Parliament to vote on amendments to FP6 proposals
The European Parliament will vote on 600 amendments to the Commission's proposals for the Sixth Framework programme (FP6), as proposed by the Parliament's Industry and research committee on 14 November. The proposed amendments will be presented by French MEP and chair of the Industry and research committee, Gérard Caudron, in the form of two reports. The first, on FP6, comes under the codecision procedure, and the second, on Euratom in FP6, comes under the consultation procedure. The Parliament committee is recommending that MEPs endorse the 16.270 billion euro budget for FP6, but would like to see a redistribution of the budget, including the allocation of 15 per cent of the budget to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The committee also proposes changing the overall structure of the Framework programme so that it is composed of one comprehensive programme made up of eight subsections, the priority thematic areas. The committee emphasises that research carried out under FP6 should focus on areas where 'European added value' is clear. In his report, Gérard Caudron will stress the importance of allocating funds to certain priorities, such as measures to encourage basic research and promote mobility among researchers. This would involve eliminating existing obstacles and introducing incentives to encourage the return of European researchers who have temporarily emigrated outside the EU. The committee would also like to see commitment to the involvement of women in research and the inclusion of applicant countries.