Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 91999E2151

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research.** 
  
*Official Journal 203 E , 18/07/2000 P. 0144 - 0145*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research

According to information received by some Finnish firms, the Commission has adopted a different position from Parliament and the Council on the funding of programmes in the field of energy in the context of the Fifth framework programme for research.

Under the common position agreed upon last December by Parliament and the Council, demonstration projects are accorded a central role in research policy. Initially 75 % of the funding was reserved for them. However, what is now happening in practice is that the Commission is outlining a paltry level of funding for demonstration projects in relation to other research projects.

Is the Commission adopting a different position from the European Parliament and the Council on the funding of demonstration projects in the energy field within the Fifth research framework programme, and if so, why?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1999)

The Commission would first clarify the interpretation of the remarks made by the Council and Parliament on the 1999 budget for the Fifth research and technological development (RDT) framework

programme(1). In its commentary, the budgetary authority, at the initiative of the Parliament, requested that 60 % of credits for non-nuclear energy should be allocated to renewable energies, of which 75 % should be allocated to renewable demonstration projects.

The Commission agrees that there is an urgent need to encourage the demonstration of solutions which favour the use of innovative renewable energy resources and would like to satisfy the commentary as far as practicable. The first call for proposals for the Energy programme (energy component of the energy, environment and sustainable development specific RDT programme) duly gave considerable prominence to demonstration projects and renewable energies.

In selecting the final list of projects for which an immediate start to negotiations is recommended, the Commission has taken the budget commentary into account. The Commission has done its utmost to satisfy the commentary and a large number of demonstration projects in the renewables sector has been selected. The final decision on 1999 projects has not yet been made but the Commission proposal is very close to the budget commentary.

(1) OJ C 173, 7.6.1997.

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