Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 8 October 2013 - Strasbourg

14. Completing the European research area by 2014 (debate)

  La Présidente. - L'ordre du jour appelle le débat sur:

- la question avec demande de réponse orale au Conseil sur la finalisation de l'espace européen de la recherche d'ici 2014 posée par Amalia Sartori, au nom de la commission de l'industrie, de la recherche et de l'énergie (O-000081/2013 - 2013/2695(RSP) - B7-0503/2013), et

- la question avec demande de réponse orale à la Commission sur la finalisation de l'espace européen de la recherche d'ici 2014 posée par Amalia Sartori, au nom de la commission de l'industrie, de la recherche et de l'énergie (O-000082/2013 - 2013/2695(RSP) - B7-0504/2013).

  Amalia Sartori, Autore. − Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, un ringraziamento particolare alla Commissaria Geoghegan-Quinn che è qui presente e anche al Consiglio che vedo presente e attento in Aula.

Lo spazio europeo della ricerca rappresenta un obiettivo molto importante per l'Unione europea, specie in questo momento della nostra vita politica ed economica in cui dobbiamo creare le giuste condizioni affinché si torni a crescere e a essere davvero competitivi con il resto del mondo. Il SER deve diventare realtà al più presto se davvero vogliamo vedere realizzata un'area integrata in cui ricercatori, idee e innovazione possano circolare liberamente e produrre risultati che riportino l'Unione europea al ruolo di leader che ha avuto per molti decenni.

Il Consiglio europeo ha lanciato questo progetto ambizioso già nel marzo 2000 e l'articolo 179 del trattato di Lisbona ribadisce i suoi obiettivi e prevede una nuova e più forte base legale per le politiche e le iniziative legate al SER. La strategia Europa 2020 è lo strumento promotore delle iniziative utili a lanciare la competitività europea. Essa ha come driver principale l'innovazione che è il vero elemento che dobbiamo valorizzare, tutelare e promuovere se vogliamo allontanare dalla crisi in maniera definitiva.

Il rafforzamento della base scientifica e tecnologica dell'Unione europea con la realizzazione di uno spazio europeo della ricerca è un obiettivo contenuto nel nostro trattato e come tale deve essere perseguito con la massima convinzione. L'Unione dell'innovazione ha permesso importanti passi in avanti in questa direzione, ma per raggiungere davvero l'obiettivo di completamento del SER entro il 2014 dobbiamo fare tanti altri importanti passi in avanti.

Abbiamo bisogno di europeizzare di più le attività di ricerca e di innovazione, in modo che, grazie a sistemi nazionali più efficaci, la cooperazione transazionale e la circolazione del sapere scientifico circolino liberamente. Solo così potremo creare l'ambiente favorevole agli investimenti, che oggi mancano, soprattutto quelli privati rispetto ad altre parti del mondo nostri competitor.

Riducendo oneri amministrativi, favorendo la mobilità dei ricercatori, la portabilità dei loro bandi, lavorando anche per creare una nuova figura, una nuova generazione di ricercatori europei e mirando a un contratto unico europeo per la ricerca, e migliorando il coordinamento strategico per gli impegni nazionali. Ripartiamo dalle piccole cose ma come testimonia quest'interrogazione il Parlamento vuole che si vada avanti con convinzione. La Commissione segue il processo attraverso un meccanismo di monitoraggio istituito al fine di seguire il processo e renderlo trasparente per Parlamento, Consiglio e comunità scientifica nel suo complesso.

La prima relazione sui progressi del SER nell'ambito di tale meccanismo è stata pubblicata il 20 settembre 2013, il Consiglio Competitività si è tenuto lo scorso 27 settembre e ha ribadito il proprio sostegno agli obiettivi principali elencati nella relazione. Visto che il Consiglio europeo del 24 e 25 ottobre prossimi discuterà della relazione e di questi temi, ritengo fondamentale che il Parlamento europeo si esprima attraverso il dibattito di oggi. Dobbiamo veicolare ai capi di Stato e di governo la convinzione che questo è un passaggio fondamentale per colmare la distanza che ci separa sempre di più dai nostri competitor globali.

In tale contesto la commissione ITRE ha adottato quest'interrogazione orale al fine di chiedere alla Commissione europea e al Consiglio di enucleare le azioni che sono considerate necessarie per raggiungere l'obiettivo del completamento del SER entro il 2014 e se le azioni che gli Stati membri hanno intrapreso fino ad oggi sono sufficienti per raggiungere l'obiettivo SER. Alla luce delle relazioni SER è necessario un maggior impegno da parte di tutti gli attori coinvolti, istituzioni, Stati membri, stakeholder in generale, verso la direzione di uno spazio europeo della ricerca.

  Vytautas Leškevičius, President-in-Office of the Council. − Madam President, I am grateful for this opportunity to contribute and respond to the question from the Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

I am sure that we all agree that the European Research Area (ERA), with its strong links to innovation and education policy, is of fundamental importance to the future development and prosperity of the European Union. The notion of a European Research Area dates back to early 2000, and over the intervening years has been shaped to respond to the changing research environment. Both the European Council and Council have played a key role in giving direction to the range of measures which have been required to put the ERA in place.

