WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The Esprit programme.
Date: 1999-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, EU research policy, aid recipient, industrial research, use of aid

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/17

Does the Commission intend to introduce a directive with the aim of reducing noise pollution in the
proximity of airports, as requested by Parliament in its Resolution A4-0183/97 (2) on the Commission
Green Paper, (cid:145)Noise pollution control policy for the future(cid:146) of 10 June 1997?

(1) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998, p. 71.
(2) OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 28.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2000)

As part of the Commission overall environmental policy, the forthcoming framework directive on the
assessment and reduction of environmental noise exposure aims at introducing common noise indicators
for the perception of noise, establishing common noise exposure assessment methods and allowing for the
assessment of the current levels of noise exposure for urbanised areas by means of noise mapping. In this
context, this framework directive will establish the general basis for an improvement in the level of noise
exposure. It is, thus, not specific for air transport.

However, the workprogramme of the Commission for 2000, which was adopted on 9 February 2000,
includes a specific measure targeting noise around airports. The Commission intends to present later this
year to the Parliament and the Council a proposal for a directive on the establishment of a common noise
index, a common method of computing noise and minimal requirements for monitoring noise around
airports. This initiative should contribute to a reduction of noise in the areas surrounding airports.

(2000/C 303 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903/99

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 October 1999)

Subject: Esprit Programme (1994-1998)

Will the Commission state what agencies (public or private),
institutions, companies, cooperatives and
individuals have been allocated funding (specifying whether payments have already been made) under the
Esprit programme (1994-1998) within the fourth framework programme in the field of research (budget
(cid:129) ECU 2 057 million, equal to LIT 3 982 billion) and how much each of them has been granted?

Has it checked how the amounts have actually been used and whether the proposed measures have been
successfully implemented?

(2000/C 303 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/99

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: The Esprit programme

Over the last few years, a number of programmes and Community initiatives have been adopted and
implemented in the field of research and technology.

However, the only programme specifically devoted to the development of research and technology in the
industrial sector is the Esprit programme.

C 303 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

Will the Commission say:

1. Has there been any evaluation of the performance of the Esprit programme to date?

2. When does it intend to provide information about the results of the evaluation and the performance

of this programme?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1903/99 and E-2097/99
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The € 1 962 million financial contribution to the various types of organisation under
the Esprit
programme from 1994 to 1998 can be broken down between large enterprises € 891 million, small and
medium-sized enterprises € 425 million, universities and higher-education institutions € 290 million,
research organisations € 275 million, international organisations € 24 million and others € 57 million.
The total payments up to end 1999 are € 1 615 million.

Some 1 500 research contracts were launched under the Esprit programme in this period, with an average
of 5,9 participants each. The Commission cannot give the details of all these in the context of a reply to a
Parliamentary question, but the Commission (DG Information society) would be delighted to provide any
more specific information on a case by case basis.

Since 1995, following legislative requirements, an effective programme evaluation scheme has been in
place within the Commission. This includes two complementary exercises namely the continuous and
systematic programme monitoring, also called yearly programme monitoring, and the five-year pro-
gramme assessment. Both exercises are applied to the framework programmes (FP) and their specific
programmes.

The programme monitoring is carried out by the Commission with the help of independent external
expert panels, one for each programme. It covers a one year period and provides a fast feedback to the
programme management. The five-year assessment (5YA) is carried out by panels of independent external
high-level experts. It focuses on the implementation and achievements during the preceding five year and
provides in particular recommendations for the next research and technological development (RTD)
framework programme.

As a consequence of the above scheme, for Esprit, the programme(cid:146)s implementation is evaluated by both
the monitoring and the 5YA exercises. Esprit monitoring reports are available for 1995, 1996, 1997, and
1998. The previous Esprit 5YA report issued in 1997 is also available. A copy of these reports is
forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament.

At programme level, project officers follow the project implementation. The results of the 4th framework
programme information and communication technologies (ICT) projects are collected and disseminated by
the Prosoma service, both on-line (1) and through regular publications of books and compact discs. This
service is continued for the information society technologies (IST) projects under the 5th framework
programme. The annual IST conference also exhibits projects(cid:146) results.

The 1999 IST monitoring (which includes the Esprit programme) is currently being carried out and a
report should be issued in April 2000. The IST 5YA is also being carried out and a report should be issued
in June 2000. Both reports will be forwarded to the Parliament and the Council together with the
Commission(cid:146)s replies at FP level.

In addition to Esprit, several programmes are of particular significance to industry. They include in FP4
notably IMT, ACTS, Telematics, FAIR, Non-nuclear energy programmes, and in FP5, with its problems
solving approach, most key actions.

(1) http://www.prosoma.lu.