37 Amendments of Maria da Graça CARVALHO related to 2011/2043(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. While fully respecting the rights of the budgetary and discharge authorities, welcomes the RSFF and other innovative financial instruments which strengthen the leverage of the EU budget; emphasises the need for working delivery mechanisms for these; asks the Commission to improve access for primary target groups such as SMEs;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3b (new)
Paragraph 3b (new)
3b. Is convinced that simplification should be one of the highest priorities of the midterm review of FP7;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Commission to improve access for primary target groups such as SMEs; Stresses the need for further efforts in the field of research infrastructure, benefitting also SMEs and industry; Highlights the need of simplifying administrative procedures to promote the participation and to increase the number of applications of smaller organisations and SMEs.
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5a (new)
Paragraph 5a (new)
5a. Stresses that the design and implementation of the current FP7 and future Framework Programmes must be based on the principles of simplicity, stability, legal certainty, consistency, excellence and trust.
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas there is a need for ait is necessary to allow for the developments resulting from the mid-term review of FP7 in the light of the numerous changes that have taken place since it was negotiated and adopted in 2006 (new institutions, new political bodies, economic crisis), and also given the scale of the financial sums available between now and when it ends,
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recommends simplified interpretation and further clarification on the definition of eligible costs; Calls on more precise, consistent and transparent rules of procedure for audits;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Asks the Commission rapidly to resolve prior situations arising from inspections in progress, acting with discernment and respect for the principles of sound financial management;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas delayed investment in Europe compared with other global powers is essentially due to a lack of private investment and the attractiveness of FP7 for the industrial sector is thus not fully demonstrated; but also, beyond the sums involved, there is a clear need for better coordination and co-financing between the Member States and the Union,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas complexity of administrative management remains a major handicap for FP7, to the extent that its simplification is a major challenge for the future of the programme, and whereas many improvements that do not require a change of regulation can be made midway through the FP7 while respecting stability, general consistency and legal certainty, the basis for mutual trust between the parties involved;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas simplification of the administration should be one of the highest priorities in the review,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the quality of the expert reports on the interim evaluation of FP7, despite the general nature of the remit given to the expert groups; regretspoints out, however, that the evaluation did not cover the overall picture made up of the actions of the Member States and those of the Union;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that growth in financial and human resources, an ever-growing number of objectives and themes covered and diversification of instruments has reduced the capacity of FP7 to serve a specific headline European objective;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Approves the strengthening of the specific programme on ‘Cooperation’ chapter, which remains relevant given current scientific and technological challenges; stresses its role in developing RDI critical mass of a kind not achievable at national/regional level, thus demonstrating European added-value; recommends implementation of the ‘Future and Emerging Technologies’ scheme and extension of the use of ‘roadmaps’ to all thematic areas; asks for more flexibility in setting call themes and financial thresholds and ceilings, making a distinction between large and small projects;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Proposes that research be acceleencouratged in the sectors identified in the ‘Cooperation’ chapter of FP7: health, medicine, food, biotechnology, ICT, nanosciences and nanotechnologies, materials, pollution, energy, environment (including climate change, woods and forests), ecotechnologies, CO2 capture, transport, socio-economic sciences and humanities, space and security; water research should also be a priority;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Proposes the reinforcement of collaborative research such as the activities funded in the specific programme "Cooperation"; calls for the possibility of forming smaller and medium sized projects and partner consortia that allow efficient coordination, in addition to strengthening scientific excellence; stresses that the collaborative research approach must remain the core element of the Framework Programme;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes, in the ‘Ideas’ chapter, promising results obtained by the European Research Council (ERC) and its role aimed at enhancing the visibility and attractiveness of European research bodies; stresses the need to make the ERCassess whether the ERC should be made an independent legal entity with decision- making power, directly responsible for its own scientific strategy and administrative management;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes that the participation of young scientists in project teams in the context of collaborative research activities by industry and science organisation should be incentivated; calls on the Commission to use the mid-term review of the Seventh Framework Programme to promote the employment of young scientists by designing the rules and modes of participation in such a way as to devote a substantial portion of funding for hiring young researchers;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Expresses reservations regardingRecognizes the more systematic use of overly open calls for proposals (bottom-up approach), preferring; suggests, although, to maintain a balance between the two approaches (bottom-up and top- down), which meet specific needs; stresses the need to consult and work together with the researchers, the industry and civil society actors, in order to set the research agendas;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Proposes that anthe Union and the Member States bring detailed assessment to bear on a future ambitious European research plan