Back in 2000, the European Council recognized the importance of ensuring that Europe was able to compete globally, and that a key to this was to develop a knowledge-based society. It underlined the importance of research and development to the generation of economic growth, employment and social cohesion, and it launched the first steps on the path to establishing a European Research Area. Since then, the Council has regularly assessed progress and provided guidance on the additional measures needed for the successful completion of the ERA.

In December last year the Council adopted conclusions on a reinforced European Research Area Partnership for Excellence and Growth in which a number of specific points for action were identified.

As we all know, at times of austerity it is a challenge to maintain high levels of public investment in R&D. Recently we have seen a decline in research as a percentage of overall government spending in some Member States. That is why we opted for open national-level competition, which is essential if we are to derive maximum value from public investment in research. We also support Member States and the regions in developing smart specialisation strategies to enable them to use Structural Funds for research and innovation.

An ERA can only work effectively if we can achieve economies of scale through cooperation between Member States. One of the best examples is the joint programming process and the cooperation on initiatives to address some of the main challenges we face in our society today. Another example is the focus on developing world-class facilities and research infrastructures. These are essential if we are to attract talent and stimulate innovation through science and education.

To achieve a fully open labour market for researchers, the Council highlighted the need for transparent, open and merit-based recruitment, which would make research careers more attractive. It also stressed the importance of improving human resources policies within research organisations, and promoting innovative doctoral training and cooperation between the academic and business worlds. This has to include improved mobility and the mutual recognition of academic degrees.

Gender inequality means that the potential of female researchers frequently goes to waste. That is why the Council called for the strengthening of both national and EU strategies in order to provide better opportunities for female researchers.

The Council also recognised the importance of more extensive and more rapid access to scientific publications and data in order to assist researchers and businesses to make better use of the findings of publicly funded research.

Monitoring all these initiatives is, of course, the key. The Council has underlined the importance of tracking progress on achieving the ERA, and has invited the Commission to develop a robust monitoring mechanism. A first progress report was presented by the Commission on 20 September this year.

Close monitoring is essential. It enables us to track progress, and where necessary, identify areas where further work is needed or where new initiatives might be required. We remain fully committed to achieving an effective European Research Area. It is a vital tool to help us compete globally, to expand our knowledge and expertise, and to help deliver prosperity and progress for our citizens. I know that the Parliament fully shares this objective, for which I am very grateful.

  Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Member of the Commission. − Madam President, I would like to thank you for giving the Commission the opportunity to answer questions on the European Research Area.

The European Research Area matters because it represents a structural reform and strengthening of a crucial sector of the economy – R&D – that underpins the entire knowledge economy in Europe. We have set the goal of 3% R&D investment in the EU by 2020, but we cannot have increased investment without reform to ensure that our science systems spend the money usefully and efficiently.

ERA has been around as a concept – as Mrs Sartori and the President said – since 2000, but when the European Council set the deadline of 2014 for the completion of ERA, this concentrated our minds and acted as an impulse and impetus for the Commission’s communication on ERA published in July 2012. We redoubled our efforts, identified the reforms and shortcomings that must be tackled and established the broader reinforced partnerships so that we could give ERA our best shot.

The first ERA progress report, as you heard, was adopted on 20 September in time for the European Council meeting this month where innovation is on the agenda. That report comes to some very interesting findings. For example, national research programmes still operate according to different rules, for example on reporting, which makes transnational research cooperation difficult. There are a host of barriers to research and mobility, including very limited accessibility to grants by non-nationals or portability of grants across borders. Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment practices are still not broadly implemented for all research positions. For example, only 10% of vacancies are advertised at European level via the EURAXESS jobs portal. On gender, very disappointingly, only 34% of research performing organisations responding to our survey offer flexible careers and only 18% have recruitment and promotion practices specifically designed to combat the waste of female talent.

This report is the first comprehensive analysis of ERA but it is very much a work in progress. We are pushing the Member States to provide the data and information that we lack to carry out a more robust exercise next year. On the basis of this, we will take a long, hard look at what progress has been made and, on that basis, I will make recommendations to my successor on what needs to be done.

The bottom line is that ERA is at a crossroads. We will need to take some very tough decisions next year. As I have said before, all options are on the table and nothing is ruled out. I am obviously very happy that the debate is taking place and will be delighted to answer questions that are raised by the Members.

  Romana Jordan, v imenu skupine PPE. – V maju leta 2008 je bil vzpostavljen ljubljanski proces in takrat so države članice delile prepričanje, da je potrebno razviti skupno vizijo in učinkovito upravljanje Evropskega raziskovalnega prostora. Glede na nedavno objavljeno poročilo Evropske komisije o izvajanju ERA je potrebno še veliko dela.

Zato bi predsedstvo, torej Svet, vprašala, kako bo Svet poskrbel, da se bo pospešilo izvajanje javnih naročil za inovativne proizvode in storitve. Tovrstna pravila so namreč že pripravljena, a se ne izvajajo. Poleg tega me zanima, kaj se v Svetu dogaja, da bi države članice približale svoja nacionalna merila, da bodo izbrani projekti dejansko podpirali znanstveno odličnost in sodelovanje z gospodarstvom.

