RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the common position established by the Council on 27 January 1997 with a view to the adoption of a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adapting for the second time Decision No 1110/94/EC concerning the Fourth Framework Programme of European Community activities in the field of research and technological development and demonstration (1994 to 1998) (C4-0041/97 - 96/0034(COD))

10 March 1997

Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy
Rapporteur: Mr Rolf Linkohr

At its sitting of 18 June 1996 Parliament delivered its opinion at first reading on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adapting for the second time Decision No 1110/94/EC concerning the Fourth Framework Programme of European Community activities in the field of research and technological development and demonstration (1994 to 1998).

The Commission submitted an amended proposal, COM(96)0453, which, was further amended in a letter of 13 November 1996 from Commissioner Cresson and confirmed by the Commission at the Council meeting of 5 December 1996.

At the sitting of 18 February 1997 the President of Parliament announced that the common position had been received and referred to the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy as the committee responsible and the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media.

The Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy appointed Mr Rolf Linkohr rapporteur at its meeting of 6 February 1996.

It considered the common position and the draft recommendation for second reading at its meetings of 5 and 26 February and 10 March 1997.

At the last meeting it adopted the draft decision by 20 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions.

The following took part in the vote: Adam, acting chairman and vice-chairman; Linkohr, rapporteur; Ahern, Argyros, Bloch von Blottnitz, Camisón Asensio (for Soulier), Caudron (for Stockmann), Chichester, Desama, Estevan Bolea, Ferber, García Arias (for West), Izquierdo, McNally, Malerba, Matikainen-Kallström, Plooij-van Gorsel, Pompidou, Rothe, Tannert, W.G. van Velzen and Weber.

The recommendation for second reading was tabled on 10 March 1997.

The deadline for tabling amendments to the common position or proposals for declarations of intended rejection is 10 a.m. on 12 March 1997.

A DRAFT DECISION

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adapting for the second time Decision No 1110/94/EC concerning the Fourth Framework Programme of European Community activities in the field of research and technological development and demonstration (1994 to 1998) (C4-0041/97 - 96/0034(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0041/97 - 96/0034(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading[1] on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(96)0012)[2],

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal COM(96)0453[3],

- having regard to the further amended Commission proposal forwarded in a letter of 13 November 1996 from Commissioner Cresson and confirmed by the Commission at the Council meeting of 5 December 1996,

- having regard to Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0084/97),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament's amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver pursuant to Article 189b(2)(d) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament's amendments, amend its common position accordingly and definitively adopt the act;

4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission.

Common position of the Council Amendments by Parliament

(Amendment 1)

Fourth recital

Whereas assurances have been given by the Commission that the financial supplement, as decided upon, will in any case be limited by the ceiling of heading 3 of the current financial perspective set out in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure, without prejudice to the other priorities in that heading, such as, for example, Transeuropean Networks;

Deleted

(Amendment 2)

Sole Article, paragraph 1

The maximum overall amount for Community financial participation in the fourth framework programme is hereby increased by ECU 100 million, to be allocated to certain specific programmes of the first activity of the fourth framework programme as set out in Annex I.

The maximum overall amount for Community financial participation in the fourth framework programme is hereby increased by ECU 200 million, to be allocated to certain specific programmes of the first activity of the fourth framework programme as set out in Annex I.

(Amendment 3)

Sole Article, paragraph 2

Decision No 1110/94/EC is hereby amended as follows:	Decision No 1110/94/EC is hereby amended as follows:
– the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) shall be replaced by the following:"The maximum overall amount for Community financial participation in the fourth framework programme shall be ECU 11 864 million. Of this, ECU 5449 million shall be for the period 1994 to 1996 and ECU 6415 million for the period 1997 to 1998".	– the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) shall be replaced by the following:"The maximum overall amount for Community financial participation in the fourth framework programme shall be ECU 11 964 million. Of this, ECU 5449 million shall be for the period 1994 to 1996 and ECU 6515 million for the period 1997 to 1998".
– Annex I shall be replaced by the text in Annex II to this Decision.	– Annex I shall be replaced by the text in Annex II to this Decision. Common position of the Council

