Activities of Alda SOUSA related to 2011/0401(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in the European Union (hereinafter ‘Horizon 2020’), focuses on three priorities, namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the Union's world-class excellence in science, fostering industrial leadership to support business, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and innovation and tackling societal challenges, in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the Europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market. Horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain, especiallyincluding activities closer to the market includingeconomies and innovative financial instruments, as well as non-technological and social innovation, and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of Union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation. The priorities of Horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the Euratom Treaty on nuclear research and training.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Horizon 2020 should contribute to the aims of the European Innovation Partnerships in line with the flagship initiative Innovation Union, bringing together all relevant actors across the whole research and innovation chain, with special attention to include SMEs, small and medium universities (SMUs) and small scale research centers and civil society, in view of streamlining, simplifying and better coordinating instruments and initiatives.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The implementation of Horizon 2020 may give rise - under specific and transparent conditions - to supplementary programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Union in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 184, 185 and 187 TFEU.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Horizon 2020 should contribute to the attractiveness of the research profession in the Union, promoting and implementing all the necessary measures to guarantee and improve decent working conditions for scientific workers in the Union. Adequate attention should be paid to the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, together with other relevant reference frameworks defined in the context of the European Research Area, while respecting their voluntary nature.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) To achieve maximum impact, Horizon 2020 should develop close synergies with other Union programmes in areas such as education, space, environment, competitiveness and SMEs, the internal security, culture and media and with the Cohesion Policy funds and Rural Development Policy, which can specifically help to strengthen national and regional research and innovation capabilities in the context of smart specialisation strategies.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Horizon 2020 shall play a central role in the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by providing a common strategic framework for the Union's research and innovation funding, thus acting as a vehicle for leveraging private investment, creating new job opportunities and ensuring Europe's long- term sustainable growth and competitiveness.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The European Commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells. The use of human stem cells, be they adult or embryonic, if any, depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent Ethics Review. No project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells should be funded that does not obtain the necessary approvals from the Member States. No activity should be funded that is forbidden in all Member States. No activity should be funded in a Member State where such activity is forbiddenThe creation and maintenance of public human embryonic stem cell banks should be considered.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of Horizon 2020. Particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies, to bridging from discovery to market application, to cross-disciplinary research and innovation, to social and economic sciences and humanities, to fostering the functioning and achievement of the ERA, to cooperation with third countries, to responsible research and innovation including gender, governance of research and participatory research and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross-border and cross- sector mobility of researchers.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Horizon 2020 shall be implemented in a manner ensuring that the priorities and actions supported are relevant to changing needs and take account of the evolving nature of science, technology, innovation, marketeconomies and society, where innovation includes business, organisational and soci, social and environmental aspects.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Particular attention shall be paid to the principle of proportionality, the right to privacy, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to the physical and mental integrity of a person, the right to non-discrimination based on nationality, ethnic origin, disability, religion or belief, age, gender or sexual orientation and the need to ensure high levels of human health protection.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member States involved. Research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer, may also be financed if the research cannot be accomplished using supernumerary embryos, depending on the legal framework of the Member States involved. No funding shall be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the Member States. No activity shall be funded in a Member State where such activity is forbidden.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – subparagraph 2
Article 22 – subparagraph 2
Activities to disseminate information and carry out communication activities shall be an integral task under all of the actions supported by Horizon 2020, taking particular care of providing this information in a way that facilitates easy access by all, notably persons with disabilities.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – subparagraph 3 – point a
Article 22 – subparagraph 3 – point a
(a) initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under Horizon 2020, in particular for those regions or types of participant that are underrepresented, as is the case of researchers and participants with disabilities;
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – subparagraph 3 – point e a (new)
Article 22 – subparagraph 3 – point e a (new)
(ea) initiatives that include and promote the participation in the research and innovation process of civil society; and its organizations or institutions.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part I – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Annex I – Part I – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – paragraph 1 – point e
Annex I – Part III – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) Climate action, resource efficiency and sustainable use of raw materials;
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – paragraph 2
Annex I – Part III – paragraph 2
All the activities shall take a challenge- based approach, focusing on policy priorities without predetermining the precise choice of technologies or solutions that should be developed. The emphasis shall be on bringing together a critical mass of resources and knowledge across different fields, technologies and scientific disciplines in order to address the challenges. The activities shall cover the full cycle from research to market, as well as its impact on society, with a new focus on innovation-related activities, such as piloting, demonstration, test-beds, support for public procurement, design, end-user driven innovation, social innovation and market take-up of innovations.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part II – point 1 – paragraph 10
Annex I – Part II – point 1 – paragraph 10
For all the enabling and industrial technologies, including the KETs, a major aim will be to foster interactions between the technologies, and with the applications under the societal challenges. This shall be fully taken into account in developing and implementing the agendas and priorities. It requires that stakeholders representing the different perspectives are fully involved in priority setting and implementation. In certain cases, it will also require actions that are jointly funded by the enabling and industrial technologies, and by the relevant societal challenges. This will include joint funding for public-private partnerships and for partnerships with civil society organisations that aim to develop technologies and methods and apply them to address societal challenges.