Poleg nacionalnih sredstev pa so za učinkovito delovanje ERA ključnega pomena tudi primerna sredstva na evropski ravni. Zato sprašujem Komisijo, katere ukrepe bo sprejela, da bo v drugi generaciji pobud po 185. členu – to so javno-javna partnerstva – lahko sledila morebitni večji pripravljenosti držav članic prispevati v program.

Kako bo zagotovila, da v tem primeru ne bo potrebno čakati 7 let, ali vsaj 3,5 leta do vmesnega pregleda, da bomo na ravni EU zagotovili zadostna finančna sredstva?

Na koncu pa bi želela izraziti tudi svoje razočaranje, da za spodbujanje resničnega enotnega raziskovalnega prostora v programu Obzorje 2020 nismo naredili več. Razlike v plačilu raziskovalcev so po mojem mnenju eden ključnih pokazateljev razdrobljenosti tega prostora.

Zato upam, da bo Komisija v prihodnem sedemletnem obdobju zavzeto izvajala ukrepe za zmanjševanje teh neenakosti z instrumenti, ki so ji na voljo, da se zagotovi čim bolj enakopravno obravnavanje raziskovalcev iz vseh držav članic Evropske unije.

  Teresa Riera Madurell, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señora Presidenta, señora Comisaria, representante del Consejo, ciertamente este Parlamento va a votar en breve el nuevo programa marco Horizonte 2020, que contribuirá a sentar las bases de la recuperación económica de Europa, fijando la inversión en ciencia e innovación de la Unión Europea para los próximos siete años.

Sin embargo, aunque los fondos europeos juegan un papel importante en nuestro sistema de ciencia e innovación, quiero recordar que el 94 % de la financiación para la investigación sigue estando en manos nacionales. De ahí la importancia de sistematizar los vínculos entre la política científica de la Unión y de los Estados miembros, y de mejorar la coordinación para usar lo mejor posible todos los recursos de que disponemos.

Como bien demuestra el informe de progreso sobre el ERA, ciertamente se han conseguido avances en la estructuración del espacio europeo de investigación, pero no todos los que quisiéramos, en gran parte debido al carácter voluntario de las medidas desarrolladas. Al mismo tiempo, tenemos buenos ejemplos —como es el caso del Reglamento ERIC— que demuestran cómo la legislación comunitaria puede superar los obstáculos a la libre circulación en Europa, tanto del conocimiento como de los investigadores.

Señora Comisaria, creo que, si queremos disponer de un sistema de ciencia e innovación europeo que sea fuerte y dinámico, ha llegado el momento de profundizar en la construcción del ERA, acudiendo también a la vía legislativa, y de superar así, de verdad, las barreras nacionales, legislativas y administrativas que todavía atenazan la creación de un verdadero mercado interior del conocimiento.

  Liam Aylward, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Madam President, completion of the European Research Area by 2014 is central to strengthening EU Member States’ research systems, increasing their competitiveness and allowing them to work together more effectively to tackle major challenges. Research and innovation are central to job creation and economic growth, in particular in the SME sector. The European Research Area will assist Europe in becoming the world’s leading knowledge economy.

There is a budgetary facility for over EUR 70 billion for Horizon 2020 and this is an increase of over 25 % in budgetary terms over the FP7 programme. There is Innovation Union, a key flagship of Europe 2020, where changes in public procurement law, venture capital markets, patent and standardisation rules are helping the EU develop new innovative jobs, services and processes.

However, these key policy objectives cannot fully succeed unless we implement a strong European research area, one where researchers can freely move and work in each European Member State and easily carry their pension and social security rights across borders; one where there are open and transparent rules for recruitment within the research education environment.

It is clear that significant work remains ahead to achieve these goals. While we continue to train an increasing number of PhDs, Europe trails behind its main competitors in terms of the numbers of qualified and trained researchers working in the industry: 45 % of total researchers in the European Union compared with 78 % in the USA, 74 % in Japan and 62 % in China.

Member States must implement the objectives of the ERA communications in a determined and strategic manner. That is how we will create better quality jobs and it will ensure that the EU can attract the best researchers around the world to work in Europe. May I compliment the Commissioner on the unstinting work which she has done in this area over the past four years and, of course, wish the Lithuanian Presidency well in the future.

  James Nicholson, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Madam President, the European Research Area (ERA) is an exciting concept which has the potential to facilitate an upsurge in innovation across the European Union. It is clear that strong national frameworks are required to ensure that the key ERA priorities are met. Inflexible EU-wide targets would, however, risk undermining the valuable diversity of national research systems and hinder the exciting work that is already under way across Europe.

In Northern Ireland, we are moving towards effective implementation of the European Research Area by 2014. Speaking from the experience of Queen’s University in Belfast and the University of Ulster, there is a strong appetite among academic staff for optimum circulation, access and transfer of knowledge across borders. Involvement within inter-EU research programmes such as the Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways has proved its worth under Framework 7, as the Commissioner knows from her time there. I wish her well and thank her for all the good hard work she is doing in this area.

