WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1628/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Twenty-sixth report on competition policy
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/63 Can the Commission redraft and strengthen the action aimed at innovation and participation by the SMEs, refining the measures already provided for in the fourth framework programme but supplementing them with innovative, specific features aimed at promoting an entrepreneurial spirit amongst researchers and scientists and at creating an ad hoc mechanism to support the establishment of technological joint ventures to utilize the results of Community research in industry and commerce? (1) OJ C 291, 25. 9. 1997, pp. 15-16. Joint answer to Written Questions E-1623/98, E-1624/98, E-1625/98 and E-1626/98 given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (8 July 1998) The Commissionís proposals for the 5th framework programme for research (1) and for the specific pro- grammes, (2) involve an integrated, multidisciplinary, multisectoral approach, where efforts are concentrated on a limited number of themes and actions and activities are geared towards major Community objectives such as employment, quality of life and making businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), more competitive. The four activities, the specific programmes and the key actions of the fifth framework programme relate to specific objectives. The third activity focuses solely on innovation, the exploitation of results and SMEs. SME participation will also be encouraged in all the specific programmes. The key actions are designed to address a number of major issues and problems facing the Community today, following a multidisciplinary, integrated approach geared towards results. They are designed to encourage the research and innovation dynamic, inter alia by means of demonstration activities and with significant SME participation. Scientific and technological excellence is one of the basic priniciples underpinning Community research policy. Under the 5th framework programme calls for research proposals will be open to all individuals and organisations such as companies, SMEs, research institutes and universities. Assessment of the programmes, provided for in Article 5 of the fifth framework programme, will take account of the general objectives and the most appropriate performance and impact indicators for each specific programme. The Commission would reassure the Honourable Member that the fifth framework programme will be implemented and run in an efficient and transparent manner, in accordance with the established rules and criteria. (1) COM(97) 142 final, amended by COM(97) 439 final, amended by COM(98) 8 final. (2) COM(98) 305 and 306. (1999/C 31/084) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1628/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (27 May 1998) Subject: Twenty-sixth report on competition policy With regard to the Twenty-sixth report on competition policy (1996) (SEC(97) 628 final, CES 1381/97), can the Commission take appropriate measures with regard to the CEEC countries and Cyprus to ensure that before accession all the candidate countries are implementing the policies of the Union with regard to competition and State aids? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1998) The Europe agreements with nine of the ten Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic) and the interim agreement