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Select Committee on European Legislation Fourth Report


FOURTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME: ADDITIONAL FUNDING

4.   We have given further consideration to the first of the following on the basis of further information from the Government. We maintain our opinion[12] that it raises questions of political importance, but again make no recommendation for its further consideration at this stage. We consider that the second of the following raises questions of political importance, but make no recommendation for its further consideration at this stage:--

Department of Trade and Industry

(16986)
4866/96
COM(96)12

(i)  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adapting for the second time Decision No. 1110/94/EC on the fourth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration (1994-98); and

(ii)  Proposal for a Council Decision adapting for the second time Decision 94/268/EURATOM concerning the framework programme of research and training for the European Atomic Energy Community.

(17531)
10469/96
COM(96)453

 (iii)  Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adapting for the second time Decision No. 1110/94/EC concerning the fourth framework programme of activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (1994-1998), as adapted by Decision 616/96/EC.

(iv)  Amended proposal for a Council Decision adapting for the second time Decision 94/268/EURATOM concerning the framework programme of activities in the field of research and training for the European Atomic Energy Community (1994-1998), as adapted by Decision 96/253/EURATOM.

Legal base:

 (i) & (iii) Article 130i; co-decision; unanimity.
(ii) & (iv) Article 7 of EURATOM; unanimity.

      The documents

        4.1  The first document (16986) covers two draft Decisions which provide for additional funding for the Fourth Framework Programme (FP4) of 700 million ECU (£567 million[13]). We reported on 12 June that we were not prepared to clear the proposal on the basis of the information supplied and that the Commission should make a more detailed case for providing FP4 with the extra funds. We also noted the Government's comment that there was opposition from a number of Member States to a revision of expenditure ceilings in the financial perspectives agreed in 1992.

        4.2  The second document (17531) covers the same two draft Decisions, as amended to incorporate those European Parliament amendments which have been accepted by the Commission. A European Science Prize has been added for outstanding scientific achievements in a project carried out under FP4, but most amendments are of marginal importance.

        Further information and the Government's view

        4.3  In his Explanatory Memorandum (dated 31 October) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr Ian Taylor) says that the 7 October Research Council invited the Commission to clarify the question of the funding available and declared its intention to return to the question at its next meeting on 5 December. We understand that the Commission was still unable to explain from where in the Financial Perspectives the extra funds were being made available.

        4.4  So far as the second document is concerned, the Minister says that the amendments do not change UK policy. The Government sees no strong case for using Framework funding for a European Science prize.

        Conclusion

        4.5  The question of where the extra funding for the Fourth Framework Programme is to come from has still not been properly answered by the Commission. Until that explanation is provided, we shall not clear the documents.

12.1  (16986) 4866/96; see HC 51-xv, paragraph 4 (2 April 1996). Back

13.  At £1=1.2336 ECU. Back

 

© Parliamentary copyright 1996
Prepared 3rd December 1996