92002E3571

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3571/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2002)

Subject: Proposal for a secrecy clause in the sixth research framework programme

It is being said in Sweden that the proposal to incorporate a secrecy clause in the sixth research framework programme is not consistent with the Swedish Constitution. According to the newspaper Ny Teknik, in the draft contracts under the new framework programme, secrecy is the rule and openness the exception.

Under Swedish law, however, the universities must be open to scrutiny and they do not have the right to classify research of public interest as secret. The Swedish Ministry for Education has reportedly informed the Commission of its wish to adhere to the same rules which applied for the fifth and fourth programmes.

Does the Commission intend to take the Swedish views into account or is the abovementioned proposal for a secrecy clause already fixed?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2003)

The report quoted in the newspaper Ny Teknik refers to one of the initial versions of the draft contract for research projects under the sixth framework programme. Following comments from the Swedish delegation during a meeting of the contracts working group of Member States and Associated States,

the Commission produced a revised version of the draft contract. The confidentiality clause provides that the Commission and the contractors undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any information communicated to them in relation to the execution of the project, which has been identified as confidential in relation to the execution of the project. This and the other aspects relating to confidentiality are in compliance with the provisions of Swedish law.