Doc. 8323

10 February 1999

Scientific and technological development in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Strizhko and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. CIS countries still experience the consequences of the crisis caused by the failures in the transition from the planned economy to a market-oriented one. This crisis has had negative impacts on the general status of science, on activities of research institutions, as well as employment of researchers.

2. CIS countries have failed to reverse the drastic reduction in the overall level of scientific and technological research efforts. They have been unable to establish an effective coordination in academic, university-run and applied science and technology, and involve scientists from the military science and technology establishments in the civil sector. In general, the use of the available scientific and human potential has been far from optimal. The deteriorating social status of the CIS research community deprives scientists of a positive influence on the authorities, thus complicating the solution of social and economic problems.

3. The decline of the considerable research and development (R&D) base in the CIS countries has been negative for European science and technology as a whole, in particular by posing obstacles to European and international research programmes. It is therefore a common European concern to maintain the R&D potential in the CIS countries through bilateral and multilateral co-operation projects.

4. The Assembly is concerned by the decline in the status of scientific activity and employment and, in particular, in the education of the new generation of researchers. These developments bring about an increasing risk of irreversible losses in the scientific and humanitarian development in all CIS countries.

5. Massive unemployment among the scientists in the CIS countries and the ongoing «brain drain» can also unleash an uncontrollable process through which both scientists and research units get involved in the unwanted development and proliferation of various types and systems of weapons.

6. In its Resolution 1075 (1996) on scientific and technological co-operation with central and eastern European countries, the Assembly acknowledged the all-European value of the R&D potential of these countries and emphasized that co-operation was already insufficient and vulnerable, noting the need to develop a ‘second generation’ co-operation.

7. The Assembly therefore calls upon the governments of the member states and the European Union:

i. to study the basic trends in the research activities of the CIS countries and assess the efficiency of the measures taken the last years with the view to developing R&D efforts in the CIS countries;

ii. to intensify the all-European R&D co-operation, in particular by enhancing the R&D component in all assistance programmes targeted towards the CIS countries;

iii. to draw up a concept of developing pan-European R&D co-operation with the CIS countries, as well as improving the interaction between science, technology, and industry through institutional development and legislative reforms.

Signed : ¹

Strizhko, Ukraine, UEL

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Connor, Ireland, EPP/CD

Cunliffe, United Kingdom, SOC

Dees, Netherlands, LDR

Guirado, Spain, SOC

Gylys, Lithuania, SOC

Jirousova, Czech Republic, UEL

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Kulbaka, Russia, UEL

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Lorenzi, Italy, NR

Loule, Greece, UEL

Marmazov, Ukraine, UEL

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Naysmith, United Kingdom, SOC

Speroni, Italy, NR

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Wittbrodt, Poland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group