  Marisa Matias, em nome do Grupo GUE/NGL. – Senhora Presidente, Senhora Comissária, há muitos anos que ouvimos nesta Casa, nos discursos oficiais, e lemos nos documentos oficiais que o objetivo principal da União é investir 3% do PIB na investigação. Até agora, nenhum país da União conseguiu atingir esse objetivo e nós sabemos como a austeridade tem tido um efeito contrário, que é reduzir cada vez mais o investimento em matéria de PIB relativamente à investigação e à inovação.

Mais de um terço dos países da União não chega sequer a 1% de investimento. Dizem-nos, no entanto, e nós ouvimos à exaustão neste hemiciclo, do Presidente Barroso, dos grupos políticos diferentes, do Conselho, que é pela investigação que havemos de sair da crise, dizemos que é essa a solução que está em cima das mãos.

No entanto, o que vemos é que os nossos investigadores têm vínculos cada vez mais precários ou que são despedidos, que os seus projetos não são financiados ou que, muitas vezes, são mesmo obrigados a emigrar para outras partes do mundo onde a investigação e a ciência é mais bem tratada do que na Europa.

Há, no entanto, outros 3 % que muito são falados nesta Casa que, esses sim, têm merecido todas as atenções e uma enorme intervenção das instituições da União, refiro-me aos 3% do défice, esses sim têm sido bem mais pegados do que os 3% da investigação. Ora, para quem pensava que 3% era igual a 3%, percebemos que não, porque 3% do défice são de ouro e 3 % da investigação são de plástico, na melhor das hipóteses.

A questão que lhe coloco, Sra. Comissária, é muito simples, está disponível para lutar tanto pelos 3% da investigação como o seu colega Olli Rehn tem lutado pelos 3% do défice ou já abandonou essa luta?

  Zofija Mazej Kukovič (PPE). - Notranji trg je še kako pomemben tudi na področju raziskav, kajti v ospredju v Evropi bodo delovna mesta in rast. In brez notranjega trga na področju raziskovanja bomo težko dosegli te cilje. Seveda so pa ti cilji orientirani enkrat v gospodarstvo, enkrat pa tudi še posebej v starajočo se družbo.

Kako danes, brez sodelovanja na področju raziskovanja, odkriti in iti nasproti bolezni kot je alzheimer oziroma demenca? Kako iti nasproti bolezni, kot je rak? Torej za vse te izzive so nujne tesnejše sodelave.

Pri prenosu znanj v gospodarstvo, v podjetništvo, je izjemnega pomena tudi to, da imamo specializirana mala in srednja podjetja. In če želimo imeti specializacijo v podjetjih, potem potrebujemo tudi specializirana znanja od zgoraj navzdol.

Manjkajoči del imamo tudi pri raziskovalcih. Kljub vsemu, da je 27 milijonov brezposelnih v Evropi, mogoče je med njimi in so med njimi tudi talenti ali talentke. In danes vzgajamo dekleta predvsem v tem smislu, da so moški in ženski poklici, da so moške in ženske znanstvenice in da ni vse za ženske. Narobe.

Danes moramo poiskati vse priložnosti, ki jih imamo možnost pridobiti od bodočih znanstvenic in raziskovalk, kajti pri tem smo v Evropi še vedno korak za tistim, kar je mogoče. In kot sem slišala nekoč tudi v neki pesmi, da znanja...

‘Knowledge is a girl’s best friend. Diamonds will follow.’

  Patrizia Toia (S&D). - Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, intervengo a nome del collega Luigi Berlinguer, fortemente impegnato per la realizzazione della Maastricht della ricerca. Se vogliamo realizzare lo spazio europeo della ricerca dobbiamo prima di tutto abbattere la frammentazione oggi esistente per una maggiore armonizzazione delle strategie e degli strumenti nazionali.

Dal 2000 è aumentato il divario tra gli Stati membri e non solo rispetto ai 28 ma anche rispetto ai 15 del 2000: divario negli investimenti a livello nazionale, nelle performance dei sistemi di ricerca, nelle priorità e nelle modalità di circolazione dei risultati. Il progress report fa emergere che la strada per completare il SER è molto lunga e una cosa è chiara: basarsi sulla volontarietà degli Stati membri non è più sufficiente. Nonostante le azioni messe in campo, vediamo che si rinforzano i paesi più avanzati e si scatenano gli egoismi dei singoli Stati membri, tutto il contrario dell'armonizzazione e dell'obiettivo di creare una forza comune.

Bisogna dunque puntare su una vera coesione, basata sul merito, governando il processo di armonizzazione, adottando misure che obblighino gli Stati membri a procedere lungo questa strada e a prendere le misure adeguate, aiutando insomma, una solidarietà che può essere proficua per tutti gli Stati. Le misure sono note, dall'apertura ai bandi nazionali – li ha richiamati anche la Presidente introducendo – all'uso di un sistema di valutazione europeo, all'open access, a un sistema di reclutamento aperto, trasparente e basato sul merito. Infine, credo che molto importante sarebbe aggiungere una sorta di green card del ricercatore che permetta davvero la mobilità in questo spazio comune che vogliamo creare anche per la ricerca.

