Brussels, 29 Apr 2003
The Commission meets in Brussels on the morning of 30 April when it will discuss:
Research: the Commission are likely to adopt an 'Action Plan on investing in research for Europe'. At the heart of the plan is the aim to raise expenditure on research in Europe from 1.9% to 3% of GDP by 2010. New actions are in part designed to both redirect public resources towards and increase public support for research and innovation (Communication, Busquin);
Competition: the Commission will adopt the annual 'State Aid Scoreboard' as well as a Communication on interest rates applicable in cases of repayment of illegal state aids (Monti).
Other points include two decisions under the Merger Regulation, the first in the electro-medical equipment sector and the second in the transport telematics sector (electronic toll collection) (2 Communications, Monti).
The Commission will adopt the fourth update to the Stability Programme for Austria covering the period 2003-07 (Communication, Solbes).
There will also be further discussion of the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe (preparing the Commission's response to the Presidium's revised version of the institutional section of the draft treaty).