WRITTEN QUESTION P-0931/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Participation of research partners from developing countries in environmental research programmes funded by the EU

The key to the development of developing countries is for those countries themselves to have the opportunity to participate in development work, i.e. both in defining problems and in seeking solutions to them. Hitherto the EU has not, on the whole, pursued this approach with regard to projects in the field of science and technology which relate to developing countries.

The EU's framework programmes do not extend to developing countries. In other words, it is not possible, for example, for partners from North Africa to participate in environmental science and technology projects. Nothing prevents them from carrying out research, but there is no scope for funding, as developing countries cannot join consortia in search of funding.

Why is this so surely, opportunities for Russia, for example, to participate have been increased?

Has the matter been considered with reference to the fact that, for instance, desertification problems in North Africa or the problems of the Mediterranean are located on the EU's own doorstep?

In the form taken by funding, will the EU give greater responsibility to local researchers, to ensure that action continues after the financing has ceased and that projects are not implemented without any input from local researchers?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2000)

The Commission fully endorses the Honourable Member's view regarding the role of research in the development of developing countries and the fact that research should be demand-led and target the problems of development in those countries.

The thematic programmes of the 5th framework programme do indeed allow for the participation of developing countries, albeit without the possibility of Community funding (the situation is the same for Russia), but this is progress over the 4th framework programme which was only open in part to them.

However, they do have two possibilities specially reserved for them under the horizontal programme INCO: the INCO-DEV action which aims specifically at promoting scientific and technical cooperation between the Community and all developing countries; and the INCO-MED action which concerns only the Mediterranean countries involved in the areas specific to this region. The problem of water, including the problems of desertification, is one of the central themes of INCO-MED.

These two programmes, with their ongoing dialogue with the representatives of these regions, link them not only to the area of cooperation but also to selection of proposals, especially as regards their relevance to the development of the region.

Furthermore, the methods of implementing INCO-DEV and INCO-MED not only authorise but actually encourage initiatives from developing countries. In any case the participation of scientists from these countries on an equitable basis is one of the conditions for eligibility of the proposals received under these programmes.

One of the objectives is to help to increase the research capacities of these countries, through joint research between them and the Community to help them take increasing charge of their role in their development process.