  Vicky Ford (ECR). - Madam President, the latest progress report on ERA shows that there is still work to be done. But some countries are significantly more advanced than others, and whilst Member States who are lagging behind do need to step up their efforts, the decision on exactly how they do that needs to be left to the Member States themselves. The possibility of an ERA framework directive has been discussed but I am concerned that a one-size-fits-all legislation may not be the solution, as governments, universities, research centres and industry need autonomy to achieve the aims of ERA without jeopardising national and global research priorities.

Commissioner, your own impact assessment has highlighted additional administrative and compliance costs which could be incurred. We have worked so hard on Horizon 2020 to cut red tape and to reduce costs and the administrative burden in order to encourage organisations to participate in research. So let us be really careful that we do not put back those burdens and those costs through another directive.

  Traian Ungureanu (PPE). - Madam President, the EU’s economic downturn is not just another unfortunate consequence of the financial crisis. The European Union’s ability to compete in research is part of the problem.

Since 2009 the debate has focused on regaining lost competitiveness in business and labour terms. This message is right, but it is not enough. To my knowledge, the great economic powers of the world have achieved success by regarding research as a long-term investment with high returns. It does not make sense for the EU to try to prove them wrong.

The EU needs to get its act together and support the completion of the European Research Area. Thirteen years have passed since the project was launched: thirteen years of half measures and partial commitment. For a better evaluation please consult the statistics on the world ranking of research institutes: the EU does not appear very often in the top 50 positions. Only CERN makes the top five. The US and Japan dominate.

We have to understand that the future is built today and that research gives a cutting edge to those who do not hesitate to invest in it. We keep on generating debates on economic recovery but we have lost sight of the fundamental role of research. We will not be able to restart our economies counting on the available research. The European research community should become a functional reality that disseminates its achievements to the benefit of the EU.

  António Fernando Correia de Campos (S&D). - Senhora Presidente, o mundo inteiro acaba de ter conhecimento, esta tarde, que o Prémio Nobel da Física foi outorgado a dois europeus, ao Sr. Higgs, britânico, e ao Sr. Englert, belga. A verdade é que estes dois grandes cientistas que há 30 anos conceptualizaram aquele resultado tiveram que esperar 30 anos pela sua concretização, demonstração no CERN. Tudo isto foi europeu e por estranho que pareça, Sra. Presidente, estes dois homens não se conheciam entre si. Foi no ano passado quando os convidámos para aqui, para a STOA Annual Lecture, a que eu tive a honra de presidir, foi nessa altura apenas que eles se conheceram. Isto diz-nos que a Europa tem um potencial imenso, mas que ainda vivemos muito separados dentro das nossas fronteiras.

E há muito a fazer, Sra. Presidente: o estado do ERA tem sido insatisfatório quer quanto à mobilidade dos investigadores, quer quanto à portabilidade dos fundos de pensão, sistemas de segurança social, escassa cooperação das universidades, escassa coordenação de recursos nacionais com financiamento da ciência. Estamos muito longe dos 3% mas é sobretudo insatisfatório no que respeita à convergência do potencial científico e tecnológico nas diferentes regiões.

Os programas-quadro são uma ilha neste deserto, têm permitido fornecer incentivos a esta colaboração, têm fomentado a competição a nível europeu, têm promovido a excelência científica e estimulado a convergência de agendas.

É por isso que é necessário uma melhor e mais eficaz monitorização dos contributos dos Estados-Membros para o ERA.

  Sari Essayah (PPE). - Arvoisa puhemies, hyvä komissaari, kysymys haluaa kiirehtiä eurooppalaisen tutkimusalueen muodostamista, joka on aivan välttämätöntä, jos me haluamme saavuttaa 2020-ohjelman tavoitteet tutkimuksen osuudesta kolmessa prosentissa bruttokansantuotteesta.

Euroopan tulisi taloudellisen kriisin aikana voimakkaasti panostaa tutkimukseen ja tuotekehitykseen. Ikävä kyllä monet jäsenvaltiot tällä hetkellä toimivat juuri päinvastoin eli leikkaavat kansallisista tutkimus- ja inovaatiobudjeteistaan.

Eurooppalaisen tutkimusalueen muodostaminen kulkee käsi kädessä tutkimuksen ja innovoinnin puiteohjelman Horisontti 2020 kanssa, jota juuri viimeistellään. Eurooppalaisen tutkimusalueen tulee perustua parhaiden kannustamiseen, jotta Eurooppa voi pärjätä kansainvälisessä kilpailussa ja toisaalta Eurooppa voisi olla houkutteleva tutkimusalue myös kolmansista maista tuleville.

Tutkijoiden liikkuvuudessa, urakehityksessä sekä naisten osallisuudessa EU:n sisällä on suuria puutteita. Talossa on juuri tällä hetkellä käsittelyssä kolmansista maista tulevien tutkijoiden ja opiskelijoiden liikkuvuutta helpottava direktiivi, mutta jollakin tavalla minusta tuntuu, että me tarvitsisimme EU:n sisällä oleville tutkijoille ja opiskelijoille aivan vastaavanlaista puitelainsäädäntöä, että heidän liikkumisensa ja urakehityksensä olisi nykyistä helpompaa.

Innovaatiot ajatellaan aivan liian usein tietotekniikka-alaan liittyvinä, kun kansantalouksien kannalta kaikkein merkittävimmät innovaatiot, joita Eurooppa tarvitsisi, olisivat sosiaaliset innovaatiot, liittyen vaikkapa vanhusten kotihoitoon tai etälääkärijärjestelmiin.

