WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The Esprit programme.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/17 Does the Commission intend to introduce a directive with the aim of reducing noise pollution in the proximity of airports, as requested by Parliament in its Resolution A4-0183/97 (2) on the Commission Green Paper, Noise pollution control policy for the futureí of 10 June 1997? (1) OJ C 158, 25. 5. 1998, p. 71. (2) OJ C 200, 30. 6. 1997, p. 28. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (22 February 2000) As part of the Commission overall environmental policy, the forthcoming framework directive on the assessment and reduction of environmental noise exposure aims at introducing common noise indicators for the perception of noise, establishing common noise exposure assessment methods and allowing for the assessment of the current levels of noise exposure for urbanised areas by means of noise mapping. In this context, this framework directive will establish the general basis for an improvement in the level of noise exposure. It is, thus, not specific for air transport. However, the workprogramme of the Commission for 2000, which was adopted on 9 February 2000, includes a specific measure targeting noise around airports. The Commission intends to present later this year to the Parliament and the Council a proposal for a directive on the establishment of a common noise index, a common method of computing noise and minimal requirements for monitoring noise around airports. This initiative should contribute to a reduction of noise in the areas surrounding airports. (2000/C 303 E/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: Esprit Programme (1994-1998) Will the Commission state what agencies (public or private), institutions, companies, cooperatives and individuals have been allocated funding (specifying whether payments have already been made) under the Esprit programme (1994-1998) within the fourth framework programme in the field of research (budget ü ECU 2 057 million, equal to LIT 3 982 billion) and how much each of them has been granted? Has it checked how the amounts have actually been used and whether the proposed measures have been successfully implemented? (2000/C 303 E/015) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission (19 November 1999) Subject: The Esprit programme Over the last few years, a number of programmes and Community initiatives have been adopted and implemented in the field of research and technology. However, the only programme specifically devoted to the development of research and technology in the industrial sector is the Esprit programme. C 303 E/18 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Will the Commission say: 1. Has there been any evaluation of the performance of the Esprit programme to date? 2. When does it intend to provide information about the results of the evaluation and the performance of this programme? Joint answer to Written Questions E-1903/99 and E-2097/99 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) The € 1 962 million financial contribution to the various types of organisation under the Esprit programme from 1994 to 1998 can be broken down between large enterprises € 891 million, small and medium-sized enterprises € 425 million, universities and higher-education institutions € 290 million, research organisations € 275 million, international organisations € 24 million and others € 57 million. The total payments up to end 1999 are € 1 615 million. Some 1 500 research contracts were launched under the Esprit programme in this period, with an average of 5,9 participants each. The Commission cannot give the details of all these in the context of a reply to a Parliamentary question, but the Commission (DG Information society) would be delighted to provide any more specific information on a case by case basis. Since 1995, following legislative requirements, an effective programme evaluation scheme has been in place within the Commission. This includes two complementary exercises namely the continuous and systematic programme monitoring, also called yearly programme monitoring, and the five-year pro- gramme assessment. Both exercises are applied to the framework programmes (FP) and their specific programmes. The programme monitoring is carried out by the Commission with the help of independent external expert panels, one for each programme. It covers a one year period and provides a fast feedback to the programme management. The five-year assessment (5YA) is carried out by panels of independent external high-level experts. It focuses on the implementation and achievements during the preceding five year and provides in particular recommendations for the next research and technological development (RTD) framework programme. As a consequence of the above scheme, for Esprit, the programmeís implementation is evaluated by both the monitoring and the 5YA exercises. Esprit monitoring reports are available for 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The previous Esprit 5YA report issued in 1997 is also available. A copy of these reports is forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament. At programme level, project officers follow the project implementation. The results of the 4th framework programme information and communication technologies (ICT) projects are collected and disseminated by the Prosoma service, both on-line (1) and through regular publications of books and compact discs. This service is continued for the information society technologies (IST) projects under the 5th framework programme. The annual IST conference also exhibits projectsí results. The 1999 IST monitoring (which includes the Esprit programme) is currently being carried out and a report should be issued in April 2000. The IST 5YA is also being carried out and a report should be issued in June 2000. Both reports will be forwarded to the Parliament and the Council together with the Commissionís replies at FP level. In addition to Esprit, several programmes are of particular significance to industry. They include in FP4 notably IMT, ACTS, Telematics, FAIR, Non-nuclear energy programmes, and in FP5, with its problems solving approach, most key actions. (1) http://www. prosoma. lu