PRESS RELEASE

Subject :

The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows:

The Council reached a political agreement on the 6th Research Framework Programmes – EC and Euratom – on the basis of Presidency compromise texts as amended during the debate, with the German delegation abstaining on the part of the agreement concerning the Euratom programme.

The Council's agreement relates specifically to draft decisions concerning:

• the 6th 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);

• the 6th Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) for research and training activities, also contributing to the creation of the European Research Area (2002-2006).

This agreement contains the basis for compromise on a number of questions of principle on which the Council concentrated its discussions, i.e.:

• the relative weight to be accorded to the instruments provided for to implement the thematic priorities of the Framework Programme (Networks of Excellence, Integrated Projects, Specific Targeted Projects, Coordinated Actions);
• the overall budget for the two programmes and the breakdown of appropriations between the different research projects (see tables below);
• controlled thermonuclear fusion under the EURATOM Framework Programme and especially its budgetary aspects;
• fission under the EURATOM Framework Programme and in particular innovative concepts;
• research infrastructures.

The overall budget allocated to the two programmes amounts to EUR 17 500 million, of which EUR 16 270 million is for the EC programme and EUR 1 230 million for the EURATOM programme.

The common position on the EC programme will be adopted at a forthcoming Council meeting, after finalisation of the text, and subsequently forwarded to the European Parliament for the second reading under the co-decision procedure. The EURATOM programme will be finalised in preparation for its formal adoption at a later stage, together with the EC Programme.

The Council adopted the Resolution set out below concerning the mobility strategy for researchers within the European Research Area.

"THE COUNCIL:

6. WELCOMES the general approach of the Commission set out in its communication for

• consider actions to be taken to create a favourable environment for mobility and for the pursuit of scientific excellence by this means;
• take account of the particular situation of researchers in the context of mobility in general;
• stress the importance given to human resources and mobility in the context of the 6th EC Research Framework Programme.

7. ENDORSES efforts to:

• improve information on mobility to researchers, in particular by the creation of a dedicated internet portal, a network of mobility centres, where appropriate building on existing structures, and by the better dissemination of vacancies;
• examine qualitative issues in respect of, for example, exchanges of best practice and benchmarking;

8. INVITES the Commission:

• to give due emphasis to the importance of the mobility of researchers in its "Mobility Action Plan" which will be presented to the European Council in Spring 2002 on developing and opening up new European labour markets; as well as, inter alia, to promote gender equality and enhance the contribution of young scientists to research;
• to ensure that the Candidate Countries are fully associated with the definition and execution of actions in favour of mobility;

• to report annually on the progress achieved in undertaking its strategy in favour of mobility for researchers."

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The Council also took note of the presentation by Commissioner BUSQUIN of the Commission's Science and Society Action Plan. The Council concluded that the Action Plan would be examined in greater depth by the Council's competent bodies during the Spanish Presidency.

In the context of the Science and Society Action Plan, the Belgian Presidency submitted its proposal concerning the need to increase the cooperation of the public media in order to make the general public more aware of scientific issues and scientific research. Such cooperation could increase the relevance and accessibility of science programmes. This initiative was welcomed by the Commission and will be examined by CREST (Scientific and Technical Research Committee) at a later occasion.

The Council took note of the presentation by Commissioner BUSQUIN of the communication on the report by the Joint Task Force of the Commission and the European Space Agency, and agreed to examine the Commission's communication in greater depth during the first quarter of 2002.

At the close of the discussion, the President's conclusions were as follows:

"The Council:

• LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Council adopted a Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement concerning the provisional application of the Protocol establishing, for the period 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006, the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau (13026/01).

The Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to conduct negotiations on behalf of the European Community, within the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, to examine the possibility of a new instrument to protect the rights of broadcasting organisations.

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Footnotes:

OJ C 374/1, 28.12.2000, p. 1.