Research and Technological Development (RTD) is an essential element in the functioning of industrialised countries, such as the EU Member States and the countries having applied for EU membership. The competitiveness of companies and the employment they can provide depend, to a great extent, on RTD; and RTD is also essential for the support of other policies such as consumer protection or the protection of the environment. In short: the individual and collective wellbeing of citizens depends on the quality and relevance of RTD.
Conducting a European research policy and implementing European research programmes is a legal and political obligation resulting from the Treaty.
Europe must also play an active role in RTD because of a number of developments inherent to the RTD sector itself:
- high level research is increasingly complex and interdisciplinary;
- high level research is increasingly costly;
- high level research requires a constantly increasing 'critical mass'.
There are very few individual research teams or laboratories or companies that can reasonably claim to be able to respond to these challenges. Even entire countries find it increasingly difficult to be active and play a leading role in the many important areas of scientific and technological progress. Organising co-operation at different levels both within Europe and internationally, co-ordinating national or European policies, networking teams and increasing the mobility of individuals and ideas is therefore a requirement resulting from the development of modern research in a global environment. Without determined action at European level the present fragmentation of Europe's efforts cannot be overcome. Taking up this challenge the European Commission, Member States and the European Parliament, the scientific community and industry are committed to work jointly towards the creation of "European Research Area" (ERA) and its international dimension. The sixth framework programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) will be the main financial and legal instrument of the European Commission to implement the ERA, alongside national efforts and other European co-operative research activities. The framework programme will support collaboration in research, promote mobility and co-ordination and invest in mobilising research in support of other EU policies.
