European Parliament
President.
Question No 38 by Teresa Riera Madurell 
Subject: The Community budget and the Seventh Framework Programme for R[amp]D
Commissioner Potočnik, appearing before Parliament on 26 January 2006, admitted that grave problems will arise from the proposed cuts in the financial perspective as regards achieving the objectives of the Seventh Framework Programme (it is, however, true that we will have to wait till the end of the negotiations on the final budget before the exact amount of the cuts is known).
Can the Commission explain the main ideas it is considering for adapting the framework programme to this less generous financial situation? Does it intend to keep the existing proportions for the distribution of resources between programmes? Does the Commission not believe that one of the aspects which should not be seriously undermined is the strengthening of support for researchers in order to stem the present 'brain drain'?

