1. What are the expected effects on the EU research policy of the delays with the enactment of the Constitution for Europe? The debate about the EU budget could affect the research policy funding?

The legal basis for the next research framework programme, which will extend from 2007 to 2013, was never meant to be the constitution. Our proposals are based on the current treaties which are fully sufficient for the EU research funding. However, without adoption of the constitution, we cannot make use of its provisions enabling the EU to act in complete the European Research Area, notably as regards mobility of researchers and exchange of scientific results.

The outcome of the budget debate on the other hand will be very significant for the future of EU research. The Commission has proposed a doubling of funds devoted to research. This may sound a lot, but in our view it is the very least that is needed if Europe is to face the challenges of the future. The last round of discussions among heads of state and government was going in the direction of a significant reduction in these funds. I very much hope that when the discussions take up again later this year, there will be greater willingness among Member States to support the Commission in its forward-looking approach to the budget. The EU has set itself an objective of investing 3% of its GDP in research and development by 2010 and increasing the funds at European level would be a very good signal of intentions.

2. What are the main results of the 6th Framework Programme? These results have boosted the ERA (European Research Area)?

As you know, the Sixth Framework Programme is a key instrument of ERA. Its budget, structure and instruments have been conceived for ERA and directed at three main areas of action: integrating European research, structuring the ERA and strengthening its foundations.

A panel of experts has recently reviewed the developments and results achieved by the Sixth Framework Programme. In their report, released earlier this year, they concluded that the Sixth Framework Programme has successfully contributed to developing a European knowledge base, correcting some of the deficiencies of European R&D and bridging the gap between research and innovation. They found that funding at European level gave significant added value over and above national research investment, and also that it has a positive effect on Europe's potential for innovation.

The experts also support the Commission's proposal to double European R&D spending in the next budget period and importantly added that for such an increase to be effective, it would need to be matched by increased spending on R&D at national level.

There was also a view that the Framework Programme needs to work within an environment that is supportive of business and industrial R&D. For example, there must be strong links with intellectual property rights and the Community patent, state aid rules, and public procurement policy.

3. What are the basic characteristics of the 7th Framework Programme? Can we expect a real impact on the Lisbon strategy about the European knowledge economy?

The Commission has put forward an ambitious proposal for the EU Seventh Research Framework Programme 2007-2013 (FP7), designed to respond to the competitiveness and employment needs of the EU. As I said, we are proposing to double the FP7 budget compared with FP6, rising to EUR 67.8 billion over the period 2007-2013, with spending organised in four specific programmes funding "Cooperation", "Ideas", "People" and "Capacities".

The Commission's proposal for the Seventh Framework Programme provides a unique impetus to increase Europe's growth and competitiveness, recognising that knowledge is Europe's greatest resource. The programme places greater emphasis than in the past on research that is relevant to the needs of European industry, to help it compete internationally, and develop its role as a world leader in certain sectors. The programme will also for the first time provide support for the best in European investigator-driven research, with the creation of a European Research Council, with selection by scientists, on the simple grounds of excellence. Focus will be on excellence throughout the programme, crucial for its role in developing Europe's global competitiveness. Another priority will be to make participation in the programme simpler and easier, through measures addressing the procedures, plus a rationalisation of instruments. There is a lot that is new in the programme, responding to Europe's changing needs in terms of investment in research and innovation, but the main element of the programme will remain the funding of research co-operation around priority themes, the approach that has been very successful in previous programmes.

4. What is the role of the regions within the EU science and research policy? Can the interfaces between public (European, national, regional) and private actors be improved?

Regions are increasingly recognised as important players in the EU's research and development landscape. Research policy and activities at regional level often rely on the development of "clusters" associating public and private actors. The Pilot Action on "Regions of Knowledge" demonstrated the dynamic of this evolution and the necessity to support and encourage the development of such structures.
The actions undertaken in the Seventh Framework Programme will enable European regions to strengthen their capacity for investing in RTD and carry out research activities, while maximising their potential for a successful involvement of their operators in European research projects.
The new Regions of Knowledge initiative will involve and bring together regional actors involved in research: universities, research centres, industry, public authorities (regional councils or regional development agencies). Projects will cover joint analysis of research agendas of regional clusters (in coordination with other activities on the broader issue of regional innovation clusters) and the elaboration of a set of instruments to address them in specific research activities, including through "mentoring" of regions with a less developed research profiles by highly developed ones. These activities will be implemented in close relationship with EU regional policy and the Competitiveness and Innovation, Education and Training Programmes, in particular with regard to convergence and outermost regions.

5. What are the points and main aspects of your programme as EU Commissioner for Science and Research?

Obviously in the short term, my priority is the adoption of the Seventh Framework Programme, with sufficient means to allow it to reach its objectives. So I will be working to ensure that the EU delivers a programme that is adapted to its growth and competitiveness needs for the future, and at the same time is attractive to its users. Research and innovation belong on the centre stage of European policies - they hold the key to our future economic competitiveness and the creation of quality jobs, in line with the EU's Lisbon Strategy, which is designed to develop Europe's potential as a globally competitive knowledge economy. Through research we can make advances that will significantly improve the quality of our lives, from our health, to the ways we work or the products we use. I will be working to gain better recognition for the crucial role that research plays in our society. Looking at this longer term perspective, one of the areas I am particular focused on is developing a closer and better relationship between the scientific world and the society within which it operates. We are all affected by science in so many ways every day and yet somehow a gap seems to have emerged. So I think that it is important that we all work together to build a bridge across that gap. Just on example is the European Researchers' Night on 23 September, when people across Europe, of whatever age, with whatever interests, wherever they are, have an opportunity to interact with scientists, ask them questions about their work, see what makes them tick.