§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Research Council held on 22 December 1998. [67650]
§ Mr. ByersLord Sainsbury represented the UK at the meeting of the EU Research Council on 22 December 1998. I am pleased to say that the Council reached final agreement on the legislation for the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP5), paving the way for the launch of the programme in the next few weeks. Agreement on FP5 marks a major step forward in Europe's research effort, opening up new opportunities for collaborative research tackling major European challenges relating to competitiveness and the quality of life. I look forward to continued strong participation by UK researchers.
The Council adopted Decisions on the two Framework Programmes that, under the EC Treaty and the Euratom Treaty, set the budget and broad priorities for FP5, and on the rules for detailed participation in the programme stemming from Article 130j of the EC Treaty. It reached political agreement on FP5's ten specific programmes, which set out scientific and technological content in detail and provide for the internal distribution of each programme's budget, in preparation for formal adoption later this month.
The Council also agreed conclusions calling for greater emphasis on research, development and innovation activities in the EU's MEDA programme for development co-operation with Mediterranean countries. It approved signature of an agreement for scientific and technological co-operation between the European Community and 31W China and made decisions progressing a number of other scientific and technological co-operation agreements between the Community third countries.