08/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - Definitive adoption of texts relating to the 7th framework programme for research and development has been slightly delayed. As the timetable stands, the Council should finalise texts in point A during the meeting of environment ministers on Monday 18 December as far as the framework programme and the rules of participation are concerned, and during the meeting of agricultural ministers on Wednesday 20 December for specific programmes. The European Commission still plans to publish the first calls for proposals on 22 December 2006, in order to stress its commitment for research. This publication will allow the scientific community to prepare to respond to its call which will not really open until entry into force of the framework programme, the day after it is published in the Official Journal in the second half of January 2007. (oj)