6th Framework Research Programme: final deal on the rules (committee unanimously approves codecision compromise)

Brussels, 20 June 2002

The Committee on Industry and Research today adopted unanimously, at a single vote, a compromise deal reached between the rapporteur Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL (EPP-ED, D), the shadow rapporteurs and the Spanish Presidency on the rules for participation (codecision procedure, first reading) for the 6th Framework Programme for Research and Development.

The report had been removed from Parliament's June plenary session in Strasbourg to allow time for technical and linguistic adjustments. The rapporteur emphasised the importance of adopting the rules at a single reading of Parliament and Council. Valuable time has thus been saved and the European research community will gain thereby.

The compromise takes into account the main concerns expressed by MEPs. They insisted there should be an option for projects to be evaluated through a two-stage procedure and this will now be the case. The scientific and technological excellence of an application and the degree of innovation will be the first criterion for selection, as MEPs wanted. In applying the main criteria the Commission will also be able to take into account completely new criteria proposed by MEPs such as synergies with education, capacity to engage with actors beyond the research community, and activities to increase the role of women in research.

The plenary vote on the report will take place at Parliament's Strasbourg session in July.

19.06.2002 Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy       In the chair: Jaime VALDIVIELSO DE CUÉ (EPP-ED, E)

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European Parliament News Report 2002-06-20

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