C 226/18 EN 8.8.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission to the
Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions: “Towards a European Research Area”’
(2000/C 226/07)
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,
having regard to the Communication from the Commission entitled Towards a European research area
(COM(2000) 6 final);
having regard to the decision taken by the European Commission on 24 January 2000 to consult the
Committee on this matter under the first paragraph of Article 265;
having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 11 February 2000 to instruct Commission 5 —
Social Policy, Public Health, Consumer Protection, Research and Tourism — to prepare its opinion on
the matter;
having regard to the Communication from the Commission on reinforcing cohesion and competitiveness
through research, technological development and innovation (COM(98) 275 final);
having regard to the Commission’s Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision concerning
the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development
and demonstration activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 142 final);
having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 278/98 (1)) on the Commission’s
Communication on reinforcing cohesion and competitiveness through research, technological develop-ment and innovation (COM(98) 275 final);
having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 158/97) (
2) on the Commission’s
proposal concerning the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Community for research,
technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 142 final);
having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 33/2000 rev. 1) adopted by Commission 5 on 6 March 2000
(rapporteur: Mrs Blandin);
having regard to the draft Communication entitled ‘Women and science — mobilising women to enrich
European research’ which seeks to: define objectives as regards equality of opportunity between men and
women in the field of research; consolidate a network of women scientists; and to promote debate andthe exchange of experience between EU Member States, as part of a coherent approach under the Fifth
Framework Programme (COM 76(1999 — par. 1);
considering the major implications of research with regard to knowledge and development and the
possibilities for links between the dynamics of local and regional authorities, Member States and the EU,
adopted the opinion set out below at its 33
rdplenary session held on 12 and 13 April 2000 (meeting of
12 April).
The Committee of the Regions: development of know-how which is seen as a source of
social, economic and cultural activity;
1. shares the Commission’s concern over research and wel- 3. wishes to highlight the role to be played by the public,
comes its perspicacious analysis of the situation and its particularly with regard to access to knowledge and
clear commitment to a European research policy; the establishment of goals, priorities and forums. While
respecting the principles of subsidiarity, partnership andproximity, it proposes (a) that a European consultative2. endorses the desire to optimise the instruments available,
council for higher education and research be set up, whichto share knowledge and to encourage the transfer andwould enable qualified representatives of civil society to
put forward their views alongside representatives of the
scientific community, and (b) that local and regionalauthorities be given a key role in drawing up and allocating
(1) OJ C 198, 14.7.1999, p. 41.
(2) OJ C 379, 15.12.1999, p. 26. Community programmes;
8.8.2000 EN C 226/19 Official Journal of the European Communities
4. points out that research is not limited to the physical and local populations. With a view to the application of the
subsidiarity principle, Community programmes devoted to biological sciences; it fully recognises the value of the
human and social sciences. It proposes that basic research research and regional policies must be coordinated to
promote projects for the development of research which and higher education devoted to the human sciences be
provided with support at Community level in a much are as close as possible to the citizen;more significant and bolder way;9. reiterates its demands for men and women to be given
equal access to careers in research and to research topics; 5. joins the Commission in stressing the urgent need for a
real European strategy based on:10. welcomes the Commission’s intention to support the
funding and operation of European-level infrastructure,— shared values,networking and synergy between installations and the
personnel working in the various countries and strongly— an ambitious policy in respect of human resourcesurges that national research establishments and pro-(training, status of research workers, mobility),grammes be opened up. The Committee calls for the
introduction of a real science-promotion policy;— the use of powerful instruments (network of new
technologies, reliable and accessible EU patents,11. highlights the need for new forms of collaboration betweenimproving ‘bridges’ between research and industrialpublic-sector and private research centres. It is frequentlyapplications);the case that the latter bodies have state-of-the-art equip-
ment at their disposal which public-sector bodies are not6. recognises the positive impact of innovation on employ-in a position to acquire;ment; wishes to encourage those innovations which bring
about sustainable development. Community research aid 12. wishes to be involved in the forthcoming debates and in
must be made conditional on the establishment of skilled, the demarcation of priority areas; will closely monitor
long-term scientific posts; the methods used to promote cooperation between key
installations. Will keep a watching brief on the proposed
7. affirms the need to ensure that research is not focused stages for implementing the programme and the planned
exclusively on viable technological applications, i.e. that measures;
there should also be a place for free, creative research; calls
13. urges that excellence be based more on knowledge, upon the Commission to ensure this;
cooperation and the use of intelligent instruments, rather
than on competition between geographical areas, exacer- 8. draws attention to the decisive role played by local and
regional authorities in training, assistance to laboratories, bated by globalisation and by liberalisation of the
economy. support for researchers and links with the expectations of
Brussels, 12 April 2000.
The President
of the Committee of the Regions
Jos CHABERT