A4-0195/96

Resolution on the annual report 1995 on the research and technological development activities of the European Union (COM(95)0443 - C4-0437/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article 130p of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

- having regard to the Commission communication 'Research and technological development activities of the European Union - Annual report 1995' (COM(95)0443 - C4-0437/95),

- having regard to European Parliament and Council Decision 1110/94/EC concerning the fourth framework programme of the European Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration ((OJ L 126, 18.5.1994, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0195/96),

A. whereas innovations and an innovative climate are of particular importance for the future of Europe,

B. whereas the targeted introduction of viable technologies is essential, particularly in view of Europe's limited natural resources,

C. whereas challenges threatening our way of life, such as climate change, can only be overcome by innovative discoveries and strategies,

D. whereas this sector is therefore of particular importance for the development of socially viable policies for the future of Europe and there must therefore be continuous social dialogue about priorities and changes of priorities in research and technological development,

E. whereas the European Union particularly wishes to promote and support cooperation on and coordination of research and technological development in the fourth framework programme on research,

F. whereas the regular evaluation of Community activities in the research and technological development sector is a necessary and practical measure, with a view to the formulation of ensuing framework programmes,

G. whereas the financial resources of the Community have to be carefully managed and may only be used for the best possible outcome,

H. whereas there are serious disparities in the R& D field between the various countries of the EU and in access to R& D funds,

I. whereas a considerable proportion of the resources available for the promotion of research in the fourth framework programme is used for administrative staff costs,

J. whereas the Commission has submitted both the 'Green Paper on Innovation' and the proposal for refinancing the fourth framework programme on research, both of which contain a number of new priorities, without adequate evaluation of current research promotion,

K. whereas the annual report 1995 is the first submitted by the Commission under the provisions of Article 130p of the Treaty,

L. whereas this report was submitted to Parliament only during the course of 1995 instead of at the beginning of 1995,

M. whereas the annual report contains a broad presentation of activities,

N. whereas the report does not provide a thorough analysis, any evaluation of findings or any conclusions and thus in its present form is of only limited use,

O. whereas the annual report does not include the outside monitoring reports on the specific programmes,

P. whereas there are known to be many difficulties in the implementation of the programmes under the fourth framework programme, e.g. difficulties of access and lack of transparency, which have not yet been resolved,

1. Welcomes this annual report 1995 on the research and technological development activities of the European Union' and notes it with interest as the first of its kind;

2. Notes that this report contains a good description and survey of the activities of the European Union in the promotion of research;

3. Notes also however that the report satisfies only to a limited extent the justified expectations associated with the incorporation into the Treaty of the obligation to produce an annual report;

4. Calls on the Commission to include a special section in future annual reports on the relation between the EU's RTD activities and those of the Member States (combined activities, any instances of overlapping, coordination, coinciding and deviating strategies, etc.);

5. Calls for the most important data and indicators from the monitoring reports on the individual specific programmes and the Commission's opinions on them to be included in the annual report in future;

6. Calls on the Commission to develop a standard assessment system for the Community research programmes, the specific programmes of the fourth and subsequent framework programmes on research and the work of the Joint Research Centre and use it as a basis in the presentation of future annual reports, to ensure comparability of results;

7. Calls on the Commission to make the relevant issues, problems and features, such as the level and efficiency of coordination and cooperation, the allocation of funds to regions and target groups, with particular reference to SMEs, the starting point for the development of the assessment system, and to consider possible complementary effects on national research programmes;

8. Calls on the Commission to examine in future annual reports whether and how its strategies to resolve the practical problems, such as difficulties of access, lack of transparency in decisions, delays in decision-making and incomprehensibility of decisions, have had any effect;

9. Calls on the Commission also to examine in future reports the level of staff and administrative costs in the budget for the fourth framework programme, how these are apportioned among the individual programmes and what the Commission's plans are in this respect;

10. Calls for the annual report to examine the links at important points with other EU programmes, such as Phare, Tacis, the Community initiatives and the work of the Joint Research Centre;

11. Calls on the Commission in future to frame both the annual report and other assessments in such a way that they can serve as a basis for proposals for new priority settings, particularly when these involve financial commitments;

12. Calls on the Commission to submit future annual reports in accordance with the Treaty provisions as early as possible in the following year, and no later than 31 March;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.