Research and technological development RTD: perspectives for international cooperation

The Committee adopted the report by Mr. POMPIDOU (UPE, FR) but with several amendments. The amendments specify more clearly the fields of desirable research cooperation as well as potential partners. The Committee called on the Commission to give greater consideration to consistency and complementarity between research and technology development policy and other Union policies. It also supported the idea of the rapporteur for major targeted projects ("mega-science") relating to e.g. earth and space observation, telecommunications, the multimedia and renewable energy sources which require a broad financial base and international cooperation. The amendment by Mr. Franco MALERBA (UPE, I) to include specific provisions on cooperation in science and technology in all bilateral cooperation agreements was adopted as well. The Commission representative, pointed out that some of the amendments go beyond the EU's competence. The EU cannot define in which areas scientific cooperation between researchers and research institutes should be carried on. He also suggested that Latin America should not be left out of the list of potential partners in scientific cooperation.