UK beefs over extra cash to fund research into BSE

Date: 28/11/1996

By Simon Coss

EUROPEAN Commission plans to allocate an extra 35 million ecu to research into BSE look set to be scaled down in the face of opposition from the member state responsible for sparking the crisis.

British officials have made it clear that the UK is unhappy about the amount of funding proposed, although it might be prepared to free up about 15 million ecu - less than half of what the Commission wants - to pay for research. Any additional funding can only be released with the unanimous approval of all 15 EU member states.

The extra resources would be added to the Commission's current Fourth Framework research programme, which is scheduled to run until the end of 1998. All funds must be spent by that date. “We agree that research into BSE is vital, but we are not convinced that the problem will be solved simply by throwing money at it,” said a British official.

“We are not sure that the scientific community could make real use of such a large sum of money in such a short time. Sadly, with scientific research it is not always possible to spend twice as much money and get the results twice as fast.”

Other member states seem more prepared to give the plan a chance. “We are certainly not saying 'no' to the 35 million ecu out of hand. The Commission appears to have put forward a series of well-thought-out and sensible proposals and we are prepared to see if they work,” said a Dutch official.

He conceded that the time frame was very tight, but suggested part of the money should be released at the outset and the situation reviewed after a year or so.

The Commission is anxious for the BSE work to get under way as soon as possible. Officials say that even if research ministers respond favourably to the proposal when they meet next Thursday (5 December), it is likely to take several months to set the plan in motion.