The FP and the process of its adoption

The Research Framework Programmes

"A multiannual framework programme, setting out all activities of the Community, shall be adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b", which is a complex procedure called the co-decision procedure [art 130I]

"All community activities in the area of research and technological development, including demonstration projects, shall be decided on and implemented in accordance" with the framework programme. [art 130F]

"The framework programme shall:

• establish the scientific and technological objectives to be achieved by the activities provided for in Article 130g and fix the relevant priorities;
• indicate the broad lines of such activities;-
• fix the maximum overall amount and the detailed rules for Community financial participation in the framework programme and the respective shares in each of the activities provided for". [ art 130I]

• determine the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities;
• lay down the rules governing the dissemination of research results. [ art 130J]

The specific programmes

The specific programmes set out in detail the implementation of the research themes mentioned in the framework programme (i.e. a theme must be mentioned in the framework programme) defining priorities, specific criteria, financial resources and research activities to be supported.

The process

The process of definition of the research work which will be performed in the period 1999-2002 could be summarized in the three stages of refinement:

1. the adoption of the framework programme which defines the general framework and the general topics;
2. the adoption of the specific programmes which define the applicative domains and the criteria;
3. the definition of the workprogrammes and the launch of calls for proposals which define the applicative domains and the specific topic to address and governs the call for proposals or tenders

The preparation of the research programmes, which set up the European research priorities for the period 1998-2002 started in 1997 with the work for the definition of the Framework Programme (FP) in accordance to the co-decision procedure.

The process begins with the initial FP proposal of the Commission assisted by its services after the consultation of member states representatives, experts, associations and committees (e.g. CREST Scientific and Technical Committee composed of national delegates). In the co-decision procedure, the European Parliament and the Council share the decision-making power.

Now that the FP is near to final agreemnt, the work for the definition of specific programmes has begun.

The specific programmes have to be adopted by the Council which consults the European Parliament following the consultation procedure.

Following the adoption of a specific programme, a workprogram is drawn up setting out the research tasks to be implemented under each specific programme. Several calls for proposals for research projects are then launched on the basis of the workprogramme or as subset of it. (e.g. an example of workprogramme of the specific Telematics Application Programme) 

FP5 Framework Programme roadmap (co-decision procedure)

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From  Jan  to  Nov  1997				EC (Services)  After preliminary discussions  with advisory bodies on the   basis of several background   documents  prepare a  preliminary EC proposals  [evolution of the part about IST]
Nov  1997				{A} EC  Submits to EP & RC  "the last of 1st EC proposals"  [COM(97)142]
deadl.  16  Oct  .  .  26-27  Oct	EP (CERT)  MEPs propose amendments to "last of 1st EC proposals"  [full list -VO- [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]]  [list of proposed amendm. on IST -VO-]  EP (CERT)  regroups and votes the amendments to be adopted in the EP plenary session [CERT voted amendments concerning IST -summary FR-]   [CERT voted amendments concerning T&T summary]
28  Nov  1997	{B} EP"first reading"  votes the amendments to the EC proposal  [EC-EP compared text on IST -IT-]  [voted amendm.concerning IST -VO-]
12  Feb  1998				EC  after the EP 1st reading,  prepares for the Council (RC)  a 2nd EC proposal [COM(98)47]
Jan  Feb  1998						Secr.of RC based on CREST and COREPER work  reaches a proposal of Common Position among Member States  [CREST evolution on IST]
12  Feb  1998						{C} RC    Taking in account EP opinion  adopts Common Position  and communicates to EP  [positions of EC-EP-RC on IST compared]
deadl.  14  May  .  2 - 3  June	{F} EP (CERT)  decided to reintroduce some of his amendments not accepted by RC in his Common Position  EP (CERT)  discusses regroups and votes the amendments
16-17  June  1998	{D} if EP in "second reading"  adopted  Common Position re-introducing some amendments adopted in 1st reading not accepted by RC  [reintrod. amendments]  [reintrod. amendm. concerning IST]  [no amendments concerning T&T]
July  to  Autumn 1998  (calendar)						{H} RC  receives EP second reading, analyze it and discuss it informally with the EP
from 29 Sept.   (six  weeks)				{S} CC  (Conciliation Committee) is activated. This committee has 6 weeks to resolve the matter
Oct.  Nov.  1998	{T} if EP in "third reading"  does not accept the CC proposal  then   FP is abandoned					{H} if EP   accepts the CC proposal  then   FP is approved

Legend

EC	European Commission
EP	European Parliament
RC	Research Council
CC	Conciliation Committee
FP	Framework Programme
{x}	link to the process  description (art 189b)

Specific Programme on Information Society (consultation procedure)

A specific programme will implement the activities related to Information Society Technology. It will define the detailed rules for implementation, and will fix duration and budget allocations.

 The Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, shall adopt the specific programmes.[art 130I]

The proposal of the Commission is produced taking to account the input from advisory bodies, representatives of Member States, the main players within the appropriate industry sectors and administrations.

A Commission working paper on specific programme on Information Society was issued in July 1997.
The European Commission is working in parallel on several specific programmes; the documents will be submitted to EP and RC for an opinion.  Under UK presidency Council reaches a consensus on the content of three specific programmes: Information Society; Nuclear Energy; Promoting Innovation and Participation of SME (horizontal programme)

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From  Spring  to  Autumn  1998		EC   After preliminary discussions  prepares EC specific RTD programmes  proposals [IST specific programmes]
	EP  provides an opinion
				Secr.of RC consulting EC prepares a draft of the specific programme
				RC releases the specific programme

Workkprogram on IST

As soon the draft on specific workprogrammes start to become stable, advisory groups are focusing topics, criteria and research priorities.

As a preliminary stage, the research activities which will be performed within each key action are grouped into action lines.

For each key action, some preliminary action lines are defined by Commission Services taking in account the input coming from the user community. These action lines will become the basis for the workprogramme.

At this stage the debate for defining action line started; a first preliminary draft of the specific IST Actions (Action Lines) was ready before Summer 1998.
The action lines are in the process of re-definition [v.1.0 23 September] and will be discussed by the IST advisory group.and will be discussed by the IST advisory group.

Periodical calls for project proposals will be launched (probably the first calls for the IST will be on end-January / mid-March 1999), following the action lines definition and additional background information.
The background information could define better the framework conditions and the applicative domains, or the action line in detail.
The proposer will take in consideration the guidelines (included in an information package) and background information (it will be published in the web of the European Commission).