Scientific and technological aspects of the extension of the European Communities

Recommendation 499 (1967)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 26th Septembre 1967 (10th and 11th Sittings) (see Doc. 2279, report of the Committee on Science and Technology) Text adopted by the Assembly on 27th September 1967 (12th Sitting)

The Assembly,

1. Noting that during the last year Europe has shown continued anxiety about its technological and scientific backwardness in relation to the United States of America ; welcomes the fact that allocations for scientific and technological research have been substantially increased in several member countries in spite of reduction of expenditure in general ;

2. Conscious that, in order to safeguard its independence, Europe must mobilise its resources and make rational use of its potential in scientists, in equipment and in research and education centres ; believes that the future success of European scientific and technological co-operation depends to a large extent on the enlargement of the European Communities ;

3. Noting that nearly all existing enterprises for European co-operation in science and technology transcend the limit of the European Communities ; believes that everything should be done to develop them on the widest possible European basis ;

4. Calling attention to the danger that, should the United Kingdom and other non-Members of EEC be kept on the verge of Europe, their scientific and technological potential could gradually become involved in co-operation with the USA, thereby increasing the disequilibrium between the two sides of the Atlantic ; regrets that European scientific and technological co-operation is marking time because of the uncertainty concerning European integration ;

5. Believing that Europe's weakness in science-based industries is due to a weakness in managerial skills and to inferior European ability in transforming research results into technological applications and industrial products ;

6. Noting with satisfaction that European countries have agreed to build jointly, aircraft , space launchers, satellites etc. ; regrets that member Governments have not laid down a common, purchasing policy for the products the production of which they finance ;

7. Calling attention to the fact that this, which implies a lack of motivation in European scientific and technological co-operation, leads to a waste of human, scientific, technological and economic resources and skills,

8. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to take the necessary steps :

to ensure that in an extended Community high priority be given to laying down a common scientific and technological European research-development policy including a commitment to purchase the products of common enterprises ;

to encourage the forming of multinational consortia of science-based industries for the purpose of more efficient production and marketing of European technological products in Europe and overseas.