Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Towards a European Research Area"
C 226/18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 2000 Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: “Towards a European Research Area”’ (2000/C 226/07) THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, having regard to the Communication from the Commission entitled Towards a European research area (COM(2000) 6 final); having regard to the decision taken by the European Commission on 24 January 2000 to consult the Committee on this matter under the first paragraph of Article 265; having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 11 February 2000 to instruct Commission 5 — Social Policy, Public Health, Consumer Protection, Research and Tourism — to prepare its opinion on the matter; having regard to the Communication from the Commission on reinforcing cohesion and competitiveness through research, technological development and innovation (COM(98) 275 final); having regard to the Commission’s Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision concerning the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 142 final); having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 278/98 (1)) on the Commission’s Communication on reinforcing cohesion and competitiveness through research, technological develop- ment and innovation (COM(98) 275 final); having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 158/97) (2) on the Commission’s proposal concerning the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 142 final); having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 33/2000 rev. 1) adopted by Commission 5 on 6 March 2000 (rapporteur: Mrs Blandin); having regard to the draft Communication entitled ‘Women and science — mobilising women to enrich European research’ which seeks to: define objectives as regards equality of opportunity between men and women in the field of research; consolidate a network of women scientists; and to promote debate and the exchange of experience between EU Member States, as part of a coherent approach under the Fifth Framework Programme (COM 76(1999 — par. 1); considering the major implications of research with regard to knowledge and development and the possibilities for links between the dynamics of local and regional authorities, Member States and the EU, adopted the opinion set out below at its 33rd plenary session held on 12 and 13 April 2000 (meeting of 12 April). The Committee of the Regions: 1. shares the Commission’s concern over research and wel- comes its perspicacious analysis of the situation and its clear commitment to a European research policy; 2. endorses the desire to optimise the instruments available, to share knowledge and to encourage the transfer and (1) OJ C 198, 14. 7. 1999, p. 41. (2) OJ C 379, 15. 12. 1999, p. 26. development of know-how which is seen as a source of social, economic and cultural activity; 3. wishes to highlight the role to be played by the public, particularly with regard to access to knowledge and the establishment of goals, priorities and forums. While respecting the principles of subsidiarity, partnership and proximity, it proposes (a) that a European consultative council for higher education and research be set up, which would enable qualified representatives of civil society to put forward their views alongside representatives of the local and regional scientific community, and (b) that authorities be given a key role in drawing up and allocating Community programmes; 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 226/19 4. points out that research is not limited to the physical and biological sciences; it fully recognises the value of the human and social sciences. It proposes that basic research and higher education devoted to the human sciences be provided with support at Community level in a much more significant and bolder way; 5. joins the Commission in stressing the urgent need for a real European strategy based on: — shared values, — an ambitious policy in respect of human resources (training, status of research workers, mobility), — the use of powerful instruments (network of new technologies, reliable and accessible EU patents, improving ‘bridges’ between research and industrial applications); 6. recognises the positive impact of innovation on employ- ment; wishes to encourage those innovations which bring about sustainable development. Community research aid must be made conditional on the establishment of skilled, long-term scientific posts; 7. affirms the need to ensure that research is not focused exclusively on viable technological applications, i. e. that there should also be a place for free, creative research; calls upon the Commission to ensure this; 8. draws attention to the decisive role played by local and regional authorities in training, assistance to laboratories, support for researchers and links with the expectations of Brussels, 12 April 2000. local populations. With a view to the application of the subsidiarity principle, Community programmes devoted to research and regional policies must be coordinated to promote projects for the development of research which are as close as possible to the citizen; 9. reiterates its demands for men and women to be given equal access to careers in research and to research topics; 10. welcomes the Commission’s intention to support the funding and operation of European-level infrastructure, networking and synergy between installations and the personnel working in the various countries and strongly urges that national research establishments and pro- grammes be opened up. The Committee calls for the introduction of a real science-promotion policy; 11. highlights the need for new forms of collaboration between public-sector and private research centres. It is frequently the case that the latter bodies have state-of-the-art equip- ment at their disposal which public-sector bodies are not in a position to acquire; 12. wishes to be involved in the forthcoming debates and in the demarcation of priority areas; will closely monitor the methods used to promote cooperation between key installations. Will keep a watching brief on the proposed stages for implementing the programme and the planned measures; 13. urges that excellence be based more on knowledge, cooperation and the use of intelligent instruments, rather than on competition between geographical areas, exacer- bated by globalisation and by liberalisation of the economy. The President of the Committee of the Regions Jos CHABERT