§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for Co-ordination in the Internal Market Field is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61702]
§ Ms HewittThe mandate for this committee is set out in Articles 1 and 2 of Council Decision of 23 December 1992 as follows
There shall be attached to the Commission an Advisory Committee for Co-ordination in the Internal Market Field, hereinafter referred to as 'the committee'. The committee shall comprise two representatives of each member state and be chaired by a representative of the Commission.The committee may be consulted by the Commission on any practical problem which may arise after 1 January 1993 concerning the functioning of the internal market other than those which are covered by action taken in accordance with arrangements to notify to the Commission, laid down in any other applicable Community measure or established within an existing framework for practical co-operation between the Commission and the member states.The committee is divided into a number of formations, but has met in total 10 times within the last 12 months, and the UK is represented by a DTI official except in the case of the 'Better Regulation' formation where a Cabinet Office (Regulatory Impact Unit) official also attends. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost. The travel expenses for meetings of the committee are reimbursed by the Commission.
The main issues/topics considered at the last meetings of the various formations were:
Heads of Delegations
Internal market and enlargement; 'SOLVIT' problem solving system; review of the Commission's internal market strategy:
IMAC (general)
Effective problem solving in the internal market ('SOLVIT' database); European Business Test panel; marking the 10th anniversary of the internal market; company taxation and the internal market; Citizens Signpost Service; the May 2002 Internal Market Scoreboard; candidate countries and administrative co-operation;
192WHeads of Co-ordination Centres
Effective problem solving in the internal market ('SOLVIT' database);
SLIM (Better Regulation)
Modernising the European Business Test panel; The Commission's Better Regulation package; national simplification initiatives post-Mandelkern report; better regulation in other Community institutions; outcome of the 5 phase of SLIM.
In practice many of the items considered by the committee are also considered by Council working groups and the internal market Consumers and Tourism Council of Ministers. Proposals for Council legislation and other EU published documents are subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the European Advisory Committee on Research is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61705]
§ Ms Hewitt1. The European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) is a high level, independent, advisory committee created by the European Commission to provide advice on the design and implementation of EU policy in research and technological development.
2. In the last year, EURAB met on four occasions: 26 September 2001 (its inaugural meeting), 13 December 2001, 20 March 2002 and 28 May 2002.
3. There are three UK-based members of EURAB. Members of EURAB act in a personal capacity, member states do not have formal membership.
4. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost. The travel and subsistence expenses for meetings of EURAB, or any working party set up within the committee will be met by the European Commission in accordance with the current administrative rules and regulations.
5. EURAB's work is currently focused on: The Role of Universities in the European Research Area, Enlargement and the European Research Area, Evaluation, European Research Area: Scope and Vision, Improving Innovation, and Increasing the attractiveness of science, technology and engineering careers.
6. EURAB's role is to deliver advice and opinions on specific issues either at the request of the Commission or on its own initiative. In carrying this out, EURAB operates independently from the Commission, from member states and from existing science or industry organisations. It may nevertheless co-operate with organisations and institutions interested in European research, to create working groups on specific themes and to consult with other experts who could enrich its reflection. While the deliberations of the Board are confidential, its activities will be reported annually to the Commissioner responsible for Research. All advice or opinions adopted by the Board are also forwarded 193W to the Commissioner and made known to the other EU Institutions and to member states. EURAB's Annual Report and any advice or opinions it makes are published on the internet http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/eurab/index-en.html