eunbil · GT0N1278 · 2006-05-19 00:00:00 — Subject : Draft Decision of Parliament and of the Council concerning the seventh framework programme of Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Draft Council Decision concerning the seventh framework programme of Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) - General will find attached the draft changes suggested to the Partial General (PGA) following the Interinstitutional Agreement on the Financial Perspectives, with a view to the General to be agreed at the Council ("Competitiveness") on 30 2006. Changes from the original Commission proposal (doc. 8087/05) to the partial general approach (doc. 15062/05) are underlined and changes from the PGA to the draft General bold and underlined for ease of reference. Delegations" positions are indicated in footnotes. PGA, p. 12 ("JTIs") In a very limited number of cases, the scope of a RTD objective and the scale of the resources involved could justify setting up long term public private partnerships in the form of Initiatives. These initiatives, mainly resulting from the work of Platforms and covering one or a small number of selected aspects of research in their field, will combine private sector investment and national and European public funding, including grant funding from the Research Framework Programme and loan finance from *1. Initiatives will be decided individually, either on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty (this may include the creation of a joint undertaking) or on the basis of Specific Programme Decisions in accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty. 13 ("169") Co-ordination of non-Community research programmes The action undertaken in this field will make use of two main tools: the ERA-NET scheme and the participation of the Community in jointly implemented national research programmes (Treaty Article 169). The action may cover subjects not directly linked to the ten themes in as far as they have a sufficient European added value. The action will also be used to enhance the complementarity and synergy between the Framework Programme and activities carried out in the framework of intergovernmental structures such as EUREKA and COST 5. The participation of the Community in research programmes jointly implemented on the basis of Article 169 is especially relevant to European co-operation on a large scale in "variable geometry" between Member States sharing common needs and/or interests. In well identified cases such Article 169 initiatives could will be launched in areas to be identified in close association with the Member States, including the possible cooperation with intergovernmental programmes, on the basis of a series of criteria: 30 ("Energy") Energy systems are confronted with major challenges. The urgency to develop adequate and timely solutions is justified by the alarming trends in global energy demand (predicted to rise by in the next 30 years), the need to curb dramatically emissions of greenhouse gases to mitigate the devastating consequences of climate change, the damaging volatility of oil prices (in particular for the transport sector which is heavily oil dependent) and geopolitical instability in supplier regions. Research and demonstration are needed to provide the most environmentally and cost-effective technologies and measures enabling the EU to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond and to implement its energy policy commitments, as described in the 2000 on the security of energy supply10 and the 2006 on a European strategy for sustainable competitive and secure energy10a. 56 ("Research infrastructures") Support to new research infrastructures focussing on preparatory phases of the construction of new infrastructures and major upgrades of existing ones to promote the emergence of new research facilities, in accordance with the principle of "variable geometry", primarily upon the work conducted by ESFRI16, and which will be decided on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty or on the basis of Specific Programme Decisions in accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty. design studies, through a bottom-up approach of calls for proposals, to promote the creation of new research infrastructures by funding exploratory awards and feasibility studies for new infrastructures. Infrastructures projects proposed for funding in this respect will be identified on the basis of a series of criteria including in particular: Inability of existing mechanisms to achieve the objective Added value of Community financial support Capacity to offer a service in response to the needs of users from the scientific (academic and industrial) community throughout Europe Relevance at international level Technological and organisational feasibility Possibilities for European partnership and strong financial and other commitment of Member States and other major stakeholders. Construction and operating costs evaluated. 58 ("SMEs") During the implementation of the Community RTD Framework Programme, complementarity and synergy will be ensured with the actions of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. [In addition, support will be granted to national schemes providing financial means to SMEs or SME associations to prepare proposals for actions under "Research for the benefit of SMEs". 64 ("International") ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION To become competitive and play a leading role at world level, Community needs a strong and coherent international science and technology policy. This international policy has two interdependent objectives: To support European competitiveness through strategic partnerships with third countries in selected fields of science and by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe; To address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit. Cooperation with third countries in the Framework Programme will be targeted in particular at the following groups of countries: Countries neighbouring the EU, partner countries, Western and the Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asian countries (EECCA)18; Developing countries, focusing on the particular needs of each country or region concerned;19 The theme-oriented international cooperation actions are carried out under the "Cooperation" programme. The international actions in the area of human potential are carried under the "People" programme. Under the "Capacities" programme, horizontal support actions and measures with a focus other than a specific thematic or interdisciplinary area covered in "Cooperation" programme, will be implemented, and could be supplemented, in a limited number of cases, by specific cooperation actions of mutual interest. Efforts will be undertaken to improve the coherence of national activities by supporting the co-ordination of national programmes on international scientific co-operation. The overall coordination of the international cooperation actions under the different programmes of the Framework Programme, as well as with other Community instruments, will be ensured. 85 (Euratom FP: JRC activities) Nuclear Safety, in implementing research on existing as well as on new fuel cycles and on reactor safety of both Western and Russian reactor types as well as on new reactor design. In addition the JRC will contribute and co-ordinate contribution to the R&D initiative, in which the best research organisations in the world are involved. The JRCs contribution includes primarily*5 safety and safeguard aspects of innovative fuel cycles, in particular characterisation, test and analysis of new fuels; the development of safety and quality goals, safety requirements and advanced evaluation methods for systems; 5 This will include financial support for the administration and coordination activities of COST. *2 ". 10 COM(2000) 769. 10a COM(2006) 105. 16 on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) was launched in . ESFRI brings together representatives from the 25 EU Member States, appointed by Ministers in charge of Research, and a representative of Commission. The countries associated with the Framework Programme for Research were invited to join in 2004. 18 Formerly called the New Independent States: Armenia, , , , , Kyrgyz Republic, , , , , and . Activities regarding EECCA countries currently undertaken by INTAS will be subsumed in the relevant cooperation activities under this heading. remove footnote 6, p.15 of PGA).