6th Research Framework Programme - Specific programmes (Extracted from the Presidency's Background on the Competitiveness Council)

Copenhagen, Sep 2002

The Council is due to adopt the decisions establishing the five Specific Programmes for Research under the 6th Research Framework Programme 2002-2006 (EC and Euratom).

It is expected that these decisions will be taken by qualified majority and with little discussion of substance; the Italian minister intends to make an intervention on ethical issues raised by human embryonic stem-cell research.

The Presidency's aim is to ensure the timely implementation of the new Framework Programme, as requested by the European Council, so as to contribute to the creation of a European Research Area and to strengthen innovation in the European Union. This also involves adoption of the Rules for Participation in the Framework Programme.

The five Specific Programmes cover the following themes:

- Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area (EC)
- Structuring the European Research Area (EC)
- Joint Research Centre activities (EC)
- Nuclear energy (Euratom)
- Joint Research Centre activities (Euratom)

The overall budget provided for under the Framework Programme amounts to 17 500 million euros, of which 16 0 million euros are for the EC programme and 1 230 million euros for the Euratom programme.

The Specific Programmes include programme management provisions, establish scientific and technological objectives and budgetary allocations for the different research activities to be financed under the Framework Programme and provide detail on the treatment of ethical issues raised by certain types of research activities.

On ethical issues, a draft statement for the Council minutes stipulates that:

- detailed implementing provisions on the funding of research activities which involve the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem cells will be established before the end of 2003;

- until then, the Commission will not propose to finance such research projects, unless they involve banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture;

- proposals for research projects in these areas will be submitted to a regulatory committee;

- no funding will go to research aimed at human reproductive cloning, modification of the genetic heritage of human beings or the creation of human embryos solely for the purpose of research or stem cell procurement.

Full Council background report

[From Commission press release:]

Research (FF)

The Council of EU Ministers will discuss the three Specific Programmes implementing the 6th EU Research Framework Programme (FP6 2002-2006), as adopted on June 2002 (Council Decision No 1513/2002/EC ). Also to be discussed are the two Specific Programmes implementing the 6th EU Framework Programme for research and training activities in the nuclear field (EURATOM), as adopted on 3 June 2002 (Decision 2002/668/Euratom).

The €17.5 billion FP6 aims at contributing to the creation of the European Research Area (ERA), a true internal market for science and knowledge. The three EU Specific Programmes ("Integrating and strengthening the ERA", "Structuring the ERA" and "Joint Research Centre activities") cover a number of strategic topics, stretching from biotechnology to aeronautics, from nanotechnology to energy systems, from health to road transport and from mobility of researchers to infrastructures.

The two EURATOM Specific Programmes ("Nuclear Energy" and "Joint Research Centre activities") deal with topics such as radiation protection, safety of nuclear installations, treatment of nuclear wastes, etc.

The adoption of the Specific Programmes, as well as the adoption of the Rules for participation and dissemination by the end of October 2002, represent the last step in the approval procedure of FP6 legislative measures, and will allow for the publication of the first "Calls for proposals" under FP6 later this year.

MEMO/02/197 |0|RAPID&lg=EN&display= ">Full Commission press release

Danish Presidency Website http://www.eu2002.dk/main/