Est. 1min 19-11-2001 (updated: 05-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram During its plenary session, MEPs voted in its first reading to change the allocation of spending to the Commission’s proposal for a 16.27 bn euro research budget to back the sixth framework programme that will run from 2002-2006. The Parliament proposed the following main changes: Each subsection should have its own budget chapter and its own expert advisory group; Inclusion of a completely new subsection, surface transport; More research on traditional diseases instead of limiting research to the fields of genomics and biotechnology; Particular attention should be focused on involving women in research and on involving the applicant countries in the programme; In the field of information society, more research should be done into new display systems for mobile phones; On ethical grounds, no EU funding should go towards research involving human cloning for reproductive purposes, but research into the use of human stem cells could be eligible for funding. Read more with Euractiv EU discusses plan to counter bioterrorismThe Commission and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry have discussed plans this week for an EU-wide strategy to ensure production, supply and availability of medicinal products for preventing or treating the effects of a biological attack. The Commission and industry representatives explored mechanisms that could be set up to counter possible attacks by biological agents such as Anthrax or Smallpox. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions Commissioner Philippe Busquin, in charge of research, stated the Commission could probably accept three quarters of the amendments proposed in the report. An increase of the budget of 100 million euro should also not be much of a problem, although he hoped to avoid the budget increase. MrGerard Caudron(PES, F), the Parliament's rapporteur in charge, expressed his satisfaction, albeit having one regret: that the debate focused so much on bio-ethical issues considering it only represents 1.3 billion euro. TheEuropean Science Foundation (ESF)welcomes the concept of a European Researach Area but misses a clear statement justifying the chosen themes and sub-themes. It also states that more attention needs to be paid to the involvement of scientists from developing countries as well as accession countries. TheUnion of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE)states that the priority of thematic areas should focus on strategic targets with market relevance and a clear European dimension. The principle or key criteria should be one of European added value, and not compensate for missing national research programmes or under developed research infrastructures. BackgroundOn 21 February 2001, the Commission set out its proposals for a new research and innovation framework programme for the EU (2002-2006), stating that research and innovation are the keys "to become the most successful and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world". The proposed budget is 17.5 billion euro, an increase of 17% over the budget of the current research framework programme (5th Research Framework 1998-2002). The research and innovation programme is part of a wider political initiative aiming at creating a European Research Area, as endorsed by the Lisbon Summit in March 2000. The (amended) Commission proposal contains seven thematic priority areas of research: Genomics and biotechnology for health; Information Society technologies; Nanotechnologies, intelligent materials, new production processes; Aeronautics and space; Food safety and health risks; Sustainable development and global change; Citizens and governance in the European knowledge-based society. Timeline The adoption of a Council common position is expected on 10 December 2001.
