9 October 1995

Doc. 7413

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on parliaments and the assessment of scientific and technological choices

presented by Mr BIRRAUX and others

1.       Scientific and technological progress over the past few decades has caused unprecedented upheavals in people's lives and values, making it clear that knowledge will be the key to the economy of the future. A country's competitiveness and its population's well-being therefore depend increasingly on policy-makers' scientific and technological choices and strategies.

2.       To meet the need to provide parliamentarians with sound, independent information on scientific and technological issues, a new form of co-operation between the worlds of science and politics has been introduced, known under its English name of "Technology Assessment". So far, a few parliaments have established institutionalised machinery, but their experience already demonstrates that they are able to satisfy society's needs more fully while avoiding the pitfalls involved.

3.       The Assembly therefore asks the parliaments of the member states:

i.       to set up Technology Assessment machinery geared to their specific economic, political, cultural and scientific features and requirements as soon as possible;

ii.       to encourage openness and public debate on the aims of scientific and technological policy;

iii.       to make use of the experience and equipment already acquired to encourage the setting up of Technology Assessment bodies in the central and east European countries in order to help them transform their economic systems.

Signed:

Birraux, France, PPE

Mocioi, Romania, UEL

Roseta, Portugal, LDR

Golu, Romania, SOC

Bogár, Hungary, EDG

Požéla, Lithuania, LDR

Prokeš, Slovakia, PPE

Olrich, Iceland, EDG

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Lorenzi, Italy, LDR

Dees, Netherlands, LDR

Lekberg, Sweden, SOC

Hurta, Czech Republic, SOC

Szalay, Hungary, LDR

Yürür, Turkey, EDG

Bauer, Austria, -

Rott, Hungary, PPE

J. Thompson, United Kingdom, SOC

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left