(Amendment 4)

ANNEX I

105

1029

105

7

7,5

16

11,5

7

Indicative breakdown of the financial supplementbetween themes and subjects in the specific programmes of thefirst activity	Amount in MECUs
A.1	Telematics[4]a. Educational multimedia: experimentation of innovative learning services, research and experimentation on telematics-based services for teacher training; development and validation of advanced multimedia learning materials and servicesb. Research to enhance intermodal transport operations and services: telematics applications for intermodal network operations and traffic management, including information and value added services
A.3	Information technologies (*)a. Experimentation of IT processes and tools to support distributed concurrent engineering for aeronautical applicationsb. Enhancement of multimedia support centres to address educational multimedia; interoperability of learning delivery systems and platformsc. Development of multisensor data fusion, fingerprint and signature catalogues, and system integration for landmine detection systems
B.4	Industrial and material technologies (*)a. Technologies for transport means: experimentation of distributed concurrent engineering and processes aimed at reducing aircraft development and fabrication costsb. Design, engineering, production systems and human management: experimentation of "on site" treatment and re-use for water-intensive processes, including integrated "closed-loop" technologies, leading to economies in the use of water and prevention of pollution
C.6	Environment and climate (*)– Natural environment, environmental quality and global change: Strategic research on utilisation/pollution impact analysis methods leading to models and tools for sustainable water management– Human dimension of environmental change: Research into economic appraisal of investments for "on site" treatment, re-use and conservation of water
D.8	BiotechnologyTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to the infectious agent, detection, diagnostics and treatment using biotechnological approaches; transdisease vaccinology; mucosal immunity and delivery systems
D.9	Biomedical and Health researchTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to research on human SE's, including clinical and epidemiological research, risk assessment, detection, treatment and diagnosis, coordination of national activities; research on vaccines against specific infectious diseases
D.10	Agriculture and FisheriesTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to applied research for animals including the use of already developed biotechnological methods and technologies
F.12	Transport (*)Demonstration of innovative intermodal freight transfer and distribution systems, particularly in urban agglomerations, and of advanced integrated systems for the provision and management of intermodal passenger services
TOTAL	100 Amendments

(Amendment 4)

ANNEX I

2010

20420

2010

14

7,5

16

11,5

14

33

Indicative breakdown of the financial supplementbetween themes and subjects in the specific programmes of thefirst activity	Amount in MECUs
A.1	Telematics[5]a. Educational multimedia: experimentation of innovative learning services, research and experimentation on telematics-based services for teacher training; development and validation of advanced multimedia learning materials and servicesb. Research to enhance intermodal transport operations and services: telematics applications for intermodal network operations and traffic management, including information and value added services
A.3	Information technologies (*)a. Experimentation of IT processes and tools to support distributed concurrent engineering for aeronautical applicationsb. Enhancement of multimedia support centres to address educational multimedia; interoperability of learning delivery systems and platformsc. Development of multisensor data fusion, fingerprint and signature catalogues, and system integration for landmine detection systems
B.4	Industrial and material technologies (*)a. Technologies for transport means: experimentation of distributed concurrent engineering and processes aimed at reducing aircraft development and fabrication costsb. Design, engineering, production systems and human management: experimentation of "on site" treatment and re-use for water-intensive processes, including integrated "closed-loop" technologies, leading to economies in the use of water and prevention of pollution
C.6	Environment and climate (*)– Natural environment, environmental quality and global change: Strategic research on utilisation/pollution impact analysis methods leading to models and tools for sustainable water management– Human dimension of environmental change: Research into economic appraisal of investments for "on site" treatment, re-use and conservation of water
D.8	BiotechnologyTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to the infectious agent, detection, diagnostics and treatment using biotechnological approaches; transdisease vaccinology; mucosal immunity and delivery systems
D.9	Biomedical and Health researchTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to research on human SE's, including clinical and epidemiological research, risk assessment, detection, treatment and diagnosis, coordination of national activities; research on vaccines against specific infectious diseases
D.10	Agriculture and FisheriesTSE and subacute spongiform encephalopathies with special attention to applied research for animals including the use of already developed biotechnological methods and technologies
F.12	Transport (*)Demonstration of innovative intermodal freight transfer and distribution systems, particularly in urban agglomerations, and of advanced integrated systems for the provision and management of intermodal passenger services
E.11	EnergyResearch and development relating to thin-film cells (ECU 10 m), integration of renewable energy sources and water management, demonstration in the area of energy savings in the field of transport
TOTAL	200 Common position of the Council

