Commission revises its proposal for Fifth RTD Framework Programme, 14 January 1998
The European Commission has revised its original proposal for the Fifth RTD Framework Programme to reflect the amendments adopted during Parliament's first reading and discussions already held with the EU Council of Ministers. The Commission's revised proposal was adopted during its meeting in Strasbourg on 14 January 1998, on the initiative of Edith Cresson, Commissioner responsible for research, innovation, education, training and youth.
The Commission has maintained the key principles in its original proposals, in particular the concentration of research efforts. The overall budget proposed for the Programme is unchanged from the ECU 16,300 million originally put forward by the Commission.
Reorganisation of thematic programmes
The main changes concern the restructuring of the thematic programmes. Taking on-board many of the recommendations made by the European Parliament, the Commission has decided to create a new fourth programme entitled "Preserving the ecosystem" which will address energy and the environment in an integrated manner. This increased focus reflects the importance of these issues in a competitive economy, as well as the significance of energy as a factor in global climate change.
Within the thematic programmes, two new key actions have been added giving greater importance to "the ageing population" and "global environmental change and climate".
The Commission has also reorganized some of the 16 key actions it originally proposed back in April 1997. Two of the original key actions have been merged to create a single one focusing on "health, food and environmental factors", in view of the common needs in these areas. The original key action on energy has been split in two, to take account of the differing factors relating to energy use and energy supply. Finally, the "city of tomorrow" key action will also cover cultural heritage.
The new structure of the thematic programmes and key actions being proposed by the Commission is as follows:
Improving the quality of life and the management of living resources:
- Health, food and environmental factors
- Control of viral and other infectious diseases
- The "cell factory"
- The ageing population
- Integrated development of coastal and rural areas
Creating a user-friendly Information Society:
- Systems and services for the citizen
- New methods of work and electronic commerce
- Multimedia content and tools
- Essential technologies and infrastructures
Promoting competitive and sustainable growth:
- Products, processes, organization
- Sustainable mobility and intermodality
- New perspectives in aeronautics
- Marine technologies
- The city of tomorrow and cultural heritage
Preserving the ecosystem:
- Management and quality of water
- Global environmental change and climate
- Promoting the sustainable use of energy
- Development and supply of cleaner, more competitive and more diversified energy
Horizontal Programmes and Euratom
The approach set out with regard to the three horizontal programmes - Confirming the international role of European research, Innovation and participation of SMEs, and Improving human potential - remains largely unchanged. No fundamental changes have been made either to the aims and structure of the Euratom research and training programme in the nuclear sector.
Budget
The original budget of ECU 16.3 billion has not been changed by the Commission. The allocation of resources for the three horizontal programmes and the Euratom programme remains unchanged. The allocation of resources between the thematic programmes is as follows:
| Thematic Programmes |
ECU million |
- Improving the quality of life and the management of living resources:
- Creating a user-friendly Information Society:
- Promoting competitive and sustainable growth:
- Preserving the ecosystem:
|
2,650
3,925
3,100
2,100 |
Next steps
The next stage in the adoption of the Fifth Framework Programme will be the Council's common position. The Commission has welcomed the high priority given to the discussions by the UK Presidency which currently chairs the Council, and hopes that its revised proposal will facilitate Research Ministers in reaching agreement at the Research Council on 12 February 1998.
More detailed information on the content of the Commission's revised proposal will be made available on this site in the near future. | 
