WRITTEN QUESTION P-1422/03 by Brian Crowley (UEN) to the Commission. Research and young people.
Date: 2003-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: gender equality, impact study, job access, new product, project evaluation, research project, research staff, young person

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/181

The implementation of the Interreg IIIA programme, Greece-Albania, began in December 2002 and will
continue until 2008. The Commission will receive first results concerning progress in the second half of
2003 on the occasion of the next Monitoring Committee meeting.

In the light of the forthcoming negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the
European Union, the Albanian authorities have undertaken to provide the Commission with accurate data
on the size of its minorities by the end of 2003 at the latest. Failure by Albania to respect its commitments
in this regard would have an adverse impact on the SAA negotiating process. It could also undermine the
country’s stated ambition to become a Member State of the Union.

(2004/C 11 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1422/03

by Brian Crowley (UEN) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Research and young people

According to the Commission’s 2002 annual report on technological research and development in 2001, a
significant improvement in the success rate of project proposals has been recorded but SMEs accounted for
less than a quarter of participants in the four thematic programmes.

Will the Commission advise how many of these project proposals are likely to lead to new products
actually reaching the market place, what are the related job prospects of
this research and the
representation of women in this research, and does the Commission consider that the programme has a
role to play in attracting the interest of young researchers and potential researchers in schools and third
level colleges and will it make a statement on the matter?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Most of the research actions as referred to in the question are ongoing and a comprehensive evaluation of
their impacts,
including new products and job prospects, will be undertaken when the projects are
completed. An impact survey of research projects under the 4th Framework Programme (1994-1998) is in
progress.

At the outset, Community research proposals are rigorously evaluated by peer review against predefined
criteria which for the 5th Framework Programme (1998-2002) include inter alia ‘the development of
applications markets’, and ‘contribution to improving employment prospects’ (http://www.cordis.lu/FP5/
src/evalman.htm). Furthermore, the impact of the research projects under the 5th Framework Programme
is promoted through the mandatory Technological Implementation Plans (TIP), which provide ex ante and
ex post information on inter alia ‘product and process innovations’ and ‘improved employment’. The
CORDIS databases include information on TIPs (http://etip.cordis.lu) and on research results (http://
www.cordis.lu/en/src/d_012_en.htm). For research under the 6th Framework Programme (2002-2006),
even more emphasis has been given to impact through the new instruments, promoting larger projects,
focusing on carefully selected research areas and technologies of relevance to industry and society.
Particular efforts are made to involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Gender issues are fully taken into account under the 6th Framework Programme,
including in the
evaluation process. Collection of statistics on women’s participation will be made under this programme
although such data is not available systematically for all 5th Framework Programme research projects. In
1999, the Commission set the target of 40 % female participation in proposal evaluation panels, advisory
groups and monitoring panels as well as in Marie Curie Fellowships. A wide range of activities promoting
female participation are supported under the Science and Society action line of the 6th Framework
Programme, including promotion of women researchers in the private sector.

C 11 E/182

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Under both the Research and Education policy areas, the Commission is pursuing a range of activities
aiming at attracting young researchers,
including: steps towards the establishment of a pan-European
initiative for enhancing science education in schools as part of the Science and Society action line; work
with Member States on co-ordinating actions in the area of science education and on benchmarking skills
requirements; and the preparation of a Communication on researchers careers in the European Research
Area.

(2004/C 11 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1423/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Safety at sea

On 27 March 2003 the Council of Transport Ministers reached a series of conclusions on safety at sea.
Can the Commission say what the results are?

Does the ban on transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hull tankers also include vessels anchored in a bay
close to a port area?

Which Member States voted against this proposal by the Commission?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

With regard to the conclusions of the Transport Council, the Commission refers the Honourable Member
to the Council website (1), which features the press release on the Council meeting of 27 March 2003. The
press release explains in detail the decisions taken with regard to single-hull tankers.

The ban on the transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hull tankers applies to vessels calling at or leaving a
port or offshore terminal, or anchoring in a zone within the jurisdiction of a Member State, whatever the
flag it is flying.

These important decisions were taken by unanimous consent.

(1) http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm.

(2004/C 11 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1426/03

by Ulrich Stockmann (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: EU support for urban renewal and redevelopment

(23 April 2003)

Some 1,3 million flats in east Germany are currently standing empty, mainly as a result of high
unemployment, migration caused by unemployment, and the demographic trend. The redevelopment of
empty houses and whole districts is expensive: not only do buildings need to be demolished, but existing
supply networks (water, sewage, gas etc.) for the whole city have to be rescaled, schools closed and
administrative capacities reduced. Municipal authorities are in no position to take on this financial burden,
as their budget, and their room for manoeuvre, are restricted, mainly because of a decrease in income tax
revenue. Large-scale urban redevelopment resulting from a fall in population is not solely an east German
problem, however. It is growing more and more prevalent in the applicant countries of Eastern European
and can only worsen in the coming years. Therefore it constitutes a problem for the whole of Europe.