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The European Commission has completed its proposals for a European Research Area, creating the first picture of the ?12 billion Framework.

Three research and development programmes will concentrate on scientific research, infrastructure building to increase mobility of scientists and collaboration and public understanding. Two programmes will focus on research into nuclear safety.

The plans have to be approved by the European Parliament and Research Council, a process that is expected to take until mid-2002. More than 700 modifications were tabled to the proposal for the previous framework.

The framework is expected to run from 2002 to 2006.