Research RTD: direct action JRC, competitive approach, sientific support. Specific programme

The Commission's amended proposal took over the European Parliament's amendments concerning: the reconsideration of the maximum overall amount for the framework programme on the basis of a joint evaluation/decision by the Commission and the European President; submission to the Council and the European Parliament of the conclusions of the assessments of the research activities carried out by the JRC under this programme; complementarity with research carried out under direct and indirect actions; the contribution of the JRC to the training and mobility of researchers; the need to provide instruments at Community level to face up to competition from the United States, Japan and the countries of South-East Asia; possibility for the Commission to provide technical support for Community policies through activities implemented within the framework of a competitive approach where the issues receiving support did not require the neutrality of the Community institutions; the Commission's role in ensuring that the activities involved did not enable a Member State or national body to influence a decision to be made through the results of studies for which it was responsible. �