Commission adopts revised FP6 programme
The European Commission adopted the revised version of the Sixth Framework programme on 30 January. The new version takes into account the opinions expressed by the European Parliament and the European Council at the end of last year. Reflecting this feedback meant changing the budget of the programme. The budget in the Commission's revised version is not exactly the same as that proposed by the European Parliament, but remains at 17.5 billion euro. The Parliament will now give the programme a second reading. Some of the main changes in the new version include revision of two of the priorities in the first section, 'integrating and strengthening the European research area'. The first priority, 'genomics and biotechnology for health,' has been split into two sections. The sixth priority, 'sustainable development, global change and ecosytems,' has been extended and split into three categories. A clarification of the description of the instruments also features, designed to show that the changeover between old and new instruments will be gradual. The Commission has also made clear that infrastructure funding will focus on support measures rather than physical investments. On the Euratom programme, a new thematic priority has been added to the nuclear fission programme specifying research on radiation protection and the safety of nuclear plants.