Research RTD, 4th EC framework programme 1994-1998: specific research "targeted socio-economic research"

The Commission's amended proposal took over the European Parliament's amendments concerning: the implementation schedule for the programme (the first appropriations would be allocated within twelve months of the adoption of the programme); the measures to simplify and improve the procedures and make them more transparent; the staff and administrative expenditure; the reference to the financial perspective; the emphasis placed on the challenges of the emergence of the "Information Society" (studies on the impact on society of the dissemination of information and communication technologies and on their interaction with users). The Commission did not accept the amendments concerning comitology, international cooperation (extension of the Commission's negotiating mandate to the countries of the Mediterranean Basin) and systematic priority for SMEs in the selection of projects. �