WRITTEN QUESTION P-0272/02

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Preparation for the European Council meeting in Barcelona

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on the Council and the Commission, together with the Member States where appropriate to take steps to remove obstacles to the mobility of researchers in Europe by 2002 and to attract and retain high-quality research talent in Europe. What steps have been taken? Will this target be met? How is the Commission monitoring progress?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Following the Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March 2000, the Commission convened a High Level Group consisting of representatives of the Member States from July 2000 to April 2001. In its report(1), the Group identified the main obstacles likely to hinder the intra-European and international mobility of researchers as well as a series of good practices implemented in the Member States to remedy this. The Group also identified specific lines of action to be taken in the short and medium term. On the basis of this work, the Commission adopted in June 2001 a mobility strategy for the European Research Area(2) which it presented to Parliament and the Council. This strategy is aimed at creating a favourable environment for the mobility of researchers through a series of practical initiatives. It was endorsed by the Council in its resolution of 10 December 2001(3).

Some of the actions proposed are aimed at improving local information and assistance to attract European and international researchers to Europe:

- firstly, the setting up of an Internet portal linking national and Commission internet sites, which will provide a common entry point for access to information on applicable legislation and regulations, funding opportunities and job vacancies and research training. A prototype of such a portal should be tested by autumn 2002;

- secondly, the creation of a European network of existing or future mobility centres providing researchers and their families with local assistance on all areas affecting the conditions for their mobility in the European host country: admission conditions, social security, tax arrangements, pension rights, access to accommodation, education systems, etc. The formal constitution of this network is scheduled for autumn 2002.

In addition to this, exchanges of information and good practice have been launched between and with Member States and the candidate countries. Since 2001, an initial exchange concerning the admission conditions for foreign researchers has clarified the various regulatory and administrative systems in force in the Union. This exchange has improved awareness of the specific nature of research in the field of entry and residence for nationals of third countries.

In the course of 2002, similar exercises will be carried out in the field of social and tax provisions. There will be coordination with the activities of the Commission and the Member States in the fields of skills and mobility of workers(4), and mobility for students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers(5). In particular, a joint task force was set up in November 2001 with a view to defining by the end of 2002 a common approach to research and education, including questions of mobility.

Finally, the efforts to improve the conditions for the mobility of researchers will be backed up by increased direct funding in the future framework programme 2002-2006(6).

The monitoring of the implementation of the strategy on mobility in the field of research will be carried out by a steering group consisting of representatives appointed by the Research Ministers in the Union and the candidate countries which will be able to base its assessment on an annual scoreboard of progress achieved.

To sum up, the process launched in Lisbon (23-24 March 2000) to eliminate the obstacles to mobility and attract or retain the best researchers is a vast undertaking requiring a series of actions determined and coordinated at all levels, including and above all at the level of the Member States. The implementation of these actions which will continue beyond 2002 is already well underway. Thus, the dynamic created by the mobility strategy will have achieved significant progress by the end of this year.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp5/pdf/finalreportmobilityhleg.pdf.

(2) COM(2001) 331 final.

(3) OJ C 367, 21.12.2001.

(4) See Communication from the Commission to the Council New European labour market, open to all, with access for all, COM(2001) 116 final of 28 February 2001, and the Commission's action plan for skills and mobility, COM(2002) 72 final of 13 February 2002.

(5) Recommendation 2001/613/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 July 2001 on mobility within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers, OJ L 215, 9.8.2001.

(6) http://www.ce.cec/sg_vista/cgi-bin/repo.