Tutkimuksen ja tutkimustulosten kaupallistamisessa Euroopassa on myös paljon tehtävää. Vitsihän kuuluu, että Applea ja Microsoftia ei koskaan pystytty perustamaan Euroopassa, koska meillähän on kielletty se, että firma perustettaisiin autotalliin.

  Andrej Plenković (PPE). – Današnja tema europskoga istraživačkoga prostora izuzetno je značajna za jačanje globalne konkurentnosti Europske unije. Tu prije svega mislim na naš cilj od prije nekoliko godina da se u istraživanje ulaže do 3 % bruto društvenoga proizvoda Europske unije što je još uvijek nerealiziran cilj i predstavlja nam zadaću da i na europskoj razini i na razini nacionalnih proračuna te kombinacijom i sa privatnim ulaganjima u istraživanja pokušamo doseći upravo taj stupanj koji će nas učiniti konkurentnima i u odnosu na druge zemlje i druge dijelove svijeta.

Već je bilo riječi danas u izlaganjima o tome koja su po rangiranju europska sveučilišta. Mislim da smo svi suglasni da u tom pogledu postoji veliki prostor za napredak. Ono što mi se čini da je za dovršetak ere posebno bitno i kao jednoga od naših glavnih projekata u kontekstu inovacije i u idućem višegodišnjem financijskom okviru i cilju do 2020. u okviru programa Obzor 2020. je da ukinemo maksimalno barijere za kretanje znanstvenika i istraživača unutar Europske unije, da im omogućimo slične naknade, barem, ako ne iste, da izbjegnemo brain-drain jer je upravo ostanak na našim sveučilištima, na našim istraživačkim centrima jedan od bitnih preduvjeta razvoja i spajanja onoga što se radi u znanosti s onim što je korisno u gospodarstvu, u poslovnom svijetu, a u konačnici i dobro za sve građane Europske unije. Hrvatska je proteklih nekoliko godina kroz različite druge programe Europske unije uspjela sudjelovati sa svojih otprilike 309 partnera u čak 248 projekata sa preko 70 milijuna eura ukupne koristi u istraživačke projekte. To je sve bilo pripremno vrijeme; postoji veliki interes akademske zajednice, a osobito suradnja između Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti i ministarstava i drugih stakeholdera da maksimalno iskoristimo sve pogodnosti europskog istraživačkog prostora.

Interventions à la demande

  Ivana Maletić (PPE). – Predsjedavajuća, povezivanje država članica kroz zajednički europski istraživački prostor omogućuje bolju iskorištenost znanstvenog potencijala u Europi. U ovim uvjetima nezaposlenosti i krize u Europi, svakoj državi članici, i mojoj Hrvatskoj, trebaju najbolja istraživanja s najvećim utjecajem na rast i razvoj. Ulaganja trebaju biti efikasna jer nema dovoljno sredstava i teško je dostići cilj od 3 % ulaganja bruto društvenog proizvoda.

Jako je bitna razmjena i širenje istraživačkih znanja među državama članicama jer to multiplicira efekte ulaganja i upravo zato su važni i u Hrvatskoj i u svim državama članicama programi poput „Horizon 2020” i FP7. Na nacionalnoj razini važno je znanstvene i istraživačke institucije uključiti u lokalne akcijske grupe kako bi aktivno sudjelovale u donošenju strategija pametne specijalizacije i kasnije istraživanjima pomagali rastu i razvoju malog i srednjeg poduzetništva i čitave zemlje.

PRESIDE: ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS
Vicepresidente

  Lambert van Nistelrooij (PPE). - We voeren dit debat net voor de najaarstop en voor het eerst gaat die over ontwikkeling en R&D, en níet over de crisis. Daar ben ik heel blij mee.

We moeten nog steeds vaststellen dat we te weinig technologen opleiden en dat er nog altijd sprake is van een braindrain. Dat is niet opgelost. Ook bínnen de Unie zijn er bepaalde delen waar mensen wegtrekken. Dat is niet goed en dat moet beter.

Vorige week heb ik de vijfde innovatietop van Knowledge4Innovation mogen leiden en er is heel veel belangstelling voor de vraag 'hoe kennis om te zetten in informatie en producten'.

Mevrouw Geoghegan-Quinn, u wilde graag vragen. Ik heb er wel een paar. Wat is de rol van het EIT? Wat is de voortgang voor de joint researchcentra in Europa? Wat wilt u met de synergie tussen de structuurfondsen en de researchfondsen, vooral de slimme specialisatie? Ten slotte, de ESFRI – ik hoor daar zo weinig over – Research Infrastructures. We versnipperen nog steeds veel te veel. De euro kun je maar één keer goed uitgeven.

  Petru Constantin Luhan (PPE). - Se pare că aveţi o abordare mult mai teoretică decât o au universităţile în ceea ce priveşte cercetarea şi dezvoltarea la nivel european.

