Fifth framework programme for research and technological development

Citation

(1998), "Fifth framework programme for research and technological development", Industrial Robot, Vol. 25 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1998.04925dab.004

Fifth framework programme for research and technological development

Fifth framework programme for research and technological development

Keywords EU, Europe, FP5, Research, Technology

After a hard and long negotiation at the EU Research Council on 12 February, which was chaired by John Battle, UK Minister for Science, Industry and Energy, unanimous agreement was secured on a "common position" for the EC Framework decision, which sets out the broad lines of the fifth framework programme (FP5). The "common position" signals formal agreement of the council prior to negotiation with the European Parliament in the next stage of the legislative process. The council also reached agreement on the separate decision for the Fifth Euratom Framework Programme.

The achievement of a "common position" means that the timetable remains on track for FP5 to come into operation in a smooth transition from FP4, thus avoiding a gap in funding for European research. It is a major achievement for the UK Presidency.

What was agreed under the common position?

Though it had many very difficult issues to tackle, the council was able to agree on all areas of FP5 including scientific and technological content, structure and the budget, which was settled at 14,000 mecu (1 ecu = £0.70) (around £10 billion). The outcome closely reflects the UK's national priorities and objectives.

Scientific and technological content

The council confirmed the agreement reached on programme content at its meeting on 10 November 1997 and resolved the outstanding issues. To meet the concerns of a number of member states, the council agreed to expand the roles of marine RTD and social science research through the creation of two new "key actions" (research targeted at specific competitiveness issues and policy problems) in these areas. The place of automotive technologies was resolved through the establishment of a "key action" combining land transport technologies, including both automotive and rail, and marine technologies. A number of other small changes were agreed, some in response to the European Parliament's First Reading Opinion on the proposals for FP5 issued on 16 December 1997.

The council also agreed minor revisions to the texts agreed earlier covering the three horizontal programmes:

(1) international co-operation;(2) the promotion of innovation/encouragement of SMEs; and(3) the training and mobility of researchers and socio-economic research.

Structure

On structure, there was agreement to the Presidency proposal for four thematic programmes as follows:

(1) quality of life and management of living resources;(2) user friendly information society;(3) competitive and sustainable growth;(4) energy, environment and sustainable development.

The fourth (energy, environment and sustainable development) will be subdivided into two separate budgets for energy and environment aspects, and will have separate management committees.

Budget

The Commission proposal called for an overall budget of 16,300 mecu. Following intensive discussion, agreement was reached at 14,000 mecu (around £10 billion) for the overall budget with 12,740 mecu (91 per cent) allocated to the EC Framework Programme and 1,260 mecu (9 per cent) to the Euratom (nuclear) Framework Programme. The detailed breakdown is shown in Table I.

Table I: Detailed breakdown of EC framework programme

Further information, including details of events, may be obtained from OST's Internet Homepage (http://www.dti.gov.uk/ost) which will be regularly updated as the negotiations progress, and the UK Presidency website on the European Commission's CORDIS database (http://www.cordis.lu/uk/home.html ) or by telephoning our Enquiry Unit: Tel: 0171 271 6520. It is also intended to put full details of the programme agreed by the council on the OST Homepage when available and a mini-guide to FP5, in advance of the formal guide.