The 7th Framework Programme is expected to be the chief instrument of the European Commission for funding scientific research and technological development over the period 2007 to 2013. The Commission's proposals have been published, after a year of consultations with the stakeholders involved, and will now go through the co-decision procedure for approval and adoption by the European Parliament and Council. The final decision is expected in 2006.

The Commission is proposing a total budget of 72,726 bil. euro for FP7. The four basic programmes are the following:

• Cooperation (collaborative research between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities in specific thematic areas)
• Ideas (basic or 'frontier' research, European Research Council)
• People (mobility of researchers, Marie Curie actions)
• Capacities (research infrastructures, regional research-driven clusters, SMEs)

The first calls for proposals will be published in 2007. The goals, the implementation and the results of the Programme will be evaluated in the mid-term, not later than 2010.

More information about the basic programmes of FP7, the relevant news and events are available at EKT's special web service for FP7: http://www.ekt.gr/fp7