Research and technological development (RTD): activities of the Union. Annual report 2001

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report by Yves PIETRASANTA (Greens/EFA, France) on the Commission's 2001 annual report. Parliament noted that the framework programme had effectively contributed to the development of the European Union and hoped that the international role of Community research would be included among the objectives of the European research area, with particular reference to developing countries. The beneficial elements of the framework programme should be retained, since they can make a substantial contribution to the three main aspects of sustainable development: the environmental, economic and social. Parliament asked the Commission to provide information concerning the mapping of scientific excellence in Europe. Parliament stressed the significant role of the JRC under the sixth framework programme and the need to strengthen working relations between the European Parliament and the JRC. It pointed to the importance of the JRC's activities for public security, environmental and health protection, and protection against fraud, emphasising the development of alternatives to animal testing, the safety and quality of foodstuffs, and the monitoring of networks of excellence and integrated projects. The European Parliament highlighted the crucial importance of a gender perspective in the field of research and technological development. The serious under-representation of women in research positions demonstrates that the EU is still far from being able to use its human resources properly and, hence, from attaining its stated objective of becoming the 'most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world', as set out in the Lisbon Strategy. It regretted that women occupy only one in eight executive and leading positions in the academic world and urged Member States, to take action, including positive action, where necessary, with a view to attaining the preliminary goal of at least 40% female representation in all fields related to public research. The Commission must ensure that at least 40% of the members of the advisory groups and assessment and monitoring panels are women. Parliament went on to emphasise the huge importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective into all levels of the 6th framework programme, including gender training for administrators, and of setting specific targets to ensure that women researchers are equally represented in EU-supported research projects and programmes. �