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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Council Regulation (Euratom) laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2011)

COM(2006) 42 final — 2006/0014 (CNS)

(2006/C 309/09)

On 8 March 2006 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 7 and 10 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 31 May 2006. The rapporteur was Mr Pezzini.

At its 428th plenary session, held on 5 and 6 July 2006 (meeting of 5 July), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 156 votes to three with four abstentions.

1.   Conclusions and recommendations

2.   Reasons

3.   General comments on the rules for participation in the 7th EURATOM framework programme

4.   Specific comments

Brussels, 5 July 2006.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

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(1)  COM(2005) 705 final.

(2)  In fact, there are some exceptions: e.g. frontier research projects.

(3)  e.g. the comments on the legal status of research institutes, access rights to findings, intellectual property rights, reimbursement of costs, funding arrangements and simplification, types of grant and the general principles underlying the European Charter for Researchers.

(4)  See also point 3.11.

(5)  See OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004, rapporteur: Mr Cambus.

(6)  Energy produced in EU-25 in 2004: Nuclear energy 31,2 %; Natural gas 24,3 %; Crude oil 17,1 %; Hard coal 13,1 %; Lignite 10,2 %; Primary energy 4,1 %. Energy consumed in the same period: Crude oil 39,2 %; Natural gas 25,4 %; Nuclear 14,8 %; Hard coal 13,7 %; Lignite 4,9 %; Primary energy 2,0 % (Eurostat, Energy, Issue No 5/2006).

(7)  In 2004, gross imports — dependence on imported energy — in EU-25, represented 53,8 %, of which crude oil and petroleum products 33,2 %. Energy dependence of the four major EU Member States: IT 87,7 %; DE 64,6 %; FR 54,3 %; UK 5,2 %. The only EU Member State which is not energy dependent is DK, which has an energy dependence rate of –53,5 %. (Eurostat, Energy, Issue no. 5/2006).

(8)  See OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006, rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(9)  COM(2005) 119 final — SEC(2005) 430/431 of 6 April 2005.

(10)  See OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006, point 1.11 — rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(11)  See OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006, points 1.12 and 4.15.2 — rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(12)  Council Regulation No 2322/2002 (Euratom).

(13)  COM(2005) 705 final of 23.12.2005.

(14)  See CESE 557/2006 (INT/309) — rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(15)  See CESE 557/2006, point 4.6 (INT/309) — rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(16)  See footnote 14.

(17)  See CESE 557/2006, point 4.11.2 (INT/309) — rapporteur: Mr Wolf.

(18)  See OJ C 80 of 30.3.2004 on IDABC (Interoperable Delivery of European eGovernment Services to Public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens).

(19)  See OJ C 110 of 9.5.2006, rapporteur: Mr Pezzini.

(20)  See OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006, rapporteur: Mr Wolf, points 6.1 et seq.

(21)  See footnote 16.

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