WRITTEN QUESTION E-2032/02 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) and Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission. Research funding.
Date: 2002-07-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, Italy, Japan, United States, basic research, research policy

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/259

(2002/C 301 E/278)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2032/02

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) and Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Research funding

(9 July 2002)

Formal adoption of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development took
place recently.

In accordance with the views expressed by Parliament, fundamental research is to be given a central role
and thus to be allocated sufficient resources to be able to produce the innovations that will then be applied
in industrial activities.

It is not by chance that the countries which have understood the importance of fundamental research,
namely the United States and Japan, are now leading the field in this area.

However, the current Italian Government has decided to go against both the policy pursued by its
predecessor and the current trend in the other EU Member States by cutting funding for fundamental
research, thus seriously jeopardising the development of research in general.

What means does the Commission intend to suggest the Member States use to raise the profile of and
develop fundamental research, with a view to preventing decisions such as those taken by the Italian
Government from widening the gap the gap already existing between the European Union and the United
States and Japan?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2002)

The Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development will support activities, that
cover the full spectrum from basic to applied research, with all instruments at its disposal. Among them,
the new instruments of Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects appear particularly suitable for
addressing fundamental research topics in accordance with their objectives. Furthermore, a series of other
means, such as coordination actions, support to research infrastructures and Marie Curie fellowships, are
set to help the movement of ideas and researchers that habitually foster fundamental research.

The Commission is currently preparing a communication about the relationship and synergies between
research, education and innovation in Europe. A particular focus will be on the essential role of the
universities in the economy and in the creation of a knowledge-based society. In this context, particular
attention will be paid to fundamental research and its contribution to excellence.

The Commission follows closely the situation in Member States in the area of research and development
and is content to note any efforts that help in the creation of a European Research Area. Among others, it
aims to assist the Member States to achieve the goal of committing as much as possible on research
towards the goal of 3 % of their gross domestic product (GDP), financed mainly by private means, by the
year 2010 (as decided by the Barcelona European Council in March 2002).

(2002/C 301 E/279)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2082/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Restrictions on the use of cadmium (cid:1) case C-314/99

(8 July 2002)

On 18 June 2001, the Court of Justice passed judgment in case C-314/99 (the Kingdom of the Netherlands
the Annex to Commission Directive
versus the Commission). The judgment

‘annuls Section 3 of