EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
(23205)
5943/02
COM(02) 43
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Amended Draft Council Decisions
— concerning the specific programmes implementing the Sixth Framework
Programme of the European Community for research, technological
development and demonstration activities (2002-2006).
— concerning the specific programmes implementing the Sixth Framework
Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) for
research and training activities (2002-2006).
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| Legal base: | (a) Article 166 EC; co-decision; qualified majority voting
(b) Article 7 EURATOM; unanimity
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| Document originated: | 30 January 2002
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| Forwarded to the Council:
| 31 January 2002 |
| Deposited in Parliament: |
22 February 2002 |
| Department: | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration: |
EM of 8 March 2002 |
| Previous Committee Report:
| None; but see HC 28-xiii (2000-01), paragraph 14 (2 May 2001) and HC 152ii (200102) paragraph 21 (17 October 2001)
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| Discussed in Council: |
11 March 2002 |
| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared
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Background
10.1 The previous Committee cleared the Commission's
proposals for the next Framework Programmes for the EC and EURATOM
covering the period 2002-2006 in May 2001. We reported further
on the proposals in October 2001.
The document
10.2 The document sets out the Commission's amended proposals
concerning the specific programmes through which the European
Community's next Framework Programme for research, technological
development and demonstration activities (20022006) and
the EURATOM research and training activities (20022006)
will be conducted. The Minister for Science and Innovation (Lord
Sainsbury) outlines the amendments in his Explanatory Memorandum
of 8 March 2002:
"The most extensive amendments, which are being proposed
to the Multiannual Framework Programme 20022006 of the European
Community, relate to the part of the proposals entitled 'Focussing
and Integrating Community Research'.
"Thematic Priorities
"Adaptations have been made to the structure and detailed
research content of thematic priority 1 in order to reflect its
organisation in two sections, respectively on advanced genomics
and its applications to health and on combatting major diseases,
and to thematic priority 6 following its reorganisation in three
parts, respectively sustainable energy systems, sustainable surface
transport, and global change and ecosystems. More limited but
in some cases substantial amendments have been introduced in the
research content of other thematic priorities.
"Adjustments have also been made to the initial policyorientated
research priorities under the heading 'supporting policies and
anticipating scientific and technological needs', along with some
reattribution of research activities in relation to the
thematic priorities (notably as regards agriculture and marine
ecosystem research). These take account of the modifications to
content and the significant reduction in budget introduced following
the first reading and the Council common position on Framework
Programme 6 (FP6)."
10.3 The Minister adds:
"In the case of some of the amended proposals, the Commission
proposes to be assisted by a Committee of Member States' representatives
meeting in variable configuration, in order to implement the corresponding
thematic areas of research. The single focussing and integrating
Community research programme would operate in seven separate thematic
configurations and one horizontal configuration. in each case
operating with full comitology prerogatives."
10.4 As regards the EURATOM Framework Programme on "Nuclear
Energy", the Minister says that "the main changes relate
to the proposal on fission, with the introduction of a new thematic
priority on radiation protection and activities on the safety
of nuclear installations."
10.5 The Minister also points out that the descriptions
of the funding instruments (Annex III) for both the EC and EURATOM
programmes have been amended, in line with the Council Common
Position on the main Framework Programme. According to the Minister,
this reflects the need to ensure a smooth transition from the
"traditional" to the "new" instruments in
the implementation of the thematic priority areas.
The Government's view
10.6 The Minister comments:
"The Government broadly welcomes the more explicit description
of the specific programmes provided in the amended proposal, which
reflect the Council common position on the Sixth Framework Programme.
"The Government believes it is important that Member States
should exercise effective oversight of the Commission's implementation
of the FP6 specific programmes. It therefore supports in principle
the proposal for the single focussing and integrating Community
research programme that the Commission should be assisted by a
committee of Member States representatives which would meet in
different configurations, corresponding to the thematic priority
areas of research. In a 'horizontal' configuration the committees
would address crossprogramme issues.
"The Government awaits further elaboration from the Commission
of the proposed remit and powers of the committees than [that]
provided in the proposal.
"The Government broadly agrees with the amendments to the
thematic priority areas 1 and 6. In priority 1, Genomics and Biotechnology
for Health, the Government welcomes the focus on Genomics in both
sections of the priority. In terms of the sixth priority, Global
Change and Ecosystems, the Government supports the division of
the priority into three subsections (Energy, Transport and
Sustainable Development), which should ensure appropriate coverage
of the constituent themes.
"The Government can accept the amendments to the EURATOM
specific programme, which likewise, reflect the amendments to
the FP6 Common position on EURATOM."
Conclusion
10.7 The initial proposal was cleared by the previous
Committee and was the subject of a further Report by us. As regards
the amended proposals, we welcome the changes to the detailed
research content of thematic priority areas one and six to reflect
the reorganisation of those research areas, and we welcome the
proposal to establish a committee of representatives from Member
States to oversee the Commission's implementation of the specific
research programmes. We are content to clear the document.
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