WRITTEN QUESTION P-0440/00 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. Procedure for concluding contracts under the Fifth framework programme for research.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/159 this legislative instrument requires harmonised technical specifications detailing all ásafetyí However, aspects ü i. e. essential requirements ü for all product families which are supposed to be construction- related. These specifications must allow the products to be incorporated permanently in construction works, ensuring that they respect the essential requirements of structural safety, environmental standards and energy conservation. These technical specifications are drawn up by two bodies: the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA) in accordance with the new approach to technical harmonisation and standards and with the principle of subsidiarity (1). In accordance with the subsidiarity principle, building safety is the responsibility of Member States. The Commission believes the Directive is still up-to-date as the expected technical specifications corre- spond to scientific and technical progress and to advancements in the state of the art. families approved by the Standing Committee on Construction; The Commission has completed its programme for drawing up standardisation mandates for the fifty product the CEN must draw up harmonised standards and the EOTA must provide harmonised technical approval. The Commission is currently concentrating all its efforts on ensuring that the two bodies provide, as a matter of urgency, harmonised specifications per mandate and per contract. (1) Council Resolution of 7 May 1985, OJ C 136, 4. 6. 1985. (2000/C 330 E/180) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0440/00 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Procedure for concluding contracts under the Fifth framework programme for research Now that the legal basis for the Fifth framework programme for research has been established, there is increasing criticism of the arrangements for contracts, they are padded out with unnecessary information and dealt with too slowly. These are circumstances which could be a disincentive to participation in the programme. in particular that Is the Commission aware of such problems in concluding contracts under the framework programme for research? What speedy and effective action does the Commission intend to take to simplify the procedure for concluding contracts? Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission (7 March 2000) The Commission is aware of a number of complaints relating to the complexity of the procedures that were set up in 1999 for the Fifth Framework programme. At the end of 1999 the Commissioner responsible for research established an interservice group to review procedures in the light of the experience of the first year of the programme. The aim of the group is to simplify a number of steps in the procedures, to the extent that this is possible under the existing rules which apply to the programme. The Commission would hope to take the first decisions to simplify internal procedures in March 2000. The review process will then continue in order to identify other measures that might be taken