În momentul de faţă avem de-a face cu o situaţie destul de nesoluţionată în ceea ce priveşte stimularea cercetării în Uniunea Europeană. Banii pentru cercetare şi dezvoltare în perioada 2007-2013 în marea lor majoritate nu au fost alocaţi din lipsă de cunoaştere în rândul celor care sunt eligibili şi au posibilitatea şi abilitatea de a face cercetare, dezvoltare şi inovare la nivel european. Apoi nu avem o corelare concretă între sistemul educaţional sau sistemele de educaţie din ţările membre ale Uniunii Europene şi piaţa forţelor de muncă în acest domeniu la nivel european. Avem de-a face cu o emigrare a forţei de muncă inteligente din Uniunea Europeană spre marile puteri de cercetare gen America, Japonia, dar mai nou şi spre China, pe care nu o putem stopa. O să mergem foarte curând să cumpărăm ştiinţa generată de europeni în China înapoi în Europa, apoi vom produce şi vom plăti licenţe chinezilor pentru produse la nivel european.

Bineînţeles că întrebarea mea este una foarte concretă: doamna comisar, are Comisia Europeană în plan uniformizarea programelor naţionale de cercetare?

  Krisztina Morvai (NI). - Helyesen mutattak rá többen, hogy a tudományos kutatás területén a nők hiába ugyanolyan tehetségesek mint a férfiak, lényegesen hátrányosabb helyzetben vannak. Ugyanakkor másfajta diszkrimináció is létezik Európán belül, mégpedig többnyire a posztkommunista új tagállamok és a régi tagállamok, a nyugat-európai országok kutatói és kutatási lehetőségei között. Azt hiszem, hogy ma Magyarországon, ha egy fiatal nő, vagy egy fiatal férfi arról álmodik, és az az ő küldetése, hivatása, hogy műszaki fejlesztéssel, kutatással, innovációval szeretne foglalkozni, akkor két dolgot tehet. Vagy az álmáról mond le, vagy pedig a hazájáról mond le, mert olyan szűkösek a lehetőségek, a források, a kutatáshoz való források, illetőleg a jövedelmi viszonyok, hogy Magyarországon kutatóként egyszerűen nem tud megélni.

Nagyon szeretném, ha a Bizottság képviselője konkrétan megüzenné a magyarországi kutatóknak, hogy miben reménykedhetnek. Ugye az a címe a mai ülésünknek, hogy 2014-ig az Európai Egységes Kutatási Térséget létrehozzák. Mit fog ez hozni a magyarországi kutatók számára? Miben reménykedhetnek ezzel kapcsolatban?

  Miroslav Mikolášik (PPE). - Európsky priestor pre výskum, to je veľmi dôležitá disciplína, ktorú musíme pestovať v rokoch 2014 až 2020. Predsa ide o to, či Európa v budúcnosti bude konkurencieschopná, či naši výskumníci budú mať nové patenty, či sa tieto patenty dostanú do skutočného praktického využitia a prinesú so sebou samozrejme zamestnanosť, veď to je aj jeden z hlavných problémov a výziev Európskej únie. Inovácie prinášajú job creation, vytvorenie nových príležitostí a nositeľmi takýchto tendencií sú práve univerzity aj v regiónoch, nielen v hlavných mestách. Aj v regiónoch sú univerzity, vytvárajú klastre, vytvárajú priestor pre mladých výskumníkov. Malé a stredné podniky sa vedia najlepšie prispôsobiť týmto výzvam a tieto nové aplikácie vedia hneď aj použiť vo svojej výrobe. Chcel by som takisto podčiarknuť, že musíme úplne zmeniť spôsob výučby mladých ľudí nielen v technických disciplínach a matematike, ale urobiť to tak, ako to robia v Amerike alebo v Japonsku.

  Csaba Sógor (PPE). - Az Európai Kutatási Térség az egyik legjobb példája annak, hogy a tagállamok együttműködése jelentős hozzáadott értéket képvisel. A közös cselekvés nélkül tulajdonképpen lehetetlen a célok elérése. Ma már sajnos nem újdonság, hogy Európa globálisan lemaradt a kutatási versenyben. A világ más részein sokkal nagyobb hangsúlyt fektetnek a kutatásra, ez pedig közép- és hosszú távon veszélyes tendenciákat jelez előre. Meggyőződésem, hogy a tagállami erőfeszítések mellett uniós intézkedésekre is szükség van. Nem sorolom, csak említem, kollégáim felsorolták, az Európa 2020, a kutatók közti fizetéskülönbségek, a mobilitás, a nők, a harmadik ország kutatóinak problémái mind mind azt mutatják, mondanám ezt, főleg euroszkeptikus kollegáimnak, hogy ma már nem lehet arra hivatkozni, hogy az oktatás, a kutatás, akár a kisebbségi kérdés, az emberi jogi kérdés csak tagállami hatáskör. Vannak országok, országomban oktatási törvényt nem hajlandók egyetemek végrehajtani, csak azért mert kisebbségellenes a hangulat, és el lehet képzelni, hogy milyen kutatás folyik ott azon az egyetemen.

(A felszólaló hozzájárul egy „kékkártyás” kérdés megválaszolásához (az eljárási szabályzat 149. cikkének (8) bekezdése).)

