Brussels, 30/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a package of ten reports in Brussels on Thursday 30 November, the European Parliament finished its examination of the 7th Framework Programme for Research (2007-2013) so that it can now be implemented on time. In the next few days, the Council will give agreement to the compromise amendments negotiated with the EP and will give final assent to the legislation. For several months now, Commissioner Potocnik's department has been preparing the launch of the FP7 and the first calls for tender could be published in the third week of December, in sharp contrast with earlier FPs which always started later than scheduled.
At a press conference after the vote in plenary, former EU Research Commissioner, Belgian Socialist Philippe Busquin, welcomed the fact the programme would be able to start on time and hailed the remarkable team work at the European Parliament and with the Commission and Council too, which had made this positive outcome possible. Busquin said that unlike during the adoption of the previous package, it had been possible this time to reach agreement on human embryonic stem cell research with what he described as very tight rules to avoid the destruction of embryos. The compromise deal that has been approved bans the funding of research leading to the destruction of embryos but it does authorise research into biological matter from existing cells. Philippe Busquin said this was progress for freedom of research. Wearing his hat of rapporteur on participation rules, he stressed the fact that the European Parliament had won the continuation of paying up to 60% of eligible additional charges. This measure in favour of universities is a small victory over the Commission, which wanted to simplify the funding mechanisms of FP7 as far as possible. Other amendments will allow better definition of assessment criteria and fair conditions in the financial liability system for members of consortiums carrying out research projects.
Polish Christian Democrat Jerzy Buzek, main rapporteur on this big issue, said he had experienced an extraordinary nineteen months that had led to an essential framework programme for the next seven years. The former Polish prime minister said that nearly 2000 amendments had been tabled in first reading, of which some 700 had been put to the vote, but the structure of the programme had not been challenged. In its common position, the Council took on board several ideas put forward by the European Parliament, which only adopted forty or so compromise amendments on Thursday. The EP wants research to be carried out in what it feels are priority areas (like ignored diseases, allergies and marine research). It struck agreement with the Council about limiting the administrative costs of the European Research Council (the new body set up to pilot exploratory research) to 5% of its budget. It introduced a gradual increase system (with a mid-term review) in FP7 funding for the funding mechanism for the risk sharing established with the EIB. In a statement, the European Parliament says that the FP7 budget must never be used to fund the future European Technology Institute in any way.
The European Parliament also approved the report by French UDF MEP Anne Laperrouze on the participation rules for the EURATOM arm of FP7, and the reports by Italian Alleanza Nazionale MEP Umberto Pirilli, German Christian Democrat Angelika Niebler, Italian Margherita MEP Vittorio Prodi, Spanish Socialist Teresa Riera Madurell, Spanish Green David Hammerstein Mintz and German Christian Democrat Daniel Caspary on specific FP7 programmes. The European Parliament is only consulted on EURATOM and the specific programmes.
Welcoming the European Parliament's vote, Commissioner Janez Potocnik said the FP7 would lead to a 40% increase in EU funding for research. He stressed the importance of two key areas of the programme, namely a European Research Council based on the principle of excellence and to be piloted by scientists alone (without any intervention from politicians) to introduce new blood and have a positive impact on the future, said Potocnik; and technological platforms (there are 30 at present) to connect up private initiatives. Janez Potocnik said he was planning to hold a big debate early next year on the future of the European research area. (oj)