12 EC and EURATOM research and development
programmes from 2007
(26581)
8087/05
COM(05) 119
+ ADD 1
+ ADD 2
| (i) Draft Decision on the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration and demonstration activities (2007-2013)
(ii) Draft Decision on the 7th Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (2007-2011)
Commission staff working paper: impact assessment of the proposals for the 7th Framework Programmes
Commission staff working paper: simplification of the European Community's 7th Framework Programme
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| Legal base | (i) Article 166 EC; co-decision; QMV
(ii) Article 7 Euratom; — ; unanimity
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| Department | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | Letter of 22 May 2006
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-xvii (2005-06), para 3 (1 February 2006)
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| To be discussed in Council | 29-30 May 2006
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared, but further information awaited
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Previous scrutiny
12.1 In 2005, the Commission proposed these drafts of Decisions
to establish the EC's and Euratom's 7th Framework Programmes
for research and technological development (R&D). The most
striking feature of the draft EC Programme was the Commission's
proposal that the budget for 2007-13 should be nearly €73
billion compared with the budget of €19.2 billion for the
6th EC Programme (2002-06). The Commission proposed
that the budget for EURATOM's 7th Framework Programme
should be €3.1 billion for 2007-11.
12.2 When we considered the draft Decisions in July 2005, we noted
that the Government broadly supported the proposals and recognised
the case for increasing the EC's expenditure on R&D. We put
several questions to the Government and decided to keep the documents
under scrutiny.[39]
12.3 We considered the Government's replies in October
2005 and retained the draft Decisions under scrutiny pending progress
reports on the negotiations in the Council and receipt of the
Science and Technology Committee's opinion on the proposals.[40]
12.4 We reported on that Committee's opinion in January.[41]
Among its many thoughtful observations, the Science and Technology
Committee said that, in principle, it supported a substantial
increase in the funding for the 7th Framework Programme,
but that the Structural and Cohesion Funds and some of the other
EC programmes proposed for 2007-13 have the potential to be far
more influential drivers of R&D in the private sector than
the R&D Framework Programme.[42]
The Committee also noted that the increase in the R&D budget
proposed by the Commission was "always optimistic and perhaps
was not expected to survive the heat of negotiations on the overall
EU budget for the period".[43]
The Minister's letter of 22 May 2006
12.5 In his letter of 22 May, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State for Science and Innovation at the Department of Trade
Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville) tells us that, in the light
of the negotiations between the Council, the European Parliament
and the Commission on the EU's total budget, it is likely that
the combined budget for the EC's and EURATOM's 7th
Framework Programmes will be about €54 billion, of which
about €2.7 billion would be for EURATOM's Programme and the
rest for the EC's. The Minister comments that:
"Although this represents a reduction from the
Commission's original proposal … it is a significant increase
on the budget for the 6th Framework Programme. It also
fulfils the condition set in the European Council Conclusions
in December which stated: 'EU funding for research should therefore
be increased such that by 2013 the resources available are around
75% higher in real terms than in 2006'."
12.6 The Minister also tells us that the Austrian
Presidency is aiming to achieve agreement on a General Approach
on revised drafts of the Decisions at the meeting of the Competitiveness
Council on 29-30 May. He attaches a note of the minor textual
changes the Presidency will propose. He also tells us about the
Presidency's proposed amendments to the allocation of the budget
between the specific research programmes. The Minister draws attention,
in particular, to the proposed 3% increase in the proportion of
the budget to be allocated to the Co-operation programme.[44]
The effect would be that the Co-operation programme would receive
65% of the budget, the proportion advocated by the Government.
12.7 Finally, the Minister promises us further progress
reports.
Conclusion
12.8 The Minister has been assiduous in keeping
us informed about the negotiations on the 7th R&D
Framework Programmes. The size of the budgets is the only outstanding
issue of importance. It now appears likely that the budgets will
be agreed at the Council's meeting on 29-30 May and that the 7th
EC Programme will be notable for a substantial increase in the
funding available for research. We do not believe that there is
a "right" figure for the EC research budget. We see
no reason to object to the expected figure of about €51 billion
or to the Presidency's proposals for minor amendments to the text.
We are, therefore, now content to clear the draft Decisions from
scrutiny. We should, however, be grateful for the further progress
reports the Minister has offered to send us.
39 See HC 34-i (2005-06), para 21 (4 July 2005). Back
40
See HC 34-v (2005-06), para 18 (12 October 2005). Back
41
See headnote. Back
42
See HC 34-xvii (2005-06), para 3 (1 February 2006), Annex, paragraphs
4 and 10. Back
43
Ibid, paragraph 8. Back
44
The aim of the Co-operation programme would be to gain leadership
in key scientific and technology areas by supporting co-operation
between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities
across Europe as well as with the rest of the world. The programme
would have nine themes: health; food, agriculture and biotechnology;
information and communication technologies; nanosciences, nanotechnologies,
materials and new production technologies; energy; environment;
transport; socio-economic sciences and the humanities; and security
and space. Back
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