The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is currently being considered by the institutions.
Research is, of course, an area where it makes sense for all our member states to pool their resources: to have a common programme on subjects of common interest is much more effective than duplicating each other 25 times over.
Part of the programme relates to medical research on public health issues. That has come under pressure from those who argue that it does not meet the priorities of economic competitiveness as defined in the Lisbon Agenda. This is a short-sighted view and should be refuted by all those ministers and MEPs who are currently deliberating on the programme's priorities.
Health research is indeed not only worthwhile in its own right, but also in terms of its economic merits. Take, for example, respiratory health, which is currently lacking from the programme. Respiratory health problems are Europe's second-biggest killer, accounting for one in four deaths. That costs our health systems €102 million every year. It is also the major cause of absenteeism from work.
It gets far less coverage than cancer or cardiovascular diseases, but it ranks alongside them both in scale and in its need for further research on countering the growth of lung diseases, asthma and so on. We must make sure that area of research forms part of the Seventh Programme.