Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on a specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration in the area of advanced communications technologies and services (1994-1998) (1) (94/C 295/16)

On 14 April 1994 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 130i(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr von der Decken as Rapporteur-General for its Opinion.

At its 316th Plenary Session (meeting of 2 June 1994), the Economic and Social Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion.

1. Foreword

1.1. The Committee greatly regrets that the tight deadline set by the Council for the present Opinion, and for those on two other proposals for specific programmes, prevents it from playing its full advisory role on R& TD as enshrined in the Treaty, and, more especially, prevents it from making a detailed analysis of the scientific and technical content of the proposed programme.

1.2. The proposal is one of a package of 17 proposed specific programmes presented by the Commission under the fourth European Community framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1994-1998). The framework programme was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council under the co-decision procedure in April 1994 (2).

1.3. At the same time, the Commission has also adopted a uniform presentation designed both to simplify and rationalize procedures. The Committee welcomes this.

1.4. The Committee would have liked to make a number of comments on the overall package and on the framework programme itself. The present constraints regrettably do not allow it to do so in this Opinion.

1.5. Nevertheless, the Committee reserves the right to make such comments in its forthcoming Opinion on the other specific programmes and on the three specific programmes implementing the framework programme for Community research and training activities for the European Atomic Energy Community (1994-1998), which the Council also adopted in April 1994 (3).

1.6. As regards the general conditions for participation in the specific programmes and for their implementation, the Committee would also refer back to the many comments and suggestions made in its Opinion on the two proposed decisions concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in the specific research programmes (1).

2. Introduction

2.1. The proposed programme comes under the first of the four activities scheduled in the fourth framework programme, concerning the implementation of research, technological development and demonstration programmes by the promotion of cooperation with and between undertakings, research centres and universities. This first activity covers the bulk of Community research initiatives.

2.2. Following a two-year definition stage, research activities in the field covered by the present programme began properly in 1987. Two programmes have previously been adopted, for 1987-91 and 1990-94 respectively. The latter was adopted on 7 June 1991 (2), and had a financial allocation of around MECU 485. The Committee issued its Opinion on this programme on 9 November 1990 (3).

2.3. The present programme, to which the Commission proposes to allocate MECU 630 from the Community budget, is designed to 'develop advanced communication systems and services for economic development and social cohesion in Europe, taking account of the rapid evolution in technologies, the changing regulatory situation and opportunities for development of advanced trans-European networks and services`.

2.4. To this end, research is to focus on six areas. The breakdown of funding for these is as follows (in MECU):

- interactive digital multimedia services

150

- photonic technologies

112

(including 63 for basic research)

- high-speed networking

75

- mobility and personal communications networks

119

- intelligence in networks and service engineering

100

- quality, security and safety of communication services and systems

43

2.5. MECU 31 is also earmarked for horizontal actions designed to:

- develop consensus and coordination of national and regional activities to stimulate and promote broadband infrastructure and service development;

- promote international cooperation;

- disseminate and exploit results, and promote vocational training in advanced communication technologies and service management.

3. General comments

3.1. The Committee broadly approves the Commission proposal and in particular the scientific and technological content of the proposed specific programme.

3.2. However, the Committee feels that the proposal needs certain amendments so that the programme adopted by the Council can effectively further the objectives pursued by the fourth framework programme, as reflected in the recitals which precede the proposed decision, while also taking better account of the EU`s economic and social situation.

3.3. The Committee feels that in the present circumstances it is vital to focus on practical activities that can be speedily applied and disseminated, in order to facilitate the earliest possible economic recovery in the Member States and to create jobs. This means a judicious cut in the number of fundamental research activities since these have a low return and are slow to take effect.

3.4. The amendments proposed by the Committee are thus intended to promote economic growth, competitiveness and employment, as well as economic and social cohesion.

4. Specific comments

4.1. Article 2(1)

4.1.1. The allocation of 10.3 % of funding to staff and administrative expenditure is excessive and at odds with the aim of simplifying the administration of Commission programmes. In the Committee`s view, it would be highly desirable for the Commission to halve this percentage.

4.2. Article 5(1)

4.2.1. The Committee would like to be informed of, and give an opinion on, the work programme which the Commission is to draw up and on any subsequent updatings of it. To this end, Article 5(1) should specify that the Commission is to forward the programme and updatings to the Committee.

4.3. Annex I: Scientific and technological objectives and content

4.3.1. Field trials and demonstration trials in all the programme areas, throughout all regions of the EU, should be explicitly included and quantified.

4.3.2. The following new paragraph should be inserted after the first paragraph on page 12:

'Most of the activities in the areas described below will have to be backed by operational trials in near real conditions covering all aspects of advanced communications with the abiding aim of meeting the practical needs of the final users, who should be present at the trials.`

4.4. Annex II: Indicative breakdown

4.4.1. The Committee considers that the sums for each area should be redistributed in the light of the comments contained in point 3, and more specifically point 3.3, of the Opinion.

4.4.2. This could entail an increase in the budget allocated to interactive digital multimedia services and high-speed networking, and a decrease in the budget for photonic technologies, mobility and personal communications networks, intelligence in networks and service engineering, and quality, security and safety of communication services and systems.

4.4.3. The budget allocated to horizontal actions should also be increased in order to give a vigorous boost to cooperation and dissemination.

Done at Brussels, 2 June 1994.

The Chairman

of the Economic and Social Committee

Susanne TIEMANN

(1) OJ No C 113, 23. 4. 1994, pp. 4-15, 24.

(2) OJ No L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1.

(3) OJ No L 115, 6. 5. 1994, p. 31.

(4) OJ No C 81, 18. 3. 1994, p. 9.

(5) OJ No L 192, 16. 7. 1991, p. 8.

(6) OJ No C 41, 18. 2. 1991, p. 12.