20. EUROPEAN RESEARCH
AREA
| (23914)
13366/02
COM(02) 565
| Commission Communication on providing new momentum to the European Research Area.
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| Legal base: | —
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| Document originated: | 16 October 2002
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| Deposited in Parliament: | 25 October 2002
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| Department: | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration: | EM of 12 November 2002
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| Previous Committee Report: | None
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| To be discussed in Council: | 26 November 2002
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| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared
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Background
20.1
The European Research Area (ERA) is a concept adopted at the Lisbon
European Council in March 2000. The purpose was to develop a
coherent European research policy, in which 15 national programmes
and one EU programme would work together to contribute to the
Lisbon objective of creating "the most competitive and dynamic
knowledge-based economy in the world" by 2010.
The document
20.2
In its Communication the Commission reports on progress towards
the ERA. It describes progress in a number of areas:
— benchmarking of national RTD (research and technological
development) policies;
— mapping of RTD "excellence";
— mobility of researchers;
— research infrastructures;
— networking of national RTD programmes;
— boosting private investment in research;
— intellectual property;
— a Trans-European electronic network for research;
— the international dimension of ERA;
— the regional dimension of ERA;
— science and society.
20.3
The document also notes areas where, in the Commission's view,
renewed vigour or direction is needed to realise the overall goal
of the ERA. The Commission is critical of the engagement of Member
States and concludes by proposing that
"The general objectives should therefore be:
— to achieve a substantial increase in Member State
involvement and the level of mobilisation of national activities;
— to increase the impact of the activities underway;
— to consolidate the conceptual and policy framework
in which the project is being implemented." (sic)
The Government's view
20.4
The Minister for Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and
Industry (Lord Sainsbury) tells us:
"The Government welcomes the opportunity to review progress
towards a European Research Area. The Government agrees that it
is timely for Member States to examine individual initiatives
at national level and give new direction to those which are not
on track toward the overall aims of ERA, and also to consider
the specific additional actions which the Commission suggests.
However, in the Government's view, the Commission's criticism
of Member States' commitment is unjustified and does not fully
recognise the extent of progress already made, for example through
benchmarking of national research policies and measures adopted
under the Sixth Framework Programme designed to stimulate greater
networking and coordination between researchers and national research
programmes.
"The Communication proposes a more formal approach for the
involvement of Member States in the establishment of ERA and full
use of the open coordination method including setting specific
targets. The Government will seek to ensure that the momentum
of ERA is not undermined by the constraints and the demands of
an overly bureaucratic open coordination mechanism."
20.5
The Minister adds that he expects the Council to adopt Conclusions
on progress on the ERA later this month.
Conclusion
20.6
We note the Minister's welcome for the opportunity to review
the ERA, his view that the Commission does not sufficiently recognise
progress already made and his understandable caution about any
unduly bureaucratic coordination mechanism. We clear the
document.
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