Resaerch RTD, 5th framework-programme EC 1998-2002: research, technological development and demonstration activities

PURPOSE : agreement on a fifth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration (1998-2002). COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council and European Parliament Decision 182/1999/EC. CONTENT : The Fifth Framework R&D Programme for the 1998-2002 period covers four areas of Community activity: a) First action : implementation of research, technological development and demonstration programmes; b) promotion of co-operation in the field of Community research, technological development and demonstration with third countries and international organisations; c) dissemination and optimisation of the results of activities in Community research, technological development and demonstration; d) stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the Community. In order to ensure that efforts are focused on a restricted number of objectives, the 5th Framework Programme is divided into 7 large programmes, 4 'thematic' programmes corresponding to action I (research programmes), and 3 'horizontal' programmes corresponding to actions II (international co-operation), III (dissemination and exploitation of results) and IV (training and mobility of researchers). The main themes of the actions are the following : 1) Thematic programmes: a) quality of life and management of living resources b) user-friendly information society c) competitive and sustainable growth d) energy, environment and sustainable development. 2) Horizontal programmes : a) confirming the international role of Community research b) promotion of innovation and encouragement of participation of SMEs c) improving human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base. Each of the 3 thematic programmes includes : - a series of 'key actions' linked to the Union's main economic and social objectives for the future; - R&D activities in generic technologies; - support activities for research infrastructures. In parallel, a range of detailed objective criteria has been drawn up to define the content of the framework programme, which fall into three groups : a) social objectives (impact on employment, quality of life, environment); b) scientific, technological and economic development, the underlying objective being the strengthening the Union's competitiveness; and c) European added value. The overall Community allocation to the Fifth Framework Programme is 13 700 million EUROS, divided as follows : - first action (research programmes): 10 843 million EUROS; - second action (international co-operation): 475 million EUROS; - third action (dissemination and exploitation): 363 million EUROS; - fourth action (training and mobility of researchers) 1 280 million EUROS; - direct actions undertaken by the JRC : 739 million EUROS. The allocation between the themes of the first action (10 483 million EUROS) is the following: - quality of life and management of living resources: 2 413 million EUROS; - user-friendly information society: 3 600 million EUROS; - competitive and sustainable growth: 2 705 million EUROS; - energy, environment and sustainable development: 2 705 million EUROS. In view of the expiry of the current financial perspectives at the end of 1999, the overall amount will be allocated over the first and second period of the framework programme: 3 140 million EUROS for the period 1998-99 and 10 560 million EUROS for the period 2000-2002. The text makes provision for a new European Parliament and Council decision to be taken should the overall allocation appear incompatible with the new financial perspectives for the years 2000-2002, or in the absence of financial perspectives.