The Communication from the European Commission

"Making a Reality of the European Research Area: Guidelines for EU research activities (2002-2006)"

Confederation Statement

As many other organizations and institutions, the Confederation of EU Rectors= Conferences has awaited the publication of the Communication from the European Commission, "Making a Reality of the European Research Area: Guidelines for EU research activities (2002-2006)", with interest.

The Confederation wishes to make the following general comments and shall welcome the opportunity to participate in future discussions.

A.	The relation between the ERA and a future Research Framework Programme

It is the intention, and a welcome one at that, of the Guidelines to make the Research Framework Programme into one of the important tools in the process towards establishing the ERA. This intention is fully in line with the decision of the Heads of State in the Lisbon summit in June 2000 and the Research Council of June and October 2000.

The Confederation fully supports this intention although more concrete outlines than in the present document would be helpful. The Confederation has noted the general intention to forge new and closer partnerships with Members States, the European Commission and the world of research. The Confederation would like to see this particular intention strengthened in future outlines. Also the intention to introduce projects of longer duration is welcomed.

However, the general impression left by the Guidelines is one of a need to have more concrete formulations and outlines of direct implications for the long-term perspective - in particular the chapter on "Means of implementation" is seen as much too general to contribute to clarifications of the ways forward. The next Research Framework Programme is supposed to cover the period 2002-2006, which means that it will influence research policies and fund activities till around 2007-2008. The Confederation is well aware that the priority areas outlined in the Guidelines are presented as examples only, but also knows that examples have a tendency to become policy if not challenged. It is striking that the bio sciences are missing from the list of examples, and other areas could be mentioned. If examples are to be given, they should reflect the needs over a ten-year period and should contribute to a visionary view of the European Research Area.

Commissioner Busquin's press release in connection with the publication of the Guidelines mentioned the need to thoroughly revamp the Research Framework Programme The Confederation would have liked to see considerations which specifically outline the structural changes needed if a future Research Framework Programme is to play a significant role in the creation of a ERA.

B.	The Social Sciences and the Humanities

The Confederation has earlier argued for the incorporation of the full spectrum of research disciplines in discussions concerning the European Research Area (cf. Statement of 5 May 2000), and has underlined that the social sciences and the humanities are research disciplines which need to be boosted to meet the demands of society as well as the industries in relation to ICT and the service industries. Other parts of the world have understood this need and have intensified support to the social sciences and the humanities, and Europe should benefit from this trend, as well.

In discussions following the launch of the European Research Area there were positive signs from the European Commission as to the importance of the social sciences and the humanities, but this positive attitude is not reflected in the Guidelines.

The Confederation is particularly concerned about the role attributed to the social sciences - and has noted that the Humanities are not even mentioned. With particular reference to the chapter on "Instruments and methods of intervention" it is a major source of concern that the social sciences are only seen as help disciplines to the (hard) sciences, to make the citizens of Europe understand the importance of science and research. It would be a lost opportunity if the importance of the social sciences as academic disciplines in their own right is not recognized, along with that of the forgotten Humanities.

The Confederation would like to reiterate its sincere plea to incorporate the social sciences and the humanities in the future Research Framework Programme on an equal footing with other research areas and disciplines. The need to add the social sciences and the humanities is crucial, not just to boost the general understanding of research and science, but to allow for genuine research activities within the Research Framework Programme of social, historical, ethnological, economic, demographic, legal and other serious problems facing Europe as a whole. A Research Framework Programme without such research projects would neglect some of the most important areas in a long-term perspective and would limit the scope for innovation.

C.	The role of universities

The Confederation has noted that the European Commission decided to use the term "networks of excellence" and welcomes this much needed change. The Confederation has also noted that universities are now mentioned as actors, among others, in the Guidelines, but the Confederation is concerned that the Guidelines fail to mention universities in connection with a discussion of "Research infrastructures".

The Confederation particularly welcomes the proposed increase in mobility grants to researchers. The training of young researchers is an almost exclusive task of universities and support to exchanges is of the greatest importance. In this connection, the Confederation urges the European Commission to recognize the role of universities, also in relation to the discussion of research infrastructures. The education and training of young researchers and, thus, the existence of new generations of highly qualified scientists are of vital importance to Europe's future.

In this connection the Confederation would like to see much closer links between the initiatives in relation to SMEs and the activities concerning human resources. There could be advantages in seeing the two as more closely linked, and seen from the point of view of universities they are not separate matters, but different types of targeted activities within the local or regional area of any university. The Confederation has earlier argued for the important role which universities are playing in local and regional policies, as integrated links in the knowledge chain. In this relation the Communication from the Commission on "Innovation in a knowledge-driven economy" deserves a more direct influence on the present Guidelines than the footnote reference, and much more could be gained in a long-term perspective by stressing the innovative aspects of the role of universities in the local/regional context.

The Confederation would like to underline the crucial role of universities in linking the training of young researchers and in providing innovation as an important part of the local and regional knowledge chain. This view is furthermore shared by representatives from industry who have argued for the necessity to have free and ground-breaking research within the Research Framework Programme, to ensure that innovation is one of the most important aims. Industry representatives argue convincingly that so-called applied research does not create innovation, only free and/or basic research can do that.

Finally, the Confederation would like to draw the attention to the on-going "Bologna process", following the signing of the Bologna Declaration in June 1999 by 29 European countries, among them the Member States of the EU, "Towards a European Space for Higher Education". There are clear parallels and overlaps between the mobility aspect of the Guidelines and the aims to ensure flexibility, transparency and recognition of degrees in the Bologna Declaration. European universities are involved in the ERA process as well as in the Bologna process, and the Confederation would like to encourage the European Commission to coordinate activities, as well.

Conclusions

The Confederation welcomes the initiative taken by the European Commission to implement some of the intentions of the ERA in relation to the Research Framework Programme. The Confederation would recommend that the European Commission outline the structural aspects needed to "revamp" the Research Framework Programme with more clarity. The existing structures were the result of a major change a couple of years ago, and further revamping needs to be more explicit and more structured to elicit remarks. The general character of the Guidelines, and in particular the part about "Means of implementation" come across as disappointing after the enthusiasm created by the launch of the ERA.

The Confederation has pointed to two different areas where more specific efforts are needed:

-	the integration of the social sciences and the humanities in the Research Framework Programme; and

-	the role of universities as important players in terms of development, acquisition and dissemination of knowledge - as places of education and training of researchers, and as crucial local/regional links in the knowledge chain - both important areas in ensuring future innovation,

and would like to add a third area, evaluation and quality assurance, to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Confederation reiterates its support to the process of establishing the ERA and looks forward to contributing to the importance of the Research Framework Programme as one of the essential tools in the ERA process.