DG XII and DG XIII reorganise to implement Fifth Framework Programme
The European Commission, Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development, DG XII, has undergone a major reorganisation in order to meet the new management requirements of the research programmes and key actions of the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD). Three of the thematic programmes of FP5 - "Quality of life and management of living resources", "Competitive and sustainable growth" and "Energy, environment and sustainable development" - are now managed by a group of three directors. One director is responsible for the coordination of activities and support for the budget and administration and the other two are managing the key actions and other research activities. DG XII remains responsible for the overall coordination of FP5, and is managing five of the seven specific programmes and the implementation of special measures on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In another reorganisation - designed to improve coordination within the thematic programme, "User-friendly information society" - the parts of the Commission which previously managed the Esprit, ACTS and Telematics Applications programmes are now part of the same Directorate-General - DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research).