To expedite an agreement on the framework programmes, the Commission is bringing forward revised proposals on both framework programmes, enriched with Parliament’s amendments and Council’s views. As the opinion of the Parliament and the approach taken by the Council reflect the key principles of the original Commission proposals, these revised proposals take up a large proportion the position taken by the other institutions.
The main issues raised concern the proposal for the EC framework programme. As regards the Commission’s position, the following items can be highlighted:
- Scope of the themes, and their scientific and technical content : the Commission accepts many of the clarifications and additions requested, where these reflect important needs, are consistent with maintaining the overall focus of each priority and their inclusion is not prevented by the reduced budget for the framework programme;
- Joint Technology Initiatives : the Commission accepts modifications on the criteria to be used for the identification of potential Joint Technology Initiatives, as well as their nature and implementation;
- European Research Council : important clarifications are accepted by the Commission, including on the term of office, the renewal and the role of the Scientific Council, the management and the staffing arrangements of the European Research Council, as well as the conduct of an independent review in 2010 of the European Research Council's structures and mechanisms;
- People : a series of changes include references to the links of this programme with other parts of the framework programme and other community programmes, additions that make explicit the international dimension of this part of the programme, pointers to the establishment of appropriate working conditions of researchers and indications on the co-funding mode;
- Capacities : the aspects on the Coherent development of policies now form a separate part, in line with the importance of this field. Further, the criteria for the support to new research infrastructures became more detailed and the importance of regional aspects in the construction of new infrastructures was acknowledged.
- Ideas : the amended proposal specifies states that the objective supporting “investigator-driven” research be carried out across all fields by individual national or transnationalteams in competition at the European level;
- Ethical issues : the following fields of research shall not be financed under this Framework Programme: research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes; research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable; research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer; research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member state(s) involved. Any application for financing research on human embryonic stem cells must include, as appropriate, details of licensing and control measures that will be taken by the competent authorities of the Member States as well as details of the ethical approval(s) that will be provided. As regards the derivation of human embryonic stem cells, Institutions, organisations and researchers must be subject to strict licensing and control in accordance with the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved. A revision of the fields of research must take place for the second phase of this programme (2010-2013) in the light of scientific advances.
- Budget : the Commission maintains the amounts proposed in its adapted proposals of 24 May 2006 (please refer to the financial statement for more details).