Legal provisions of COM(2005)119-1 - Seventh framework programme of the EC for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2005)119-1 - Seventh framework programme of the EC for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013). |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2005)119  |
| date | December 18, 2006 |
|
52005PC0119(01)
Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) {SEC(2005) 430} {SEC(2005) 431} /* COM/2005/0119 final - COD 2005/0043 */
[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |
Brussels, 6.4.2005
COM(2005) 119 final
2005/0043 (COD)
2005/0044 (CNS)
Proposal for a
DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)
BUILDING THE EUROPE OF KNOWLEDGE
(presented by the Commission){SEC(2005) 430}{SEC(2005) 431}
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
The political context and objectives for this proposal are set out in the communication “Building the ERA of knowledge for growth” presented at the same time by the Commission.
Knowledge is at the core of the Lisbon agenda, and underpins all its elements. Research and technology are, together with education and innovation, the components of the “Triangle of knowledge”.
To become the “most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world” while maintaining the “European Model”, Europe must increase its research effort to 3% of EU GDP and better exploit its capacities in this field, transforming scientific results into new products, processes and services.
Alongside the Member states and in close cooperation with them, the EU must mobilise its legal and financial tools towards this goal, starting with the research Framework Programme.
2. PRIOR CONSULTATION
In the preparation of the current proposals, the Commission has taken into account the views expressed by the other EU institutions, in particular the European Parliament and the Member States, as well as by many stakeholders in a broad consultation, including the scientific community and industry.
This proposal also relies on an in-depth impact assessment. This impact assessment was based upon inputs from stakeholders, internal and external evaluations and other studies, and contributions from recognised European evaluation and impact assessment experts. The assessment found that Europe faces many economic, social and environmental challenges that science and technology help address; that the European scientific and technological system has flaws, however; and that the EU successfully supported research through past Framework Programmes.
3. LEGAL ASPECTS
The proposal for the EC Framework Programme, which covers the period 2007-2013, is based on Chapter XVIII of the Treaty, articles 163 to 171, which provides for an EU research policy and its financial instruments, in particular the multi-annual Research Framework Programme.
In order to strengthen excellence and raise the average level of research in Europe, the basic principle is to stimulate, organise and exploit all forms of cooperation in research, from collaboration in joint projects and networks to the coordination of national research programmes, competition at the European level as well as the joint implementation of large technology initiatives and the common development of infrastructures of European dimension and interest.
The size of the action is proportionate to the volume of needs in the EU-25, due to the rising costs of research, the need to put together critical masses of human and material resources, as well as to answer to emerging needs or needs best covered at the European level.
In order to maximize the impact of EU financial support, the links and complementarities with both national activities and policies and other EU actions and sources of funding will be strengthened under the 7th Framework programme.
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATION
The “legislative financial statement” attached to this Decision sets out the budgetary implications and the human and administrative resources.
5. SIMPLIFICATION
A key feature of the 7th Framework Programme is a significant simplification of its operation compared with its predecessors. The measures envisaged in this respect are described in the Working Document on implementation accompanying the proposal. They will cover the entire funding cycle, including the simplification of funding schemes, administrative and financial rules and procedures, as well as the readibility and user-friendliness of documents. The Commission intends to externalise, under its responsibility, activities which generate a large number of small operations. An executive agency will manage, in particular the Marie Curie actions, the support to SMEs, as well as administrative tasks related to other research projects, including collaborative research projects. This approach will also be taken for implementing the activities of the European Research Council (ERC).
6. CONTENT
The 7th Framework Programme will be organised in four specific programmes, corresponding to four major objectives of European research policy:
- Cooperation
Support will be given to the whole range of research activities carried out in trans-national cooperation, from collaborative projects and networks to the coordination of research programmes. International cooperation between the EU and third countries is an integral part of this action.
