MEPs back new research policy instruments, with conditions
The European Parliament adopted a resolution presented by MEP Elly Plooij-van Gorsel in her report on the European Commission communication "Making a reality of the European Research Area" on 15 February and outlined a few areas of concern. Adopting the resolution, Parliament emphasised that it will serve as the starting point for an in-depth political and scientific debate on establishing the ERA. Parliament stresses that the financial resources applied to the Sixth Framework programme (FP6) should in future reflect the new objectives and the new instruments, including enlargement. It also notes that Europe's SME sector should receive at least 10 per cent of EU research funding, which should be allocated to SME-related research. MEPs are in favour of introducing new research policy instruments on the condition that they promote genuine cooperation and coordination between EU research actions and Member State activities, as well as between the activities of the various Member States, they are integrated into the next Framework programme and they offer equal opportunities to all Member States and all members of the scientific community. The implementation of 'major projects', 'networks of excellence' and 'concentration' should not restrict this equality of opportunity, MEPs noted. The creation of networks of excellence are however supported by Parliament provided that they promote cooperation between universities, research centres, industry and SMEs, and that they do not focus solely on large scale projects. This concept should be emphasised in the future proposal for FP6, MEPs asserted. Parliament also took the opportunity to urge the Commission to oversee the rapid creation of a high-speed trans-European research network, with a capacity of 100 gigabits/second and to urge Member States to increase the recruitment of science and engineering students.