Parliament calls for security research budget to be linked to GDP
The European Parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution on the proposed European Security Research Programme (ESRP), arguing that so as to ensure continuity, the programme's budget should be linked to the trend in gross domestic product (GDP). MEPs agree on the need to establish an ESRP, given the current fragmentation and duplication of security research in Europe, and in light of the fact that the US spends on average four times as much on homeland security as the EU. Moreover, an ESRP could enhance Europe's industrial competitiveness and contribute to the Lisbon and Barcelona goals, they add. The report, drafted by Polish MEP Bogdan Klich from the Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, welcome's the Commission's proposals for the ESRP. Such a programme, it says, should be based on a coordinated framework involving all relevant stakeholders, have appropriate funding, and be built on existing Community experience in managing joint research programmes. The European Parliament 'calls for the programmes and projects in this field to be given sufficient stability and for the budgetary allocation to be linked to the trend in gross domestic product, so as to ensure the greatest possible continuity over time and the best results.' An annual budget of 1 billion euro, as proposed in a report by a 'Group of Personalities' in the field of security research, appears to be acceptable to MEPs, who feel that the funding should come from the EU's framework programmes and other sources. However, they stress that increased investment for security research must not lead to cuts in civil research expenditure, and add that the Commission must ensure that all Member States have an equal opportunity to participate in the programme. One of the main goals of the ESRP should be the protection of the EU's outside borders and critical infrastructures such as trans-European networks and nuclear power plants, argues the report. Other priorities include the fight against terrorism, civil defence, territorial monitoring, and any other areas where EU intervention can add value without infringing on the competencies of Member States. The non-binding resolution states clearly that to require research under the ESRP to deal solely with security issues would be counter productive. '[The Parliament] proposes, therefore, a more integrated approach and close coordination between ESRP and other research activities within the Seventh EU Research Framework Programme.' Finally, the report 'vehemently advocates' the development of common research infrastructures, the promotion of pan-European collaboration, and the fostering of human resources in this research field.