- Ideas
An autonomous European Research Council will be created to support investigator-driven “frontier research” carried out by individual teams competing at the European level, in all scientific and technological fields, including engineering, socio-economic sciences and the humanities.
- People
The activities supporting training and career development of researchers, referred to as “Marie Curie” actions, will be reinforced with a better focus on the key aspects of skills and career development and strengthened links with national systems.
- Capacities
Key aspects of European research and innovation capacities will be supported: research infrastructures; research for the benefit of SMEs; regional research driven clusters; unlocking the full research potential in the EU’s “convergence” regions; “Science in Society” issues; horizontal” activities of international co-operation.
Through these four specific programmes, the aim is to allow for the creation of European poles of excellence.
In addition, there will be a specific programme for the non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre.
The programme on Cooperation will be organised into sub-programmes, each of which will be operationally autonomous as far as possible while at the same time demonstrating coherence and consistency and allowing for joint, cross-thematic approaches to research subjects of common interest.
The nine themes identified for the “Cooperation” part are:
- Health;
- Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology;
- Information and Communication Technologies;
- Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;
- Energy;
- Environment (including Climate Change);
- Transport (including Aeronautics);
- Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities;
- Security and Space.
2005/0043 (COD)
Proposal for a
DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
concerning the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 166(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,
Whereas:
1. The Community has the objective of strengthening the scientific and technological bases of the Community industry and to assure a high level of competitivity. To this end, the Community shall promote all the research activities deemed necessary, in particular by encouraging undertakings, including small and medium sized enterprises (“SMEs”), research centres and universities in their research and technological development activities.
2. The central role of research in ensuring competitivity and economic growth was recognised by the European Council of Lisbon which highlighted knowledge and innovation as the heart of the economic progress, including growth of employment in Europe.
3. In line with the Lisbon strategy, the European Council of Barcelona set the target of raising European research efforts to 3% of EU GDP, two thirds of which should come from private investment.
4. The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed the importance of research, technological development and the increased role of knowledge for economic growth, most recently in its guidelines for future EU policy to support research of March 2005.
5. Taking into account the research needs of all Community policies and building upon wide-spread support from European industry, the scientific community, universities, and other interested circles, the Community should establish the scientific and technological objectives to be achieved under its seventh Framework Programme in the period 2007 to 2013.
6. These objectives should build upon the achievements of the sixth Framework Programme towards the creation of the European Research Area and carry them further towards the development of a knowledge-based economy and society in Europe. Among these objectives the following are particularly important:
7. Trans-national cooperation at every scale across the EU should be supported.
8. The dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge should be enhanced.
9. The human potential in research and technology in Europe should be strengthened quantitatively and qualitatively.
10. The research and innovation capacities throughout Europe should be enhanced and their optimal use should be ensured.
11. In order to realise these objectives it is necessary to promote four types of activities: trans-national cooperation on policy-defined themes (“Cooperation”), investigator-driven research based on the initiative of the research community (“Ideas”), support of individual researchers (“People”), and support of research capacities (“Capacities”).
12. Under “Cooperation”, support should be provided to trans-national co-operation at every scale across the European Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of the progress of knowledge and technology, where research should be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges.
13. Under “Ideas”, activities should be implemented by a European Research Council (“ERC”), which should enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
14. Under “People”, individuals should be stimulated to enter into the researcher’s profession, European researchers should be encouraged to stay in Europe, researchers from the entire world should be attracted to Europe and Europe should be made more attractive to the best researchers.
15. Under “Capacities”, the use and development of research infrastructures should be optimised; innovative capacities of SMEs and their ability to benefit from research should be strengthened; the development of regional research-driven clusters should be supported; the research potential in the EU’s convergence and outermost regions should be unlocked; science and society should be brought closer together for the harmonious integration of science and technology in European society; and horizontal actions and measures in support of international co-operation should be undertaken.
16. The Joint Research Centre should contribute to the attainment of the objectives set out above by carrying out direct actions and by providing customer-driven support for the implementation of EU policies.
