Commission steps up preparations for Fifth Framework Programme
The European Commission is now focused on implementing mechanisms to ensure the Fifth RTD Framework Programme starts smoothly in early 1999, although the lengthy legislative procedure for its adoption has not yet concluded. The Commission aims to counter the uncertainty which has hindered European researchers in recent months as MEPs and Europe's Research Ministers have strained to resolve their differences over the Programme. With a possible compromise now in sight, the Commission hopes to minimise the break between the Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes. - Experts to advise on Key Actions Almost 300 scientists, industrialists, users and representatives of public organisations are due to be formally appointed as members of 17 "Expert Groups", set up to advise the Commission on the Key Actions which will form the major part of the Programme. The first task of these groups will be to discuss the draft work programmes for each Key Action, with meetings planned during November and December in all areas of the Programme. Among the areas of the work programmes to be examined by these groups will be the programming of calls for proposals, the criteria for evaluating project proposals, and where possible, setting quantified or verifiable objectives for achieving the aims of the Key Actions. At a later date, the groups will also discuss progress achieved, with a view to possible changes to the work programmes. Separate groups have been set up for most of the individual Key Actions, each containing between 15 and 20 members, selected to ensure a balance between geographic origin and technological sectors, as well as between men and women. One larger group will advise on all four of the Information Society Key Actions, and in the Preserving the Ecosystem programme, one group will cover the two non-nuclear energy Key Actions, and one both the "management and quality of water" and "marine ecosystems" Key Actions. The first set of members will serve for two years, and may be reappointed for a second term. Once it has received the advice of the expert groups, the Commission will present its draft work programmes to separate programme committees, made up of representatives of the national governments. These committees cannot formally agree the work programmes until the Decisions adopting each of the specific programmes have been adopted. Nevertheless it is expected that they will start discussions informally in December, with a view to agreeing the work programmes in January or February 1999. Once this is done, the first calls for proposals under the Fifth Framework Programme are expected to be launched in late January or early February. It is planned that practically all areas of the Fifth Framework Programme will be the subject of calls for proposals during the course of 1999. - Developing more coherent strategic advice In order to increase the synergy between research and industry, the Commission has decided to bring together its strategic advisory bodies to form one "European Research Forum" which will advise on questions relating to research and innovation overall. The current Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee (IRDAC) and the European Science and Technology Assembly (ESTA) are to be replaced by the new European Research Forum. This Forum will discuss issues of strategic interest to EU research and innovation policy, as well as scientific issues of general European interest, and may issue opinions to the Commission at its request or on its own initiative. The Forum will comprise around 60 members, including the chairmen of the 17 expert groups. These members will be divided, more or less evenly, between an academic and scientific chamber, and an industrial, services and users chamber. The two chambers will work independently, but may conduct joint operations as appropriate. At the least, there will be an annual joint plenary meeting. The first set of members will be formally appointed before the end of 1998, for a two year term of office. - Reorganising the Commission's staff for a new style Programme In view of the major changes in the structure of the fifth Framework Programme in comparison to its predecessors, the Commission is undertaking a major reorganisation of its staff to meet the challenges of the new Programme most effectively. The Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development (DG XII) will be reshaped, as of 1 January 1999, to reflect the new Life Sciences, Competitive and Sustainable Growth, and Preserving the Ecosystem programmes. Each of these thematic programmes will be managed by a group of three directorates: one will ensure coordination of activities and provide administrative and budgetary back-up; whereas management of the Key Actions and other research activities will be divided between the other two directorates in the group. Overall coordination of the Framework Programme, and the International Cooperation and Human Potential and Mobility programmes will remain under the charge of DG XII. To improve coherence in the Information Society programme, the departments which currently manage the Esprit programme have been transferred to the same Directorate-General (DG XIII - Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research) as those currently running the ACTS and Telematics Applications programmes. The remaining programme, the Innovation and Participation of SMEs programme, will continue to be managed by DG XIII, in collaboration with a unit in DG XII and individual "innovation cells" to be set up in each thematic programme. - Gap between Parliament and Council narrowing In the third formal meeting of the conciliation committee, held in Brussels on 10 November, MEPs and the Council appear to have made some progress in resolving their differences on the Fifth Framework Programme. While agreement has not yet been possible, hopes are increasing that the two sides will reach a compromise before the deadline of 25 November. Such an agreement would still need to be confirmed by Parliament and Council within a further six weeks, but it ought to allow the adoption of the Programme and the component specific programmes to be completed before the turn of the year.