Agreement on the Sixth Framework Programme

Strasbourg, 15 May 2002

Gérard CAUDRON (PES, F)

Report on the Council common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council decision on the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002-2006) (15483/3/2001 - C5-0036/2002 - 2001/0053(COD))

Doc.: A5-0153/2002 [may not be available yet]

Procedure: Codecision procedure (2nd reading)

Debate: 14.05.2002

Vote: 15.05.2002

MEPs today approved Council's common position on the Sixth Research Framework Programme to run to 2006 with a budget of some €17.5bn, together with some 34 compromise amendments. These concern the breakdown of expenditure within the programmes and reflect Parliament's concern for emphasis to be placed on tackling serious diseases such as cancer.

Tackling other diseases, particularly those that affect children, is another priority as is encouraging the participation of small firms in research programmes. As the programme moves into the implementation phase, MEPs want to ensure that Parliament's priorities are indeed respected and expect the Commission to abide by this through its detailed annual report on the various programmes.

On the delicate question of ethical considerations relating to programmes, where owing to divisions between the Member States this was not taken up in Council's position, the Commission will be appending a declaration in which it undertakes not to finance any research into programmes involving genetic manipulation, human cloning or the creation of embryos for research purposes.

The Commission will lay down strict guidelines on ethical issues when approving funding for specific programmes. Other proposed amendments taking up the question of ethics were rejected and the programme will come into force on 1 January 2003.

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European Parliament Daily Notebook 2002-05-15

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