Brussels, 03 Jun 2005

Following indications from Europe's leaders that unanimity on the need to contribute more to the EU budget is unlikely, EUROSCIENCE has urged EU Member State governments to ensure that the budget for the next framework programme for research is nonetheless doubled.

EUROSCIENCE states that the Commission's proposal to double the research budget for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is in line with the Lisbon and Barcelona goals of making Europe the most competitive economy in the world and increasing research investment to three per cent of GDP. The statement adds that any reduction to the proposed budget 'seriously diminishes the Union's ability to meet its own agreed targets.'

Without the increased budget, Europe will not be able to keep up with its competitors, says EUROSCIENCE. 'Any reduction in the FP7 budget will be catastrophic to Europe in this global competition.'

While claiming to understand the pressures on Member State budgets, EUROSCIENCE points out that the EU budget as a whole is a large sum, from which research receives only a small share. 'It is a question of priorities. Doubling the Framework Programme budget to its proposed level not only allows the EU to move towards the Lisbon and Barcelona goals by this direct investment, but recognises the leverage effect that this investment has within the Member States themselves,' reads the statement.

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EUROSCIENCE goes on to challenge the EU Heads of State and Government to honour their declared Lisbon and Barcelona goals by prioritising research, and concludes by echoing the words spoken so frequently over the past few months by EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik: 'Europe cannot win markets by cheap raw materials, low salaries, low skills and low social security costs. The only option we have open to us is to develop our knowledge potential. Europe must fund the future, not bury its head in the past.'

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