EDITORIAL COMMENT on the European Commissioner’s Lecture

Commissioner Busquin’s lecture on 28th October 2002 at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1) was given in French, but excellent simultaneous translation was provided. By way of introduction we were told that he was previously a leader of the French Socialist Party and that his scientific background was in physics.

The discussion at the end of the lecture was conducted in English, with the help of his assistants. The editor of this website, while appreciating the commissioner’s view of the future, asked about a striking current anomaly. The EC of which he is a commissioner had just dispensed £84 million for the control of animal diseases in 2003 (2). This would necessarily involve a substantial research component. The UK got none of this funding. The reason apparently is that a clause in the conditions for the UK CAP Rebate meant that the UK would have to top up any such funds to the extent of 85%: a condition not required by any other European country. The UK therefore felt that it was not in a position to be able to apply for a share of these funds.

Whether or not the Commissioner understood the question was not clear. His answer did not address it. Unless such major and serious anomalies can be sorted out there would seem to be little future for an integrated research programme within Europe.

References

1. Research in Europe. Lecture by European Commissioner Philippe Busquin at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 28 October 2002. Reproduced on Land-Care.

2. UK not to share in £84m aid. Dundee Courier, 19/10/02. Reproduced on Land-Care.

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31 October 2002

EDITORIAL COMMENT on the European Commissioner’s Lecture

References