Parliament: First debate and Resolution on Fourth Framework Programme
The European Parliament's preliminary debate on the Commission's proposal for a Council Decision on the Fourth Framework Programme of Community Research and Technological Development, 1994-1998 (COM(96) 276 of 16.6.1993) took place on 23 June 1993. It aimed "to lay down guidelines to formulate future policy". Contributions to the debate covered a number of areas, expressing views that: - The Fourth Framework Programme is helpful but not adequate to meet challenges, in particular to increase the competitiveness of European Industry in the face of US and Japanese competition. It was suggested that Member States should spend more than 6% of structural funds on technology projects in the future. - The costs of the THERMIE programme should not be included within the budget of the Framework Programme, but should be financed separately as hitherto. - Community research policy must combat recession and unemployment. The Framework Programme must take greater account of the needs of SMEs. - Better dissemination of results and technology transfer is a priority. At the same time, better coordination of national research efforts is required. Other contributions to the debate included points on the abandonment of the HDTV programme despite considerable investment, and concern on the restrictions to the research budget. The inclusion of social science research into the new Framework Programme was welcomed. Objection was raised to ceilings being placed on individual projects. In conclusion of the debate, a Resolution was adopted calling on the Council and the Commission not to include the THERMIE programme within the Framework programme, but to sustain a separate budget for this programme. The Resolution also calls upon the Council, in the context of recession and growing unemployment, to give greater importance to research as a factor in social and economic development, and recalls that the 1985 Milan Summit established research spending at 6% of the general Community budget.