§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Research Council on 7 October. [872]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe Council had a first exchange of views on priorities for the fifth framework programme for research and technological development, in responses to the European Commission's initial strategy document "Inventing tomorrow". The UK stressed the need for the fifth programme to address the medium-term needs of EU industry and to support EU policies more broadly, including those designed to bring about improvements in the quality of life. It considered that the programme needed to be more sharply targeted than hitherto on clear objectives responding to user priorities and to give the users of research a stronger voice.
The Council had a short discussion on EU-funded research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy and related diseases. It approved conclusions calling for enhanced co-operation among EU members states in research into BSE and related diseases and for strengthened support for such research in the fourth framework programme. The conclusions also invite the Commission to report again to the Council in December, following the report of the group of experts chaired by Professor Charles Weismann.
The Council considered the question of supplementary funding for the fourth framework programme. It took note of the Commission's intention to clarify the funding available within category 3 of the current financial perspectives, and agreed to return to the matter at its next meeting in December.