Brussels, 23/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU research ministers have agreed to continue to make progress on an initiative aimed at improving quality of life for the elderly through the use of new information technology and communications for old people living in their own home (ambient assisted living or AAL). Agreement on a general approach was reached on 23 November based on a compromise from the Portuguese presidency with the aim of reaching rapid agreement in first reading of the codecision procedure with the European Parliament early next year.
The involvement of the EU in this type of research, jointly funded to the tune of €150 million from the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) is subject to Article 169 of the Treaty. The common AAL programme is the legal and institutional framework of a large-scale European research project between Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Israel, Norway and Switzerland. EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding said that forecasts showed that innovative care technology programmes would make it possible for hospitals in Germany to cut costs by around €1.5bn a year. Any member state wishing to take part in the programme is free to do so. During the debate, Luxembourg said that it wanted to participate in the programme once it had been launched. Other member states, like the United Kingdom and Slovenia, made similar noises. The joint AAL programme is being implemented on the basis of annual work programmes covering subjects which can give rise to calls for tender. It is principally on the implementation of the programme that various delegations have expressed reservations (Sweden, Poland and France). The project will be assessed on a common, centralised basis incorporating all the national eligibility rules relating to the legal and financial status of each of the participants rather than on the substance of the proposal. The ministers point out that the projects under consideration will be assessed and selected centrally with the aid of independent experts, in line with transparent common assessment criteria. The selection will be binding on all member states once adopted by the general assembly. (B.C.)