Council adopts specific programme on international role of Community research
The Council of the European Union has confirmed the international role of European Community research in a Decision on 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme in accordance with the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) for the period up to 31 December 2002. The amount for carrying out the specific programme is 475 million euro (see details below), with a maximum of 9.8% for the Commission's administrative expenditure. Article 5 of the Decision requires the Commission to draw up a work programme, which includes the objectives and RTD priorities, as follows: - To promote scientific and technological cooperation between undertakings, organisations and researchers from third countries and from the Community, likely to produce significant, mutual and balanced benefits, taking into account the different needs and circumstances of individual groups of countries and regions whilst respecting the protection of intellectual property; - To facilitate access for research centres and undertakings established in the Community to scientific and technological knowledge available outside the Community and useful to the Community's interests; - To enhance the position and role of Community research in the international scientific and technological arena and to promote a European scientific and technological culture, taking account of the social and cultural needs of the countries with which it is cooperating; - To prepare for the accession of new Member States, e.g. by encouraging their full association with the Framework Programme; to contribute to the stabilisation of the RTD potential of the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), in general and of the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NISs), to support and develop the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and to contribute to the sustainable economic, social and scientific development of developing countries; - To help European research players acquire information and gain experience of research capacity, activity and priorities of industrialised third countries and "emerging economy" countries, so as to make Community industry more competitive and enhance its presence on new markets. International RTD cooperation will be pursued in two forms in the Fifth Framework Programme: - Firstly, through this specific programme; - Secondly, through the other specific programmes, and in close coordination with them. The specific actions provided for in this programme are as follows: - To pursue strategically defined activities aimed at the accession candidate countries, other CEECs, the NISs (excluding the Baltic States) and Mongolia, the Mediterranean partner countries and developing countries. In order to exploit fully the opportunities for cooperation and optimise the added value at European level, this programme will also facilitate cooperation with certain industrialised and emerging economy countries: - To increase the opportunities for training of researchers; - To ensure coordination with other programmes of the Framework Programme, with other Community initiatives and policies, in particular external policies, as well as with policies and programmes of Member States, international organisations and cooperation schemes such as COST and EUREKA. The second form of international cooperation to be pursued will be the participation of partners from outside the Union (without funding from this specific programme) in projects of the other programmes in accordance with the participation and dissemination rules. Details of the amount of 475m euro for the specific programme "Confirming the International Role of Community Research": - Cooperation with third countries: . States in the Pre-accession Phase 26m; . CEECs/NIS not in the Pre-accession Phase 112m (of which 70m for INTAS); . Mediterranean Partner Countries 55m; . Developing Countries 210m; . Emerging Economy and Industrialised Countries 5m; - Training of Researchers 15m. - Coordination 52m.