WRITTEN QUESTION E-0541/01

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2001)

Subject: Medical research into prion diseases

In view of the new cases of infection attributable to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) routinely discovered in EU Member States, the slump in beef consumption and the concern expressed by European citizens, medical research into prion diseases ought to rank amongst the current priorities of the Commission's research policy.

The funding allocated to this type of research under the Fourth R & D framework programme was consistent with its being considered a key action. Sadly, this is no longer the case under the Fifth framework programme.

Does the Commission believe that the current research funded under the Fourth framework programme and the share of the annual budget of the Directorate-General for Research earmarked for medical research into prion diseases are sufficient to yield rapid results?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2001)

The launching of the action plan on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) research in the Fourth framework programme(1) was indeed a major effort which has resulted in an important mobilisation of expertise from more than 120 laboratories throughout the Member States and Associated Countries and a far-reaching combination of scientific disciplines. The projects supported by the TSE action plan have produced and are producing very relevant results.

In the Fifth framework programme(2), all the areas of the TSE action plan are well covered in the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme(3), in the different Key Actions and Generic Activities as well as in Infrastructures. There are three on-going projects and nine additional projects currently under negotiation. Most of these projects are built on very successful projects supported by the TSE action plan.

Research on TSE continues to be a priority. In this regard the Commission, following the mandate of the Research Council of 16 November 2000, has established an expert group composed of national experts and outstanding scientists. This group has met on 15 December 2000 and 16 February 2001. This group has analysed on going research activities both in Member States and at Community level. Members of the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee and its TSE/ bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) ad hoc Group as well as scientists from the Joint Research Centre participate in the expert group which guarantees that their recommendations are also taken into account. The group has identified areas that could benefit from coordination and collaboration at Member State level and areas which need strengthening as well as new research areas. The Commission is examining the tools available to enable higher degree of coordination, including the launching of a dedicated call for proposals.

A full inventory on the ongoing research activities has been established by the expert group and will soon be published.

Finally, in its proposal for the next framework programme for RTD (2003-2006)(4) the Commission has identified food safety and health risks as one of the seven thematic priorities for research at Community level. This priority specifically includes research on prion diseases.

(1) OJ L 126, 18.5.1994.

(2) OJ C 173, 7.6.1997.

(3) OJ L 64, 12.3.1999.

(4) COM(2001) 94 final.