Active and assisted living research and development programme: participation of the Union

The European Parliament adopted by 628 votes to 25 with 10 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the Union in the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Research and Development Programme jointly undertaken by several Member States.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary were the result of a compromise between Parliament and Council. They amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Union's financial contribution: the maximum Union financial contribution to the AAL Programme covering administrative costs and operational costs shall be EUR 175 000 000. The contribution shall be paid from appropriations in the general budget of the Union allocated to the relevant parts of the Specific Programme implementing the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme.

In order to take into account the duration of Horizon 2020, calls for proposals under the AAL Programme should be launched at the latest by 31 December 2020.

Any Member State other than participating states and any other country associated to Horizon 2020 may apply to join the AAL Programme at any time, provided it provides for its own co-financing.

Programme objectives: the programme will among other things:

• accelerate the emergence and take-up of relevant, affordable and integrated innovative ICT-based solutions for active and healthy ageing at home, in the community, or at work, thus improving the quality of life, autonomy, social inclusion, participation in social life, skills or employability of older adults and contributing to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of health and social care provision;
• support the development of solutions that contribute to the independence and alleviation of a sense of social isolation of older adults, in such a way that the ICT component does not reduce human contact, but is complementary to it;
• develop cost-effective, accessible and, where relevant, energy-efficient solutions, which are compatible with varying social preferences, socio-economic factors (including energy poverty, social inclusion), gender aspects, and regulatory aspects, including the protection and security of personal data by applying state-of-the-art privacy-by-design. 

The AAL Programme should ensure the effective promotion of gender equality as set out in Horizon 2020.

Agreements between the Union and the AALA: these should provision for the publication of calls for proposals by the AALA in particular on the single portal for participants, as well as through other Horizon 2020 electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission.

The amended text also stressed the need to:

• reduce the administrative charges and avoid double audits and disproportionate documentation and reporting; 
• assess more precisely the need for white coat jobs (in which about 20 million people across the Union were employed) and for investments in modern skills, such as using information technologies.

Evaluation: by 30 June 2017 the Commission will carry out an interim evaluation of the AAL Programme and send that report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 31 December 2017. The result of the interim evaluation of AAL Programme shall be taken into account in the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.