the first exchange of views at the Industry Committee on 7 October, Mr Caudron emphasised that this project was programmed to last 10 years and was a clear indication of a "North/South partnership". He is currently awaiting observations and proposals from colleagues on the Draft Report, which he intends drafting in mid-November.