25 March Research Council

Date: 28/03/1996

RESEARCH ministers discussed whether or not the amount of EU money spent on research and development should be increased, but came to no decision on the matter. They discussed Commission proposals for a 595-million-ecu increase to the Fourth Framework Programme and a 105-million-ecu increase to the Euratom Framework Programme. “This 700 million ecu should be channelled into areas defined by the task forces,” said Research Commissioner Edith Cresson. “It is just a question of reallocating funds which have not been allocated thus far.” Most member states were in favour of concentrating the extra funds in a few core areas.

SOME 60 million ecu should be spent on research programmes in developing countries under the Fourth Framework Programme, ministers decided. The money would be used to fund research into cures for diseases such as malaria and into ways of wiping out viruses and parasites which attack cereal crops. Some funds would also be used to promote the sustainable management of natural resources. The framework programme provides a total of 540 million ecu, or 4.4&percent; of its overall budget for 1994-98, for cooperation with third countries and international organisations.

MINISTERS discussed ways of improving research links between the EU member states and Mediterranean countries and held a structured dialogue with their counterparts from the nine associated Central and Eastern European countries.