Commission publishes rules for Euratom participation
The European Commission has published its proposal on rules for participation in the Euratom programme during the Sixth Framework programme (FP6), which includes provisions for international organisations to contribute to the creation of the European research area (ERA). The proposal will be discussed at the Research Council, meeting in Brussels on 10 December. The rules for participation are one of the legal instruments used to implement the Community framework programme for research. They aim to adapt rules on participating in the Commission's research programmes in line with the new Framework programme, particularly with regard to new procedures for intervention and financial support and to simplify and streamline existing provisions to make them clearer and easier to understand. The Commission proposes that international organisations dedicated to developing European research cooperation, which have Member States or Associated States as a majority of their members, should be encouraged to participate in FP6 and thereby contribute to the creation of the European research area (ERA). The proposals also indicate that rules for participation will take account of the nature of the research and training activities in the field of nuclear energy, but may vary according to whether the participant is based in a Member State, an Associated State, a candidate country or a third country. Rules may also vary according to the participant's legal structure, namely whether or not it is a national organisation, an international organisation or an association formed by participants.