A4-0090/96

Resolution on the report from the Commission on the evaluation of the EURET programme (European research on transport) - final report (COM(95)0450 - C4- 0511/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the report from the Commission on the evaluation of the EURET programme (European research on transport) - final report (COM(95)0450 - C4-0511/95),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0090/96),

A. having regard to the tardy evaluation of the EURET programme,

B. whereas the evaluation took place within a very short space of time,

C. whereas the evaluation report of the panel of experts is available in only three languages,

D. whereas the methods used for the evaluation preclude a thorough analysis of all aspects of implementation of the programme,

E. whereas the EURET programme is the first programme set up by the European Institutions concerning research and technological development in transport,

F. whereas the transport sector is ideally suited to a European approach and whereas research into, and the introduction of, new methods and new technology is of crucial importance in resolving the problems that may arise,

1. Regrets the way in which the final evaluation of the EURET programme was carried out;

2. Notes that because of the delays in carrying out the evaluation the policy recommendations of the evaluation have had no impact on the drafting of the Fourth Framework Programme or on the Specific programme on research and technological development for transport (1994-1998);

3. Proposes that in future clear criteria and guidelines should be laid down prior to each evaluation in terms of methods and procedures to be used, including a timetable which must be adhered to;

4. Calls on the Commission to explain why it has only submitted a partial presentation of the funding and to indicate how the additional ECU 8m are to be allocated;

5. Asks the Commission to state exactly what practical measures are to be taken to ensure coordination with the initiatives of Member States;

6. Calls on the Commission to provide more accurate and detailed information on the activities of Member States in order to ensure that Community funding acts as a supplement to and not a substitute for national funding;

7. Asks the Commission to submit details of administrative and management expenditure both for the 1990-94 Euret programme and for its continuation under the Fourth Framework Programme;

8. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the recommendations of the panel of experts which are accepted will be incorporated in transport RTD policy, both in current measures and measures to be implemented in future;

9. Takes the opportunity of stressing the importance of research and technological development in the field of transport;

10. Calls on the Commission, before giving the go-ahead for the drafting of the Fifth Framework Programme, to carry out an ex post assessment, including an analysis of the reasons for abandoning three concerted actions; also calls on the Commission to evaluate all the research activities in the transport sector on the basis of which the Fifth Framework Programme may be drafted;

11. Stresses the major contribution which RTD can make to the efficient running of European transport by encouraging links between, and the interoperability of, transport infrastructures;

12. Stresses the major contribution that RTD can make to developing environmentally compatible technology for transport;

13. Stresses the importance of integrating transport systems for long-term sustainable mobility, as a future goal of the common transport policy, for which the policy's current approaches are proving inadequate;

14. Calls for a detailed explanation and a specific account of the activities of the task forces for research in the transport sector;

15. Calls for all future evaluations and evaluation reports to be translated in full into all official languages of the European Union;

16. Notes, moreover, that the level of administrative expenditure was too high at 13%;

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