EU research policy has a huge budget: € 54 billion set are for the period 2006-13, the 7th Research Framework Programme. Preparations for the 8th FRP (2014-2020) long run, and many lobbyists are on the way to secure for universities, research institutes and research-intensive companies and SMEs to a piece of the pie. A large part of the budget goes to applied research, that is: technology development.
is not surprising that military High-tech companies increased their R & D are interested in helping. As the EU European cooperation in defense stepped up (see blog post on 11 November, "Hard times for the armaments lobby" ), is close to that.
The NGO IPS reported that advise EU officials and defense contractors' behind closed doors "on whether the research program may also include military projects. IPS quoted the current policy consultant and former head of strategic business development at Rheinmetall AG (Defence), Burkhard part, by saying he would like the inclusion of projects such as reconnaissance and combat UAVs (Unmanned Air Vehicles, UAV). These drones have both civilian and military utility and should be financed by the EU, part of IPS. You could use for border control or for military missions such as Afghanistan to be used.
Military research has been possible only in peripheral areas, namely where there are civilian and military uses ("dual use"). One reason is that governments of the Member States of the EU Commission, which manages the research funds will not allow too much influence in military affairs. Foreign and Security Policy has been largely a matter for the Council of the EU have been. While the EU is now with Catherine Ashton a "foreign minister", which is next to the office of a Vice-President of the Commission is also head of the European Defence Agency EDA , established to coordinate the European military procurement market. Overly broad powers do the states grant Brussels not. Experience shows that Brussels is rapidly gaining influence in the policy areas, not intended for the legal powers if the EU plays off their funding.
"security research" (Security Research) is nevertheless a part of the 7th Research Framework Programme ( Description on the website of the BMBF ). 2006, this was the first time a priority focal point of cross-cutting, the other policy areas such as transport, health, energy and environment affected. Security research € 1.3 billion were made available. However, the focus was on threats such as terrorism, border security, organized crime, natural disasters and industrial accidents.
The focus on civil and domestic security concluded previously conventional weapons research with military character. Now the need in the defense industry, however large, for most EU countries have great difficulties with the financing necessary modernization of their armed forces. For large projects, the governments lack both the money and political will. All the more enticing as Brussels is to money.
IPS has the central role of the EU-project network SANDERA (Security and Defence Policies in the European Research Area) out. Sandera is actually financed by the EU funding pot for the Social Sciences , and now it is the platform that will also be speaking at the involvement of the military projects.
According to a study published in October the European Parliament ("review of security measures in the Research Framework Programs, Policy Area civil rights and constitutional issues) replaced the defense industry already substantial subsidies from the EU budget under the rubric of security research. The study points out that companies such as BAE Systems, Diehl, EADS, Ericsson, Finnemecanica, Sagem, Siemens and Thales already during preparation of the key topics of research were involved (as on the advisory board European Security Research Advisory Board 2005-2006) . You could have the recommendations for the cutting of the area affect safety research, and they also benefited from the first pilot projects and from 2006 to the availability of regular funding.
In evaluation of project funding from the 7th Research Framework Programme the study notes that companies and organizations from five EU countries (France, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and Israel, which is involved since the 1990s in the EU's research policy) collected the bulk of the funding. Transnational companies in the security industry, institutes of applied research (such as the German Fraunhofer-group) as well as government bodies did the lion's share, while universities and NGOs were given only marginal funding.
classic sociological question stative verbs to legal, political, social and ethical issues of security research therefore received little attention during the development of technology are clearly in the foreground. Social science and technology projects would be criticized as a rule not zusammengeführt.Die study further that constitute the EU Commission, DG Research is often not, but the Enterprise Directorate-General of the central engine for the supported projects.
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