WRITTEN QUESTION E-0417/03 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Availability of research grants in aquaculture.
Date: 2003-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, EU research policy, United Kingdom, aquaculture, education grant, research policy

C 242 E/130

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

neighbouring countries around the Gulf of Finland regarding safety rules for transporting oil by sea in ice
conditions.

As the Honourable Member mentions, the Commission is closely monitoring the work of the Helsinki
Commission. In this context, the prospect of designating the Baltic Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area
(PSSA) is currently being examined by the competent working groups (Helcom Maritime and Helcom
Response).

(2003/C 242 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0417/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2003)

Subject: Availability of research grants in aquaculture

The UK statutory body responsible for regulating and developing the seafish industry (cid:1) the Seafish
Industry Authority (cid:1) has decided to sell or close their aquaculture research plant at Ardtoe, Ardnamur-
chan, Scotland. The timing of the announcement seems most unfortunate given the huge reduction in
research both on reducing the
wild-caught cod and haddock quotas, and the need for
environmental impacts of aquaculture and diversification into species now threatened in the wild.

further

Could the Commission inform us on the availability of research grants in aquaculture?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2003)

In general terms, European research, including on aquaculture, is supported by Commission through the
Research Framework Programmes.

Under the Sixth Framework Programme, research in aquaculture is covered by Thematic Priority 5 ‘Food
quality and safety’, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specific measures, and in particular
Priority 8, ‘Scientific support to policy’.

Under priority 5, issues related to the quality and safety of aquaculture products, relying on fully controlled
and integrated production systems, are included.

SME’s specific research activities are designed to expand the knowledge base of large communities of SMEs
(collective research) and to meet specific problems or needs of a more limited number of SMEs by
performing transnational Research and Technological Development (R & TD) projects (cooperative research
(cid:1) CRAFT).

The objectives of policy-oriented research under Priority 8 are defined to support the Common Fisheries
Policy including issues related to the improvement of health and environmental standards of aquaculture
production.

It should be noted that Community funding is granted on a project basis, and can not guarantee the long-
term operation of research facilities.

information related to the Sixth Framework Programme is available at: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/

All
home.cfm.

training and transfer of
Moreover, Concerning fellowships,
knowledge fellowship schemes within the Human Resource and Mobility actions (Marie Curie Actions) of
the framework programme. All of these actions are ‘bottom-up’, i.e. they are open to all fields of research,
whether or not within the ‘priority areas of the framework programme’. Information of Marie Curie
actions is available at: http://europa.eu.int/mariecurie-actions.

there are a number of possibilities of