WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2519/98 by Marco CELLAI to the Commission. Four-year framework programme 1999-2003
Date: 1998-07-28
Institutions: CELLAI, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, applied research, basic research, research budget, scientific research













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91998E2519

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2519/98 by Marco CELLAI to the Commission. Four-year framework programme 1999-2003  


Official Journal C 118 , 29/04/1999 P. 0091 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2519/98by Marco Cellai (NI) to the Commission(28 July 1998)Subject: Four-year framework programme 1999-2003The Commission's fourth four-year framework programme for funding for scientific and technological research expires in 1998. The funds concerned have formed the main source of financing for fundamental research activities; given the chronic shortfall in public research funding (accounting for only 3 % of GDP in the EU), it may reasonably be affirmed that the Commission has, through this programme, achieved a fair balance between pure and applied research.The guidelines for the new framework programme for 1999-2003 are now under discussion.Can the Commission state whether it intends to operate a policy shift giving applied research priority over basic research (this would be to the detriment of research in the EU, and would lead to even more of the Union's researchers emigrating, as well as entailing the risk, should the new framework programme cut off funding for pure research, of reducing the scope of EU research to the field of applied science and technology alone, thus severely penalising the innovation that results from the creativity of fundamental research in the Union)?Answer given by Mrs Cresson On behalf of the Commission(22 September 1998)The Commission's proposals for the 5th Framework Programme for research(1) aim to respond to Europe's current economic and social challenges, such as employment, the quality of life and the strengthening of the competitiveness of businesses.The Parliament and the Council have both supported this approach. In the common position it adopted, however, the Council decided on a budget allocation of ECU 14 000 million, which constitutes a drop in the outlay on research and technological development (RTD) compared with the present level, while the Commission and the Parliament are still arguing for an allocation of ECU 16 300 million.The key activities which constitute the backbone of the new Framework Programme have socio-economic objectives which are clearly identified in relation to these challenges. In order to attain such objectives, preference must be given to an integrated, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach and a good balance maintained between basic research, applied research and demonstration activities.In following this approach, basic research will not be penalised but, on the contrary, its results ought to be better exploited to attain the objectives of the 5th Framework Programme. Scientific and technological excellence, on which the Community's research policy is based, will naturally continue to be one of the fundamental principles of the future Framework programme and will continue to apply to all its actions.(1) COM(97) 142 final.