Commission moves to cut R&D red tape

Date: 07/09/00

By Peter Chapman

EUROPEAN Commission research chief Philippe Busquin is launching a host of reforms designed to improve the running of the EU's €multi-billion research 'framework' programmes and slash red tape.

The move is designed to address mounting concerns that Commission project managers, firms, experts and universities applying for Union cash are forced to devote too much time to cumbersome bureaucratic procedures which are not always effective in monitoring the cost of schemes. As a result, the quality of EU-funded research suffers unnecessarily.

This problem was underlined in a recent independent report on the management of the Union's multi-annual research and development (R&D) programme over the past five years. "Some procedures are too long and sometimes there are mistakes. We have to give a better image of a programme to the public," Busquin told European Voice. "We have made some reforms to simplify the system and be more rigorous. We hope that they will take effect." Among the planned measures are a raft of reforms to the regime for ensuring that contractors are paid the correct amount for the work they do. These include moves to set out more clearly in contracts which costs will be repaid by the Commission before research work begins.

For all major contracts, the Commission aims to improve monitoring of the work by forcing organisations to submit an independent audit certificate to confirm that the costs claimed tally with actual costs. Many projects currently go unaudited by Commission staff or subcontractors because of the cost and heavy workload involved.

For many smaller projects, Busquin plans to reduce the financial controls involved and cut the accompanying red tape currently required once work has begun, although more time will be spent in the pre-contract phase to ensure that the numbers add up.

The Commissioner and his team also plan tough sanctions for firms involved in projects which are found guilty of committing 'serious financial irregularities' such as fraud. Under the existing rules, they can be forced to repay amounts 'unduly received' but are allowed to continue taking part in EU-funded projects.

Other initiatives are designed to make Commission documents used by researchers more readable to avoid ambiguity and confusion in the contract-ing process. There are also plans to allow would-be participants to apply to take part in programmes via e-mail. Another proposal would cut the red tape involved in selecting and using external experts to evaluate potential R&D projects.

Busquin said the Commission would discuss its proposals with the Union's Court of Auditors and member states before implementing the reforms.

European Commission research chief Philippe Busquin is launching a host of reforms designed to improve the running of the EU's multi-billion-euro research 'framework' programmes and slash red tape.