(Amendment 5)

ANNEX II

"ANNEX I

FOURTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (1994-1998)

AMOUNTS AND BREAKDOWN

	Millions of ecus
First activity (research, technological development and demonstration programmes)	10 145[6][7]
Second activity (cooperation with third countries and international organizations)	575
Third activity (dissemination and optimization of results)	352 [8][9]
Fourth activity (stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers)	792
MAXIMUM OVERALL AMOUNT	11 864 Indicative breakdown of the themes and subjects in the first activity Millions of ecus (current prices) A Information and communication technologies 3 662 1. Telematics Applications 913 2. Communications technologies 671 3. Information technologies 2 078 B. Industrial technologies 2 140 4. Industrial and material technologies 1 833 5. Measurements and testing 307 C. Environment 1 157[10] 6. Environment and climate 914 7. Marine sciences and technologies 243 D. Life sciences and technologies 1 709 8. Biotechnology 595,5 9. Biomedicine and health 374 10. Agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industries, 739,5 food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development) E. 11. Non-nuclear energy 1 067 F. 12. Transport 263 G. 13. Targeted socio-economic research 147 10 145 Amendments

(Amendment 5)

ANNEX II

"ANNEX I

FOURTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (1994-1998)

AMOUNTS AND BREAKDOWN

	Millions of ecus
First activity (research, technological development and demonstration programmes)	10 245[11][12]
Second activity (cooperation with third countries and international organizations)	575
Third activity (dissemination and optimization of results)	352 [13][14]
Fourth activity (stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers)	792
MAXIMUM OVERALL AMOUNT	11 964 Indicative breakdown of the themes and subjects in the first activity Millions of ecus (current prices) A Information and communication technologies 3 700 1. Telematics Applications 928 2. Communications technologies 671 3. Information technologies 2 101 B. Industrial technologies 2 155 4. Industrial and material technologies 1 8485. Measurements and testing 307 C. Environment 1 164[15] 6. Environment and climate 921 7. Marine sciences and technologies 243 D. Life sciences and technologies 1 709 8. Biotechnology 595,5 9. Biomedicine and health 374 10. Agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industries, 739,5 food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development) E. 11. Non-nuclear energy 1 100 F. 12. Transport 270 G. 13. Targeted socio-economic research 147 10 245