17. The seventh Framework Programme complements the activities carried out in the Member States as well as other Community actions that are necessary for the overall strategic effort for the implementation of the Lisbon objectives, alongside in particular those on structural funds, agriculture, education, training, competitiveness and innovation, industry, employment and environment.
18. Innovation and SME-related activities supported under this Framework Programme should be complementary to those undertaken under the framework programme for Competitiveness and Innovation.
19. Given the widely supported enlarged scope of the Framework Programme actions, the leverage effect of funding in national and private investments, the need to enable the Community to meet new science and technology challenges, the vital role the Community intervention plays in making the European research system more efficient and effective, the contribution of a larger seventh Framework Programme to the reinvigoration of the Lisbon strategy, there is a pressing need to double the EU research budget.
20. Taking into account the mid-term review of the use of new instruments under the sixth Framework Programme and the Five Year Assessment of the Framework Programme, a new approach has been defined which should allow the political objectives of EU research policy to be reached more easily, more efficiently and in a more flexible way. To this end, a smaller set of simpler “funding schemes” should be used, alone or in combination, with more flexibility and freedom, to support the different actions.
21. Since the objective of the actions to be taken in accordance with Article 163 of the Treaty in contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-based society and economy in Europe cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this seventh Framework Programme does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
22. Implementation of the seventh Framework Programme may give rise to supplementary programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Community in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171 of the Treaty.
23. The Community has concluded a number of international agreements in the field of research and efforts should be made to strengthen international research cooperation with a view to further integrating the Community into the world-wide research community.
24. The seventh Framework Programme should contribute towards promoting sustainable development and environmental protection.
25. Research activities supported by this Framework Programme should respect fundamental ethical principles, including those reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies are and will be taken into account.
26. Under the seventh Framework Programme due regard will be paid to the role of women in science and research with a view to further enhancing their active role in research.
27. This act establishes a financial framework for the entire duration of the programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority, within the meaning of point […] of the Interinstitutional Agreement of […] between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure.
28. Appropriate measures should also be taken to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests, (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
29. It is important to ensure sound financial management of the seventh framework programme and its implementation in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, as well as ease of access for all participants. It is necessary to ensure compliance with Council Regulation (EC, EURATOM) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities; and with the requirements of simplification and better regulation.
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Contents
Article 1 - Establishment of the Framework Programme
Article 2 - Objectives and activities
31. Cooperation: supporting the whole range of research actions carried out in trans-national cooperation in the following thematic areas:
32. Health;
33. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology;
34. Information and Communication Technologies;
35. Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;
36. Energy;
37. Environment (including Climate Change);
38. Transport (including Aeronautics);
39. Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities;
40. Security and Space.
41. Ideas: supporting “investigator-driven” research carried out across all fields by individual teams in competition at the European level.
42. People: strengthening, quantitatively and qualitatively, the human potential in research and technology in Europe.
43. Capacities: supporting key aspects of European research and innovation capacities such as research infrastructures; regional research driven clusters; the development of a full research potential in the Community’s convergence and outermost regions; research for the benefit of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); “Science in Society” issues; horizontal activities of international cooperation.
44. The seventh Framework Programme shall also support the non-nuclear direct scientific and technical actions carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) as defined in Annex I.
Article 3
Article 4 - Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each programme
Cooperation | 44432 |
Ideas | 11862 |
People | 7129 |
Capacities | 7486 |
Non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre | 1817 |
2. The indicative breakdown among the thematic areas of each activity referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in Annex II.
3. The detailed rules for Community financial participation in this Framework Programme are set out in Annex III.
Article 5 - Protection of the Communities’ financial interests
Article 6
Article 7 - Monitoring, assessment and review
2. Two years following the completion of this Framework Programme, the Commission shall carry out an external evaluation by independent experts of its rationale, implementation and achievements.
The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.