The European Parliament acknowledged inadequacies in respect of scientific and technological information. It seemed to it very urgent to rectify this situation, given that the European Parliament has acquired , under the European Union Treaty, more powers in the field of Research in particular having been given a power of co-decision regarding the adoption of frameworks-programmes. The European Parliament will only be able to truly fulfill its role of co-legislation and control of the executive if it rectifies firstly its own information deficit. The problem is not one of a lack of information in quantitative terms - there is an abundance of available scientific information - but is one of how rendering the different existing informations operable within inter-relations and interconnected networks. It is a question of giving the European Parliament access to the multifarious information available, which is a sine qua non for exercising independent judgement. It is also a question of enabling the European Pa

rliament to use the information available in an "intelligent" manner so that it can be used in everyone's decision process. Beyond its "classical" legislative functions, the European Parliament could also operate as an "interface" between Science and Society, and to promote public discussions on the consequences of scientific and technological progress. The scientific stakes are too important for the future of our societies to be left only to Experts, technostructures or large corporations. These stakes must be questioned and debated. The European Parliament proposes therefore to organise regularly "parliamentary fora on Science and Technology" where the scientific problems with a significant social impact be discussed with the representatives of the European Scientific Community. Given the advent of a increasingly autonomous "techno-science", it is essential to develop the means of democratic control at European level.

Michel Hervé, MEP