A4-0031/98

Resolution on the 1997 annual report on the research and technological development activities of the European Union (COM(97)0373 - C4-0435/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication 'Research and technological development activities of the European Union - 1997 Annual report' (COM(97)0373 - C4-0435/97),

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

- having regard to European Parliament and Council Decision 1110/94/EC concerning the fourth framework programme of European Community activities in the field of research and 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 (A4-0031/98),

A. whereas all sections of society must innovate in order to deal with the risks that are arising in the industrialized countries of the European Union, e.g. as regards nuclear energy, genetic engineering or the alienation resulting from the use of computer technology,

B. whereas both research which serves the general well-being of people and nature, but which is not necessarily economically profitable for businesses, and basic research must receive public support and hence also EU funding,

C. whereas research in such areas is particularly significant for the development of socially sustainable concepts for Europe's future; whereas a continuous social debate on RTD priorities is therefore necessary,

D. whereas conclusions drawn from the 4th Framework Programme as regards organization, structure and substance should be used as the basis for the 5th Framework Programme, avoiding acknowledged mistakes, so as to boost effectiveness as regards the conditions for its implementation and efficiency as regards its results; whereas the results must be capable of being monitored by parliamentary bodies,

E. whereas it makes sense and is necessary to evaluate the Community's RTD activities regularly, as a basis for preparing subsequent programmes,

F. whereas EU funds for promoting RTD are derived from Member States' diminishing tax revenues and should therefore be administered and disbursed with utmost care,

G. whereas EU support for the RTD activities of private-sector firms must serve not to directly increase those firms' profits but to boost their competitiveness and, generally, achieve the EU's objectives of improving the quality of life,

H. having regard to the great disparities that exist between regions of the European Union in the area of R& D as regards own contributions, opportunities therefor and the use made of results,

I. whereas SMEs must participate to an appropriate extent in EU-promoted RTD, as they are the most important source of technological innovation, account for 66% of jobs in the EU and also create most new jobs,

J. whereas this annual report was not submitted by 31 March 1997, as Parliament had called for in its resolution of 5 September 1996 on the annual report 1995 on the research and technological development activities of the European Union ((OJ C 277, 23.9.1996, p. 43.)), but does give an account of the state of play as regards discussion of the 5th Framework Programme,

K. whereas the 1997 annual report is of only limited value in its present form, as it contains detailed analyses only of sub-sectors, makes virtually no assessment of the relative significance of various findings and draws conclusions only on certain points,

L. whereas the 1997 annual report does not contain the external audit reports,

M. whereas implementation of this very extensive and diverse framework programme for research, comprising several thousand projects, is very complex and calls for new organizational capacities,

1. Welcomes the submission of the 1997 report on the RTD activities of the European Union;

2. Welcomes the incorporation of an account of the state of play regarding preparations for the 5th RTD Framework Programme, even though this has resulted in the late submission of the results for 1996;

3. Notes that the report attempts, with some success, to outline the evolution of the 5th Framework Programme and major aspects of the Community's research policy associated with the 4th Framework Programme, which is still in progress;

4. Notes that annex I of the report constitutes a sound basis for presenting the activities undertaken by the EU to promote research in the context of the 4th Framework Programme and that the summary-style presentation of certain results assists political evaluation;

5. Notes that the report seeks to provide a statistical analysis of project funding and assess projects in relation to the aims of maximizing SME participation, increasing collaboration in the EU and ensuring effective procedures from the initial call for proposals to the signing of contracts;

6. Notes that, in particular, the work of the six task forces set up at considerable expense and with much publicity has not been reviewed and the experience gained has not been evaluated;

7. Notes, however, that the report still contains gaps which prevent full and proper scrutiny and assessment by Parliament and so does not fully satisfy the reporting requirements;

8. Notes that account has been taken of the calls made in paragraphs 7 and 8 of its resolution of 5 September 1996 referred to above;

9. Notes that scarcely any account has been taken of the call in paragraph 10 of the resolution for the links at important points with other EU programmes and the work of the JRC to be examined;

10. Calls on the Commission to indicate clearly in future reports, in the chapter on the relationship between the EU's RTD activities and those of the individual Member States, where such activities overlap and where the strategies and objectives differ;

11. Calls once again on the Commission to develop a system, which is still not included in the current report, for evaluating the results of all RTD activities promoted or undertaken by the EU and to make this the basis for future annual reports;

12. Calls on the Commission to use a uniform system in future reports for presenting and evaluating individual programmes, to be broken down as follows:

a) activities during the reporting year (including where appropriate the objectives of the programmes and the areas of activity),

b) contribution to achieving EU objectives (subdivided as follows: contribution to RTD activities, contribution to strengthening the scientific and technological bases of industry, including competitiveness, breakdown in percentage terms of those receiving funding and those using the results, impact of research activity on the labour market, practical significance for the quality of life and of the environment in the EU and contribution to other areas of Community policy including cohesion),

c) work programme for the following year;

13. Calls on the Commission to include in future annual reports a separate chapter assessing the importance to larger industrial firms of support for RTD in the case of individual programmes (including interests of the industry concerned and possible knock-on effects);

14. Calls on the Commission in future to go beyond the general statement on staff and administrative costs contained in the 1997 annual report and to provide more detailed figures for, and a detailed breakdown of, those items;

15. Calls on the Commission to include in future annual reports a breakdown of the amounts of funding received by beneficiaries, by Member State and target region, depending on classification;

16. Calls on the Commission to submit future annual reports by 31 March of the year following the year covered by the report, as provided for by the Treaty;

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