  Krisztina Morvai (NI), Kékkártyás kérdés. – Szeretném megkérdezni közös nyelvünkön, Sógor képviselőtársamtól, hogy ez azt jeleni-e, hogy nem ért egyet azzal az előző állításommal, hogy Magyarországon és más posztkommunista kelet-európai vagy közép-európai országokban megalázó körülmények között dolgoznak a kutatók, vagy pedig egyet ért ezzel, de valamiért nem találja problémának, mert úgy gondolja, hogy ez része a globalizációs folyamatnak és el kell fogadnunk ezt a másodrangú helyzetet.

  Csaba Sógor (PPE), Kékkártyás válasz. – Ezzel csak egyet tudok érteni, de nem csak kelet-európai országoknak a problémája ez, hogy többet költenek a hadseregre és a titkos szolgálatra, mint az oktatásra és kutatásra.

(Fin de las intervenciones con arreglo al procedimiento de solicitud incidental de uso de la palabra («catch the eye»))

  Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, first of all let me thank all those speakers – because we have had a lot of speakers, it has been a very lively debate – and I think we owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs Sartori and Mr Berlinguer for organising the debate.

I think generally there has been a great convergence on the objectives of ERA, and there is a feeling (which I also have myself) of impatience at the lack of progress and a great sense of urgency about what needs to be done. Next year, obviously, we are going to have this major reflection that I talked about, so in other words it is crunch time for ERA next year and – as I said at the beginning and I repeat again – nothing is off the table, everything is on the table. Remember that whatever we decide to do, the European Parliament is going to be a very important partner with us in going forward.

I was asked a number of specific questions. About the EIT: this of course is the knowledge triangle so fundamentally important to all we are trying to do. The JRC, giving scientific advice to all of our policy, must be based on the best, most excellent scientific advice that is available and that advice is given right across the Commission in all the different directorates-general.

I was also asked about synergies with the structural funds. Johannes Hahn and I have worked really closely to ensure that we have this synergy – and you know, Mr van Nistelrooij, that for the first time ever in Horizon 2020 you can match structural funds with Horizon 2020 funds in the same project, for different aspects of it, but in the same project. I think that is a really great step forward.

Another question was: is it the intention of the Commission to standardise European research systems? Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course we are not in the business of doing this, but we would like them to align their rules so that we can have this great interaction that we want to see happening in a genuine European Research Area.

The difference in salaries and the brain drains occupied the minds of the Council of Ministers when we met last November in Luxembourg. One of the aspects that we worked out at the time was that we would have a specific package of proposals that would help to counteract this innovation divide, this difficulty that particularly newer Member States and indeed regions within Europe have. So we have this whole package of ERA chairs, of the teaming, of the twinning actions, of the bonus in salaries of up to EUR 8 000 all designed to help combat the brain drain. Obviously, we will look at that when we have the interim evaluation to see how well that is working. I believe that it is going to work really well.

To the Council I would say: obviously we in the Commission, but also – as you have heard, Mr President – all of the Members here, are looking to the Council at the end of this month to give us the kind of strong conclusions that will drive us forward. I would say that President Grybauskaitė, who has long experience in the Commission, will understand the kind of impetus that a strong conclusion from the European Council can give both the Commission and indeed the European Parliament.

I am delighted that Mrs Sartori and Mr Berlinguer will bring forward an ERA manifesto which will be, as they describe, a concrete roadmap for ERA policy and I look forward very much to joining them on 16 October 2013 for the launch of the manifesto.

  Vytautas Leškevičius, President-in-Office of the Council. − Mr President, it is a very pleasing to participate in a debate in which I can clearly support nearly everything that was said. I wish to thank all the Members for their questions and remarks. I very much welcome the commitment of this Parliament to help support the creation of a fully-fledged European Research Area.

Lithuania has had research and innovation high on its Presidency agenda. Together with the Commission, we will launch the Horizon 2020 programme during the ICT 2030 Conference in Vilnius on 6 to 8 November. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to this landmark event all those interested. Moreover, as the Commissioner mentioned, we have been actively preparing for the October European Council, which will focus on innovation and ICT issues. This will, I am sure, give very clear guidance to our further work in this regard.

By way of conclusion to this afternoon’s debate, I should like to refer to the most recent exchange of views between Ministers on ERA, which took place on 27 September. The debate that our Ministers held answered many of the questions that were raised during this afternoon’s discussion. The Ministerial discussions confirmed our shared commitment to the successful completion of ERA. Many Ministers underlined the importance of promoting research and innovation as a driver of the economy and as potential provider of new jobs.

Specific points raised included: the need for better and increased use of public administration tools to foster innovation, particularly through public procurement procedures; closer and deeper collaboration between industry and universities and higher education institutes; the promotion in national education systems of the development of specialised skills for young people in order to fill the gaps in demand on the labour market; more targeted funding of future-oriented projects while also bearing in mind the need to be able to transform these into commercial solutions; better circulation of data and results of research projects that could have multiplier effects; and, finally, the stepping-up of coordination of national research programmes

Of course, the completion of ERA will require the support of all the Member States, and also of all the European institutions and other stakeholders. I know that we can count on your support and I wish to put on record the firm commitment of the Council to deliver on its promises.

  El Presidente. − Se cierra el debate.