WRITTEN QUESTION E-2520/97 by Renate Heinisch (PPE) to the Commission (22 July 1997)

Subject: Comparison between the 4th framework programme on research, technological development and demonstration, and the Commission proposal for the 5th framework programme

The Commission has linked its proposal for the 5th framework programme on research, technological development and demonstration with the aims of concentrating R& D funding and making it more flexible.

1. (a) Which areas of research will no longer be funded when the 4th framework programme comes to an end?

(b) What new areas of research have been included in the Commission proposal?

(c) What arrangements has the Commission made to increase flexibility and at the same time ensure that in the implementation of the new framework programme the Member States are given sufficient say in the allocation of the financial resources to the individual programmes and projects?

2. In preparation for the first reading of the proposal on the 5th framework programme, can the Commission provide a comparison of the funding of the individual research sectors between the 4th and 5th framework programmes?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)

1. The 5th framework programme ((COM(97) 142 final. )) proposed by the Commission is radically different in concept from the 4th framework programme ((Decision No 1110/94/EC - OJ L 126, 18.5.1994. )). The 5th framework programme will be based on a problem-solving approach geared towards socio-economic objectives. The current framework programme focuses essentially on technological performance. This difference in concept is reflected in a different structure for the 5th framework programme which, it is proposed, will comprise a limited number of programmes each covering different but complementary disciplines.

The new approach proposed for the 5th framework programme is particularly well illustrated by the 'key actions'. A contribution is needed from many areas of technology in order to achieve the objectives set, but without carrying out work on a large scale in all those areas as was the case under the 4th framework programme.

Nevertheless, purely for illustrative purposes, a few examples of areas of research which might be stopped or, on the contrary, introduced in the context of the 5th framework programme are mentioned below:

- raw materials prospecting, systematic sequencing of the genes of model organisms (examples of areas stopped or significantly reduced);

- aircraft of the future, 'eco-management' of products, polar research, 'city of tomorrow/digital city' (examples of areas introduced or reinforced).

Mechanisms for increasing flexibility will be incorporated in the specific programmes. However, reducing in the number of thematic programmes from fifteen to three, as proposed by the Commission, should make for increased flexibility in terms of programme implementation, subject to the limits set in the programme decisions and in the context of the annual budgetary procedure.

2. A direct comparison of the funding of research areas between the two framework programmes is difficult for the reasons given above. However, the growing importance of themes related to life sciences and the ecosystem, the significant increase in the fourth activity (improving human potential) and the reduction in the share of the nuclear programmes can be noted.