Commission proposal for Fifth Framework Programme budget
On 30 July 1997, the European Commission proposed a budget of ECU 16.3 billion for the Fifth RTD Framework Programme (1998-2002). The proposal adopted by the Commission completes the formal proposal for the Fifth Framework Programme, allowing the Parliament and Council to move forward with its examination. It represents an increase of 3% in the proportion of Community GNP allocated to research, in comparison to the budget of the Fourth Framework Programme. The increase in funding reflects the importance of research and development in contributing to the Community's priorities of building a knowledge-based society and creating employment. It may be recalled that the Commission's initial proposal for the Programme (April 1997) contained only an indicative breakdown of resources by percentage. Following the adoption of the proposed Community financial framework for 2000-2006, within the "Agenda 2000" package, on 15 July 1997, the Commission is now able, formally, to propose a budget for the Fifth Framework Programme. Within the total of ECU 16.3 billion, some ECU 14.833 billion will go to research under the EC Framework Programme, with the remaining ECU 1.467 billion going to research in the nuclear field under the Euratom Framework Programme. The breakdown of funding for indirect actions (including shared-cost actions, training fellowships, support for networks, concerted actions, and accompanying measures) within the Programme would be as follows: - First activity - Thematic programmes: . Living world and ecosystem: ECU 3,925 million; . Information Society: ECU 3,925 million; . Competitive and sustainable growth: ECU 3,925 million; - Second activity - International cooperation: ECU 491 million; - Third activity - Dissemination and optimization of results: ECU 350 million; - Fourth activity - Training and mobility of researchers: ECU 1,402 million; - Euratom Framework Programme: . Fusion and fission research: ECU 1,141 million. Support for direct actions (research activities undertaken by the Joint Research Centre) within the Programme would amount to ECU 1,141 million, of which ECU 326 million would be devoted to Euratom research. These figures have to be confirmed by the Parliament and Council, which are responsible for adopting the Programme, and therefore cannot be regarded as definitive. It should be noted that these figures represent the maximum available funding. The annual budget for the Framework Programme would be adopted each year within these limits.