for technology and defence be adopted between the Union and the Member States and, couched in terms enabling it to receive significant initial financing from FP78 and the European Defence Agency on the basis of Article 45(d) of the EU Treaty, with a view to enhancing the industrial and technological base of the defence sector while at the same time improving the efficiency of military public spending; calls in the mean time for dual-use technologies to be promoted by means of resources over and above FP7 projects;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers that, to enhance the impact of FP7, extensions of 6 to 12 months should be provided for by means of calls restricted to projects which have secured a favourable final technical evaluation, the idea being to carry out demonstration activities drawing on the technologies developed or the knowledge acquired;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the results of FP7 in favour of SMEs, as regards both the 15% target set in the ‘Cooperation’ chapter and the ‘Eurostars’ programme; believes that further simplification is fundamental to encourage participation especially of SMEs; is of the opinion that better coordination between FP7 and the Structural Funds could facilitate the participation of under-represented Member States; stresses, however, the absolute need to distinguish between criteria for FP7 and Structural Funds, as the principle of excellence should prevail when allocating FP7 funding thus ensuring maximum added value to RDI in Europe; notes in particular the low participation of some Member States (e.g. EU12 and Southern countries) and recommends that simplification of cross- currency reporting be investigated;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that only through a better coordination between FP7 and other EU instruments (such as the Structural and Cohesion Funds) the EU can foster capacity-building and promote research capacity across Europe;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Recalls that there can be no research or innovation without the researchers, so calls for actions to tackle the precarious working conditions of most researchers and people involved in research and innovation programmes and activities; stresses also the need for greater commitment in research training of young and new researchers;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Stresses that in spite of the fact that FP7 has contributed to increase participation of women in scientific research, the 40% target has not yet been reached, so additional measures are needed to promote an even greater participation of women, as well to broaden the range of disciplines in which women are involved together with the roles and responsibilities they assume in the projects;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Proposes that research and development policies be territorialised, to express the territorial dimension as well as possible, synergies between research and development policy and the Structural Funds should be developed further;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Welcomes the development of a stairway to excellence through dedicated actions in order to foster capacity building in research and innovation across Europe;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Takes the view that FP7 should affirm its international cooperation priorities; is of the opinion that the choice of target countries and subjects for international cooperation actions must be made in consultation with the Member States in order to confirm the relevance and benefit of these actions for themall parties involved; reaffirms, nevertheless, that attention must be given to the cooperation with developing countries;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Proposes that the Commission help public bodies to improve their management systems by carrying out assessments without financial consequences which would encourage these bodies to take a number of actions to improve their project management and implement them within a specific deadline of less than a year;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that financing of research infrastructures should be better coordinat-funded between FP7, EIB instruments, the Structural Funds and national and regional policies;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Member States and the EU to meet their financial commitments, including commitments for actions on the basis of Articles 185 and 187, under international research agreements;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is of the opinion that commercialisation should be included in the parameters of future calls for projects under FP78 in the field of innovation;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Reiterates the importance of introducing, without delay, procedural, administrative and financial simplification measures into current management of FP7, such as those identified in Parliament’s resolution of 11 November 2010; calls on the Commission to make proposals on these simplification measures in the context of the current FP7 to complement its initial proposals; regrets the serious problems of interpretation and the consequent legal uncertainty for participants in FP7; reiterates its wish to see current legal proceedings between the Commission and beneficiaries across all of the framework programmes settled quickly, while respecting the principle of responsible management of public money
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recommends that application of this innovative financial instrument be continued and intensified in FP8, since it contributes to improving access to finance and encouraging private investment; underlines that public investments have to be considered as well;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to investigate the publicity regarding the availability of the RSFF loans at Member State level and ensure that potential participants have adequate information and assistance to access RSFF loans, especially in those Member States whose currency is not the Euro;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Stresses the need to enhance, stimulate and secure the financing of research and development in the Union via a significant increase in relevant expenditure from 2013 onwards, namely for the Eighth Research Framework Programme; is of the opinion that this increase of funding, ideally by doubling the budget, must foster sustainable growth and competition via excellence; emphasizes hereby that this increase of funds must be coupled with a more result- oriented, performance-driven approach and with a radical simplification of funding procedures;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the Commission to change its attitude towards a more risk-tolerant and trust-based approach, since we are dealing with both research and innovation;