The EC Fourth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development has been discussed at a number of meetings over the past 12 months, including meetings of the Council of Ministers, CREST, the Committee for Scientific and Technological Research, the Council Research Group and COREPER. Ireland has been represented at all these meetings. There have also been a number of bilateral meetings with Commission officials.
The most recent meeting of the Council of Research Ministers took place on 29 April, 1993 and the next Council is on 30 June 1993. These are part of the ongoing process of consultation, exchange and refinement which will culminate eventually in a new framework programme. However, negotiations are, by definition, slow and protracted by virtue of the all-embracing nature of the framework programme, the complexity of the issues involved and the diversity of national interests.
The process is further complicated on this occasion by the fact that it is subject to new procedures set out in the Maastricht Treaty which has not yet been ratified by all member states. In view of this, it is possible that agreement on the programme will not be arrived at until later this year or even early 1994.