» ECSA INTERNAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT With the 5th R&D Framework Programme still running and including Commission co-financed maritime and multimodal projects, the essentials of the 6th Framework Programme and the € 17,5 billion budget for 2002-2006 were agreed on by the Council and the European Parliament first half 2002. The Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, aims to stimulate EU research under in a genuine European Research Area (ERA), focused on boosting competitiveness, growth and employment in the EU and preventing fragmented research. Two major policy directions have been adopted. First, the principle of concentrating the research effort on selected priority fields. Second, new implementing instruments, namely the creation of networks of excellence, the putting together of integrated projects seeking to achieve ambitious objectives of strategic significance and thereby the possibility of providing European support for joint research initiatives by certain Member States. Several ECSA member companies took part in projects under the 5th Framework Programme. However, the Commission’s acknowledged rather heavy administrative requirements and procedures form a barrier for companies and associations to submit or playing a more active role in projects. The shipping sector will be able to benefit from the 6th Framework Programme on the technological front, probably in combination with the shipbuilding industry and/or equipment manufacturers, on areas such as design and propulsion, as well as in its own right in the context of e.g. human resources, safety, intermodal transport, and changes in demography and trades. An updated MIF R&D Master Plan was published in June 2002 and is meant to highlight the maritime industries views on R&D priority areas for use at national and EU level. Although not directly linked to the 6th Framework Programme, the Commission services have been invited to take these priorities into account when deciding on the specific programmes for the calls for project proposals.