Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-17-Speech-1-101"
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"en.20031117.7.1-101"2
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"Mr President, I would sincerely like to thank my colleague, Rolf Linkohr, for his commendable work in this important matter. There is consensus in the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy regarding the fact that research funding in the EU should be increased significantly and promptly. Thus, on the threshold of enlargement it would be good to come up with some clear figures in addition to all the fine words. The final sum for the Seventh Framework Programme has to be EUR 30 billion. A smaller investment will not bring the same benefit.
One of Europe’s weaknesses has been insufficient SME involvement in research. Statistical illusion also has a part in this. The most important tool in Europe to achieve the 3% target is companies and in particular SMEs. At present, companies are doing much innovative work that is not statistically recorded at all as Research and Development and it cannot even be supported through the various public aid instruments. The reason for this is that the notion of innovation is vague, the rules can be interpreted in many ways, and, consequently, there is uncertainty over the fairness of the system. For this reason, it is this area that needs improving, because SMEs are often particularly innovative. They are also a driving force behind any kind of growth and the creation of new jobs.
Market-oriented research support for SMEs should be encouraged through special funding. Forms of public intervention, be they tax advantages or direct subsidies, must not, however, influence what types of subsidy are approved nor the permitted intensity of aid granted. Member States should in future be free to devise their own policies so as to ensure that the competition rules which are within the Community’s competence are neutral in relation to the choice of instruments.
The establishment of a European Research Council would strengthen the worldwide competitive position of basic research carried out in Europe at the highest scientific level. This would mainly come about by offering long-term funding at European level. There is a need to ensure that the European Research Council is granted sufficient resources, not out of the present budget, but over and above the existing research funding.
It is also important that the Commission should provide further and more accurate information about which forms of public aid do not distort competition. The Commission’s aims to investigate and clarify the Community’s R[amp]D state aid system and target such aid at horizontal objectives are very important and welcome."@en1
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