Coastal/Marine GI/GIS - A Pan-European Perspective
57
nature. The MAST programme of DG XII and environmental actions of the DG Joint
Research Centre (JRC) are the most relevant actions for CZM researchers.
The CZM research and technology development and applications community
is required to make themselves fully conversant with dozens of EU sponsored
initiatives in order to be in the best position to apply for research support. Also, there
is no central body that makes any attempt at “coordinating” such research across
national boundaries or across disciplines or application areas. No one speaks for
“coastal zone management” at the decision making level of the EU institutions -
although many Directorates will claim “to represent the needs of the CZM
community”.
Many of the EC directed programmes listed above are also in their final stages
of funding, due to the expiration of the Fourth Framework Programme in 1998, from
which budget line they were primarily resourced. Further delays can be expected in
adoption of the Commission’s proposals for the Fifth Framework Programme due to
objections from the European Parliament and the Council of Research Ministers that
are still being debated. The implication for CZM researchers is that, with no or few
new calls for proposals expected in the dying stages of the Fourth Framework
Programme, no new funding was available until late 1998, for programmes or projects
to start in 1999.
There has been a steady shift away from “research” towards “development”
and now “near market actions” across the Third, Fourth and Fifth Framework
Programmes, respectively. Many of the “Key Actions” that are the focus of the Fifth
Framework Programme will focus on “Information Society” issues, rather than pure
research. The GI/GIS community is already concerned about this. An approach to the
European Parliament’s Committee on Research, Technological Development and
Energy was made to ensure that GI is not buried in the programme of work as a “geopublishing” issue (which was the thinking). The CZM research community needs to
consider a similar approach, before it is too late.
Therefore, it is up to the CZM research community itself to:
know whom to approach (senior Commission officials and European
Parliamentarians),
when (during major programme development exercises, such as those
underway for the Fifth Framework Programme),
with what objective(s) (seeing that any special needs in relation to CZM
research are not forgotten in the clamouring of hundreds of other special
interest groups), and
how (by understanding the programme development and full project
implementation cycles, the key players who determine budgets, how the
budgetary system of the EU Institutions works, and how to join forces with
57
nature. The MAST programme of DG XII and environmental actions of the DG Joint
Research Centre (JRC) are the most relevant actions for CZM researchers.
The CZM research and technology development and applications community
is required to make themselves fully conversant with dozens of EU sponsored
initiatives in order to be in the best position to apply for research support. Also, there
is no central body that makes any attempt at “coordinating” such research across
national boundaries or across disciplines or application areas. No one speaks for
“coastal zone management” at the decision making level of the EU institutions -
although many Directorates will claim “to represent the needs of the CZM
community”.
Many of the EC directed programmes listed above are also in their final stages
of funding, due to the expiration of the Fourth Framework Programme in 1998, from
which budget line they were primarily resourced. Further delays can be expected in
adoption of the Commission’s proposals for the Fifth Framework Programme due to
objections from the European Parliament and the Council of Research Ministers that
are still being debated. The implication for CZM researchers is that, with no or few
new calls for proposals expected in the dying stages of the Fourth Framework
Programme, no new funding was available until late 1998, for programmes or projects
to start in 1999.
There has been a steady shift away from “research” towards “development”
and now “near market actions” across the Third, Fourth and Fifth Framework
Programmes, respectively. Many of the “Key Actions” that are the focus of the Fifth
Framework Programme will focus on “Information Society” issues, rather than pure
research. The GI/GIS community is already concerned about this. An approach to the
European Parliament’s Committee on Research, Technological Development and
Energy was made to ensure that GI is not buried in the programme of work as a “geopublishing” issue (which was the thinking). The CZM research community needs to
consider a similar approach, before it is too late.
Therefore, it is up to the CZM research community itself to:
know whom to approach (senior Commission officials and European
Parliamentarians),
when (during major programme development exercises, such as those
underway for the Fifth Framework Programme),
with what objective(s) (seeing that any special needs in relation to CZM
research are not forgotten in the clamouring of hundreds of other special
interest groups), and
how (by understanding the programme development and full project
implementation cycles, the key players who determine budgets, how the
budgetary system of the EU Institutions works, and how to join forces with