WRITTEN QUESTION E-0535/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (20 February 1997)

Subject: Biomedical research agency

On various occasions, attention has been drawn to the weakness of the 'research system' within the European Union, which is partly due to the fragmentary nature of research policies and the continuing lack of cooperation between the countries of Europe, with the result that there is relatively little technological spin-off for the benefit of the production process. This state of affairs means that Europe's 'research system' lags way behind that of Japan and the USA.

In the biomedical research sector the situation is typical: there are no Community bodies specifically involved in gathering and disseminating information and in promoting the exchange and dissemination of research results amongst the various institutions within the EU. Nor have links been established between such institutions and the bio-health industry with a view to competing with the major US and Japanese conglomerates. At present the USA accounts for 65% of biotechnology patents and the EU for only 15%.

As regards the biomedical research sector in particular:

1. What view does the Commission take of the lack of research coordination within the European Union and the latter's restricted ability to produce patents?

2. Would the Commission not consider it useful and appropriate for an agency to be set up, similar to those concerned with health and safety at work and the evaluation of medicinal products (Bilbao and London), for the purpose of linking biomedical research institutes and gathering, compiling and analysing the scientific, technical and operational data which, suitably combined, are available in interactive and multi-media form to the institutes themselves, thus preventing the duplication of research work which frequently occurs, promoting quality control and providing a source of technical and scientific expertise for those responsible for drawing up Community law?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (11 April 1997)

1. The coordination of national RTD policies is chiefly the responsibility of the Member States. The Community has nevertheless been able to achieve a high degree of coordination through the successive biomedicine and health research programmes. More than 700 research networks have been set up with close cross-border cooperation between research scientists. The Commission does not agree with the Honourable Member that there is a lack of coordination in biomedical research in the Community.

However, it does agree with the Honourable Member that Europe has not done enough as regards innovation. To improve this situation, it first presented its 'Green Paper on innovation' in 1995. It then drew up a 'First action plan for innovation in Europe' ((COM(96) 589. )), which it presented on 20 November 1996 and which is currently being discussed by Parliament and the Council.

2. Although it does not rule out a priori the possibility of using specialized agencies, and leaving aside the question of legal competence, the Commission has no plans to propose setting up an agency to coordinate the biomedical institutes. Biomedical research is coordinated to some extent through the Community research programmes. With regard to means of promoting innovation, the Honourable Member is referred to the 'First action plan for innovation in Europe'.