91997E1133

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1133/97 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Council (24 March 1997)

Subject: New NATO Research and Technology Organization

NATO's new R& T Board, which held its first meeting at the end of November 1996 as the governing body of NATO's Research and Technology Organization, replaces the previous management bodies of the Defence Research Group and AGARD (Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development).

Given the desire to continue emphasizing aeronautical technology in the fifth framework programme and the growing need, within the Community framework, for technological assessments with a solid scientific basis, does the Council plan to monitor the Technology Coordination Reports, which were first compiled in 1995, and draw conclusions on the possible implications for the development of civil technology of this source of information which is available to most Member States?

Answer (17 October 1997)

Research related to Aeronautical technology has been one of the growing sectors in the Community RTD Framework Programmes. Several projects in this area are at present being funded from resources of the 4th Framework Programme.

Such funding has covered only civil aspects of aeronautical technology since the Community Framework Programme does not give any support for military research, which is not covered by the EC Treaty.

The Honourable Member of Parliament is informed that there does not exist any forum wihtin the Council, nor is one envisaged in the future, for exchanging views with NATO organisations on this subject. It is not, therefore, foreseen that the Council would examine or monitor the reports referred to in the Question.