European Parliament proposes €1M system to improve foresight research

MEP James Elles

The proposal, made in a recently adopted amendment to the EU’s draft budget for 2010, calls for a system to be set up across the EU’s various institutions that would be coordinated between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers. The goal is for it to be up and running by 2012.

Elles, who tabled the amendment on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, said the system would have a similar function to the US National Intelligence Council, which describes itself as, “A centre of strategic thinking within the US Government,” providing the President and senior policymakers with analyses of foreign policy issues.

The move by the European Parliament – which awaits approval by the Council – is one of a series of calls to improve the way the EU plans its policies. The Parliament is due to release a report, “EU policy challenges 2009-2019”, the first time it has drawn up such a long-term analysis. Meanwhile, the European Commission recently published its foresight report, “The World in 2025.” And in recent weeks several scientific advisory groups have handed policy makers their assessments of the major challenges for society and recommendations of what needs to be done to tackle these issues (see separate article, “What next in Brussels?”).

Elles, the longest-serving member of the European Parliament’s budget committee, told Science|Business that examining long-term trends must become a central a part of European thinking, as is the case in the US and China. Such an approach is essential for effective forward planning and the right budgetary analysis, he said.

“There is very little capacity for the analysis of long-term trends in Europe,” Elles argues. Too much time has been spent concentrating on “reassuring and underpinning our structures” rather than on the debate of, “how we remain competitive in the 21st century,” he said.

Elles founded the Transatlantic Policy Network way back in 1992, and relations between business and policymakers in the US and Europe is an issue close to his heart. One of his goals for the new parliamentary term is to put a greater focus on how a trans-Atlantic partnership can address global challenges.

One manifestation of US’s technological advantage over Europe can be seen in the vastly greater strength of its IT sector. Part of the reason for Europe’s long-term failure to foster global IT companies is that European policy does not recognise the extent to which the Internet is a tool for innovation, Elles said.

The European Internet Foundation – co-founded by Elles in 2000 and led by MEPs with membership from technology companies and associations – aims to change that mindset. In its latest report, the foundation analysed probable outcomes for how the digital world may look in 2025, and identified areas that should therefore be EU policy priorities.

There seems to be no shortage of recommendations circulating, but it remains to be seen to what extent this advice is heeded and coordinated.