• [1] ()OJ C 198, 8.7.1996, p. 27.
• [2] ()OJ C 115, 19.4.1996, p. 1.
• [3] ()OJ C 320, 28.10.1996, p. 3.
• [4] ()Individual programme lines within which elements shall be included for automobile research.
• [5] ()Individual programme lines within which elements shall be included for automobile research.
• [6] ()Of which ECU 639 Million for the operational budget of the JRC.
• [7] ()Of which ECU 96 million for programmed scientific and technical support activities suited to a competitive approach.
• [8] ()Apart from the funds allocated to the third activity, an average of 1% of the total budget of the fourth framework programme will be allocated to dissemination and optimization of results in the framework programme will be allocated to dissemination and optimization of results in the framework of the first activity. Close coordination of dissemination and optimization activities carried out under the specific programmes of the first activity with those carried out under the third activity will be ensured.
• [9] () Of which ECU 40 million for ad hoc scientific and technical support to other Community policies which will be allocated on a competitive basis.
• [10] ()Environment-related research projects will also be conducted within several other lines of the first activity, in particular in the field of industrial technologies, energy and transport."
• [11] ()Of which ECU 639 Million for the operational budget of the JRC.
• [12] ()Of which ECU 96 million for programmed scientific and technical support activities suited to a competitive approach.
• [13] ()Apart from the funds allocated to the third activity, an average of 1% of the total budget of the fourth framework programme will be allocated to dissemination and optimization of results in the framework programme will be allocated to dissemination and optimization of results in the framework of the first activity. Close coordination of dissemination and optimization activities carried out under the specific programmes of the first activity with those carried out under the third activity will be ensured.
• [14] ()Of which ECU 40 million for ad hoc scientific and technical support to other Community policies which will be allocated on a competitive basis.
• [15] ()Environment-related research projects will also be conducted within several other lines of the first activity, in particular in the field of industrial technologies, energy and transport."

B EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The common position revising the fourth framework programme: a setback for European research

Over six months after the completion of Parliament's first reading of the new funding proposals for the fourth framework programme, the Council has adopted a common position which is only a shadow of the hoped-for reform and fresh focus of the programme proposed by the Commission and endorsed, with some amendments, by Parliament. Of the originally planned financial supplement of Ecu 700 m, the Council would allow only ECU 100 m, i.e. 0.8% of the framework programme's total funding of ECU 13.1 bn and a 1.5% increase in the figure of ECU 6.315 bn for the non-nuclear programme in 1997-98. In these circumstances, one can no longer seriously speak of new funding proposals for the fourth framework programme.

The merely marginal increase proposed by the Council goes back to the Council's own refusal in autumn 1996 to agree to a revision of the financial perspective which would have provided the necessary scope within Heading 3 for the planned increase in the framework programme. Following the failure to revise the financial perspective, the Research Council should not be blamed for being unable to adhere to the figure of ECU 700 m. However, it is particularly disconcerting that the Council is limiting the increase to ECU 100 m, even though in the 1997 budget procedure Parliament adopted a reserve of ECU 100 m for research. This reserve would allow an increase in the framework programme of at least ECU 200 m, while respecting the ceiling of the current financial perspective. Clearly, the Council believes it must adhere to the (financial) priorities it favours within Heading 3 even if Parliament - as the arm of the budgetary authority ultimately responsible for non-compulsory (research) expenditure - has assessed the priorities differently. This can be clearly seen from the fourth recital of the common position.

A change of substance

A striking feature of the common position is that, out of the amount of ECU 100 m, ECU 35 m - i.e. more than a third of the total - is earmarked for research into BSE, vaccines and viral diseases. Research in these areas, especially BSE, is certainly urgently needed: because of the public health hazards of BSE adequate research funds must be provided. Any other approach would be irresponsible and, given the dramatic impact on agriculture, short-sighted in economic terms. However, this does not mean that 35% of the increase in the framework programme should be used for BSE research. The necessary resources could be found by reallocating funds within the relevant programmes. The additional resources for BSE must therefore be made more proportionate to the other priority research areas.

As mentioned above, Parliament has, as part of the 1997 budget procedure, created the necessary financial preconditions, without the sum of ECU 35 m entered by the Council needing to be touched. If the framework programme were increased by ECU 200 m, the other priority areas could be funded to an at least approximately adequate level and a critical mass achieved. This would also enable research in the area of non-nuclear energy (especially renewable energy sources) to receive additional funding, as advocated by Parliament at first reading.

In order to complete the procedure as quickly as possible, the amendments are limited to the following points: raising the financial supplement to ECU 200 m, increasing research funds for mine detection and destruction to ECU 20 m, doubling funds for other priority areas with the exception of BSE and providing additional funding of ECU 33 m for research into non-nuclear energy.