6. We consider that the following raises questions of political importance,
but make no recommendation for its further consideration at this stage:--
Department of Trade and Industry
(17684)
11759/96
COM(96)582 |
Commission Communication on a European initiative on transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). |
| Legal base: |
-- |
The document
6.1 This document is put forward in response to an invitation from the 7 October
Research Council to the Commission to present a Communication to the 5 December Council on stepping
up research on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). In June the Commission had
publicised its intention to propose an action plan for which supplementary funding would be needed.
6.2 This Communication includes an action plan which draws on the recommendations
of the report of a group chaired by a Professor Weissmann, appointed by the Commission in April 1996
to draw up an inventory of the state of knowledge and to propose research priorities. It also takes
into account recommendations from the Multidisciplinary Scientific Committee. The Financial
Statement is not yet available in English.
6.3 The five priority areas are:
-- clinical and epidemiological research on human spongiform encephalopathies
(SE);
-- the infectious agent and its transmission mechanisms;
-- evaluation of risk; and
-- treatment and prevention.
6.4 Within these areas, 24 research topics have been identified. Given the
complexity of the subject, several research projects per topic are often required, according to the
Commission. It takes the view that co-ordination of the Member States, research activities on TSE
should be strengthened, and explains that it has proposed a relatively high figure, 5 million ECU
(£3.75 million)[11], as the requirement is for more than
"the lightweight co-ordination which is usually practised in research matters" and
"the creation of databases and training programmes are both essential and, inevitably,
costly".
6.5 In the Communication, the Commission informs the Council that it is preparing
a second revised proposal on the financial supplement to the Fourth Framework Programme.
The Government's view
6.6 In his Explanatory Memorandum (dated 17 December) the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry (Mr Ian
Taylor) says that the Commission plan is generally thorough, well thought out and in accordance with
UK priorities. He comments that:
"The UK has a substantial and relatively long-standing research programme into TSEs,
and it is important that the Commission take account of national research efforts, and the scope
for improving co-ordination between Member States' TSE activities."
6.7 Two important safeguards secured by the UK include the participation of experts
from outside the EU in the peer review process which is used to allocate funding and provision for
a review at the end of 1997.
6.8 The Minister tells us that the Communication was approved by Council on 5
December. He also refers to approval having been given to the proposal for 100 million ECU of
additional funding for the Fourth Framework Programme, from which 35 million ECU will be designated
for TSE research and vaccines. This is a reference to the proposal dealt with in paragraph 5 of
this Report.
Conclusion
6.9 The question of funding is relevant to this proposal as it is to the revision
of the Fourth Framework Programme. We are therefore not clearing this document until we have seen
the further information requested on the financial perspective.
11.£1 = 1.3322 ECU. Back
|
