WRITTEN QUESTION P-2225/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Framework Programme for the creation of the European Research Area.
Date: 2001-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, cultural heritage, heritage protection

C 81 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2225/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2001)

Subject: Framework Programme for the creation of the European Research Area

The Commission recently unveiled its new Framework Programme for the creation of the European
Research Area. This Programme, which has been defended by the Director General for Research before the
European Parliament, has unleashed a storm of protests because, unlike its immediate predecessor, the Fifth
Framework Programme, it clearly gives priority to drawing up reports and studies rather than to funding
specific and tangible research projects.

Apart from this (cid:145)report industry(cid:146), another aspect of the new Framework Programme that has been strongly
criticised is the fact that cultural initiatives, for example the initiative on the city of tomorrow and the
protection and conservation of the cultural heritage (which was a priority in the previous Framework
Programme), have been totally deleted and their research content dropped. No other similar initiative has
been included in the new Framework Programme which allocates funds as a matter of priority to drawing
up reports of questionable value.

How does the Commission view the fact that cultural initiatives have been deprived of funding from the
enormous budget of the proposed Framework Programme? Why are precious funds being earmarked for
drawing up reports, rather that for the implementation of specific projects with a tangible added value for
Europe as a whole? How can it correct this obvious bias and revive initiatives which seek to protect
Europe(cid:146)s innumerable cultural monuments?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2001)

The proposal for the next Framework programme (FP) and for the creation of the European Research
Area (1) aims to promote the European research efforts for the benefit of the citizen through the creation
of a real integrated (cid:145)research area(cid:146) in Europe. As in the past, it is clearly directed at tangible results and not
simple studies or reports. This plainly appears from the description of research priorities that are focused
precisely to maximise the impact of Community efforts and are underpinned by the use of new
instruments aimed at creating the critical mass necessary.

Research related to cultural topics is by no means marginalised or forgotten in the proposal for the next
FP. More particularly, it is foreseen that various activities concerning the protection of the cultural heritage
(Citizens and
will be covered under the priorities 1.1.2.
governance in the European knowledge-based society), 1.2.1 (Anticipating the Community(cid:146)s scientific and
technological needs,
the formulation,
implementation and enforcement of Community policies) and 2.4. (Science/society). The Community will
endeavour to keep all the scientific and technological expertise and knowledge gained in the field of
conservation of cultural heritage during the last 15 years in order to maintain and enhance, for this area of
research, its leading role in the world.

(Information Society technologies), 1.1.7.

research necessary for

in the context of

the support

for

Specific details, that shed further light on the priorities and the aims of the next FP and elaborate on the
above mentioned priority areas, are to be found in the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for the specific Programmes
implementing the next FP, that was formally transmitted to the Parliament in early June 2001.

(1) COM(2001) 279 final.