----

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013)

(2006/C 115/05)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (COM(2005) 119 final) — 2005/0043 (COD) — 2005/0044 (CNS);

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission: Building the ERA of knowledge for growth (COM (2005) 118 final);

Having regard to the decision of the Council of 31 March 2005 to consult it on this subject, under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of its President of 19 May 2005 to instruct the Commission for Culture and Education to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to the Decision of the 2000 Lisbon European Council to adopt the concept of a European Research Area (ERA), thereby laying the foundation for common science and technology policy across the European Union;

Having regard to the Decision of the March 2002 Barcelona European Council by which the European Union set itself the objective of increasing the European research effort to 3 % of the European Union's GDP by 2010;

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission: A European initiative for growth — Investing in networks and knowledge for growth and employment — final report to the European Council (COM(2003) 690 final);

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission: Science and technology, the key to Europe's future — guidelines for future European policy to support research in Europe (COM(2004) 353 final) and its opinion on the subject (CdR 194/2004 fin) (1);

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission responding to the observations and recommendations of the high-level Panel of independent experts concerning the new instruments of the Sixth Framework Programme (COM(2004) 574 final);

Having regard to the Communication to the Spring European Council: Working together for growth and jobs — a new start for the Lisbon Strategy (COM(2005) 24 final);

Having regard to the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-2013) (COM(2005) 121 final — 2005/0050 (COD));

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission: Mobilising the brainpower of Europe: enabling universities to make their full contribution to the Lisbon Strategy (COM(2005) 152 final) and its opinion on the subject (CdR 154/2005 fin);

Having regard to the report of the High-level Expert Panel chaired by professor Ramon Marimon Evaluation of the effectiveness of the New Instruments of Framework Programme VI (21 June 2004);

Having regard to the opinion (CdR 155/2005 rev. 2) adopted on 22 September by its Commission for Culture and Education (rapporteur: Mr Lars Nordström, Regional Councillor, Region of Västra Götaland (SE/ALDE);

Whereas:

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 62nd plenary session, held on 16-17 November 2005 (meeting of 16 November):

The Committee of the Regions' views

1.   General comments

The Committee of the Regions

2.   Cooperation programme

3.   Ideas programme

4.   People programme

5.   Capacities programme

The Committee of the Regions welcomes this part of the Framework Programme. All of the six activities under this programme are important but the Committee would particularly highlight the following.

6.   The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

The Committee of the Regions

Brussels, 16 November 2005.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB

----

(1)OJ C 71, 22.3.2005, p. 22.

----