Brussels, 31/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - British Conservative Giles Chichester, president of the European Parliament's committee on industry, research and energy, has written to the president of the Assembly, Spanish Socialist Josep Borrell to express the committee's “concern and disappointment”. The committee deplores the research budget cuts proposed by the Luxembourg presidency in the financial Perspectives for 2007-13.
In his letter, Mr Chichester indicates that, “The European Council has repeatedly emphasised since its meeting in Lisbon in 2000 the crucial role of research and technological development policy in the context of the Lisbon Strategy and the importance of the successful realisation of the European Research Area. Nevertheless, the proposal of the Luxembourg presidency would imply a substantial reduction (of the order of 30% or more) in the budgetary resources for the EU 7th RTD Framework Programme (FP7) compared to those proposed by the European Commission in April”. Chichester points out that “An FP7 budget at the level proposed by the Commission is an essential prerequisite for the attainment of the 3% target for European R&D investment set by the Heads of State and government themselves in Barcelona. By contrast, such a reduction as proposed by the Luxembourg presidency would have detrimental consequences for the consolidation and development of the European scientific and technological base and the boost to the competitiveness of European industry essential for a credible relaunch of the Lisbon Strategy”. In conclusion, Chichester is calling on Borrell to insist at the Luxembourg presidency that research policy receives funding in proportion to the Lisbon strategy
On 8 June the European Parliament will adopt its position on the next financial Perspectives, during the plenary session in Strasbourg by voting on the report of German Social Democrat Reimer Böge. After the vote, president Borrell will present Parliament's position to Heads of State and governments, which will then attempt to get an agreement on the financial Perspectives during their summit on 16-17 June.