Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-07-02-Speech-2-345"
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"en.20020702.15.2-345"2
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"On behalf of the Liberal Group, I should like to congratulate Mrs Quisthoudt-Rowohl on her sound report and especially also on her dynamic negotiating skills during the informal trialogue, both with the Spanish Presidency but also, and mainly, with the Commission.
The Spanish Presidency has done sterling work in this area. The result is that we can now approve the rules for participation in framework programmes in one reading, allowing the sixth framework programme to be launched on time. This is good news for all researchers in Europe, but also for the research climate and innovation in the European Union. Indeed, it once again transpired recently that the European Union is progressively lagging behind where research and competitiveness are concerned. The difference between Europe and the United States in research investments has grown sharply in the past few years. In 1994, this difference was still EUR 51 million annually, and this has risen to no less than EUR 124 million in the year 2000.
As well as national governments, industry, in particular, must make more investments. However, this requires a much better investment climate to make it attractive for companies to invest in Europe. Participation in the framework programme by the private sector should also be stimulated. It is, therefore, important that Parliament has been granted its wish with regard to liability of participants in a consortium in the framework programme. Surely it is not acceptable if one participant breaks the contract, for the other participants to be jointly and severally liable for this, as per the Commission's request? Fortunately, the Council has taken this on board, and the text has been amended accordingly.
I should also like to note that the European Commission’s handling of contracts causes many problems. Payments are usually late and the administrative pressure is high. This causes problems especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. At this rate, the Commission will have difficulty obtaining sound projects because innovative companies will no longer wish to take part. This is partly due to the projects being cancelled without any explanation. Practices of this kind do not stimulate the private sector and will not lead to higher investments in Europe, and certainly not to 3% of the national product, as the Commission would like to see."@en1
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