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – point 1.1 – paragraph 5
Annex I – Part III – point 1.1 – paragraph 5
In the Union, CVD annually accounts for more than 2 million deaths and costs the economy more than EUR 192 billion while cancer accounts for a quarter of all deaths and is the number one cause of death in people aged 45-64. Over 27 million people in the Union suffer from diabetes and over 120 million from rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions and the total cost of brain disorders (including, but not limited to those affecting mental health) has been estimated at EUR 800 billion. Environmental, life-style and socio- economic factors are relevant in several of these conditions with up to one third of the global disease burden estimated to be related to these.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – point 5.1 – paragraph 4
Annex I – Part III – point 5.1 – paragraph 4
The growing impacts from climate change and environmental problems, such as ocean acidification, ice melting in the Arctic, land degradation and use, water shortages, chemical pollution and biodiversity loss, indicate that the planet is approaching its sustainability boundaries. For example, without improvements in efficiency, water demand is projected to overshoot supply by 40 % in 20 years time. Forests are disappearing at an alarmingly high rate of 5 million hectares per year. Interactions between resources can cause systemic risks – with the depletion of one resource generating an irreversible tipping point for other resources and ecosystems. Based on current trends, the equivalent of more than two planet Earths will be needed by 2050 to support the growing global population. Societies face a major challenge to establish a sustainable balance between human needs and the environment. Environmental resources, including water, air, biomass, fertile soils, biodiversity, ecosystems, as well as human made resources, including cultural heritage and cultural landscapes, and the services they provide, underpin the functioning of the European and global economy and quality of life.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – point 6.2 – paragraph 3
Annex I – Part III – point 6.2 – paragraph 3
Fostering new modes of cooperation between countries within the Union and worldwide, as well as across relevant research and innovation communities, will therefore be a central task under this challenge. Engaging citizens and industry, supporting social and technological innovation processes, encouraging smart and participatory public administration, as well as promoting evidence based policymaking will be systematically pursued in order to enhance the relevance of all these activities for policymakers, social and economic actors and citizens. In this regard, research and innovation will be a precondition for the competitiveness of European industries and services, in particular in the areas of security, digital development and privacy protection. The success of the implementation of necessary changes really depends of the public engagement with science and innovation and its benefits. In order to achieve that it is essential to focus on the social aspects in the societal challenges involving not only industry players, but also researchers and universities, as well as civil society and its organisations and institutions.
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Part III – point 6.3.2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Annex I – Part III – point 6.3.2 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) ensure societal engagement in research and innovation; in order to achieve science with and for society;
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member States involved. No funding shall be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the Member States. No activity shall be funded in a Member State wheResearch and funding priorities shall be defined in accordance with the evidence provided by acquired such activity is forbiddencientific knowledge.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – part III – point 1.1 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part III – point 1.1 – paragraph 2
The cost of Union health and social care systems is rising with care and prevention measures in all ages increasingly expensive, the number of Europeans aged over 65 expected to nearly double from 85 million in 2008 to 151 million by 2060, and those over 80 to rise from 22 to 61 million in the same period. Reducing or containing these costs such that they do not become unsustainable depends in part on ensuring the lifelong health and wellbeing of all and therefore on the effective prevention, treatment and management of disease and disability. There is a lack of health policies and policies in other areas geared to promoting the quality of life. There is also a lack of investment in research into the post-diagnosis stages of disease.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – part III – point 1.2 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part III – point 1.2 – paragraph 2
The response depends on excellence in research and on the efficient dissemination of research results to improve our fundamental understanding of health, disease, disability, development and ageing (including of life expectancy), and on the seamless and widespread translation of the resulting and existing knowledge into innovative, scalable and effective products, strategies, interventions and services. Furthermore, the pertinence of these challenges across Europe and in many cases, globally, demands a response characterised by long term and coordinated support for co- operation between excellent, multidisciplinary and multi-sector teams, not only at Union but also at global level, by supporting for instance research and development capacity in endemic areas and diseases, in particular malaria, dengue fever and tuberculosis.
Amendment 276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – part III – point 1.3 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part III – point 1.3 – paragraph 2
Successful efforts to prevent, manage, treat and cure disease, disability and reduced functionality are underpinned by the fundamental understanding of their determinants and causes, processes and impacts, as well as factors underlying good health and wellbeing. Building on the results of biomedical research in developing medicine for the various diseases, with diagnosis, treatment and healthcare accessible to all citizens, is a powerful tool for improving the coverage and efficacy of healthcare and patients' quality of life. Effective sharing of data and the linkage of these data with large scale cohort studies is also essential, as is the translation of research findings into the clinic, in particular through the conduct of clinical trials.
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – part III – point 1.3 – paragraph 5
Annex I – part III – point 1.3 – paragraph 5
Specific activities shall include: understanding the determinants of health (including environmental and climate , poverty and gender-related factors), improving health promotion and disease prevention; understanding disease and improving diagnosis; developing effective screening programmes and improving the assessment of disease susceptibility; improving surveillance and preparedness; developing better preventive vaccines; using in-silico medicine for improving disease management and prediction; treating diseasimproved treatment of disease, addressing universal access to diagnosis, treatment and healthcare; transferring knowledge to clinical practice more quickly and effectively and scalable innovation actions; better use of health data; activehealthy ageing, independent and assisted living; improvement of and conditions for access to palliative medicine, reproductive health and individual empowerment for self- management of health; promotion of integrated care; improving scientific tools and methods to support policy making and regulatory needs; and optimising the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems and reducing inequalities by evidence based decision making and dissemination of best practice, and innovative technologies and approaches.