Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament today pledged to deliver a comprehensive, adequately funded framework programme for research and innovation, dubbed 'Horizon 2020'.
During the debate of the draft report on Horizon 2020 in the industry, research and energy committee (ITRE), author of the report and S&D Euro MP Teresa Riera said:
"We must confront the crisis that is threatening Europe by investing in innovation for sustainable growth. We request that the financial resources of the last framework programme are doubled for Horizon 2020, to deliver on our promises of a multidisciplinary approach, training tomorrow's talent and focusing on excellence.
"The new framework programme will comprise an update and simplification of the structure and priorities which will allow increased participation and deliver better results.
"The Horizon 2020 framework programme must focus on offering responses to the real problems Europe is facing. One example is the allocation of two thirds of the energy budget to renewable energy sources to deliver on the promises of sustainable, quality job creation, notably for the young in Europe."
Speaking on the Council's recent decision to reduce research funds in FP7, Edit Herczog, S&D Euro MP in charge of all research lines in the budget negotiations, said:
"The Council's refusal to grant the required payments on certain lines of the 2012 budget is unacceptable. Through co-decision procedures the Council and the European Parliament have approved the goals of research projects for health, food and nanotechnologies which all serve a common European interest. It is inadmissible that the Council now unilaterally decides to cut the agreed resources on these programmes, based on strict, selective and authoritarian decisions.
"The Parliament fervently opposes this procedure. These kinds of far-reaching decisions must not be taken only at a technical level in the Council. Any cuts, and in particular cuts as drastic as this, require consultation with all the relevant political authorities. Members of the Parliament's ITRE committee as well as national research minister must be informed before any decisions are taken."
The committee will now commence in-depth analysis of the report, which may be adopted in committee during the last trimester of 2012.
Céline Bayer
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Horizon 2020 – S&D urges real investments in innovation to spur real growth. S&D Euro MP Teresa Riera said: We must confront the crisis that is threatening Europe by investing in innovation for sustainable growth. We request that the financial resources of the last framework programme are doubled for Horizon 2020, to deliver on our promises of a multidisciplinary approach, training tomorrow's talent and focusing on excellence'
Horizon 2020 – S&D urges real investments in innovation to spur real growth. Edit Herczog, S&D Euro MP in charge of all research lines in the budget negotiations, said: 'The Council's refusal to grant the required payments on certain lines of the 2012 budget is unacceptable. Through co-decision procedures the Council and the European Parliament have approved the goals of research projects for health, food and nanotechnologies which all serve a common European interest'
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