Comparative Table of Parliamentary TA Institutions
FRANCE - OFFICE PARLEMENTAIRE D´EVALUATION DES CHOIX
SCIENTIFIQUES ET TECHNOLOGIQUES
INSTITUTIONALISATION
Whereas science was long considered as a
vehicle of knowledge, and not as the principle of an action, modern times have
witnessed the development of sciences and technologies enabling mankind to act
upon nature. However, in doing so, fresh problems and new concerns have arisen.
From this observation was born the idea of technology assessment which appeared
essential to scientific and political bodies. Mechanisms had to be put in place
in order to control technical progress while, at the same time, anticipating
its consequences.
In the early 1980’s, during a number of debates
such as the orientations concerning nuclear, spatial or cable programmes, the
French Parliament came to the conclusion that it was unable to assess
Government decisions on the major directions of scientific and technological
policy. It therefore decided to establish its own structure of assessment: the
Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (Office
Parlementaire d’Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et Technologiques, OPECST).
The OPECST, which was set up by Law
n° 83-609 of July 8, 1983, following a unanimous vote of Parliament, aims,
within the terms of the Law, »to inform Parliament of the consequences of the
choice of scientific and technological options, in particular, so as to enable
it to make enlightened decisions«. To do this, it »collects information,
launches study programmes and carries out assessments«.
ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The OPECST is an unusual structure within Parliament: its members, who
are appointed so as to ensure proportional representation of the
political groups, belong both to the National Assembly and to the
Senate. It is composed of eighteen MPs and eighteen Senators; each
member may be appointed as a rapporteur. A rapporteur is an MP or a
Senator in charge of writing a report on a given subject.
The OPECST is chaired alternately for a period of three years, by a
member of either assembly. Internal rules stipulate that the First
Vice-President shall belong to the other Assembly.
The OPECST acts as an intermediary between the political world and the
world of research. It must listen to researchers and requests
authorized opinions. In order to carry out its task, the OPECST is
assisted by a Scientific Council reflecting the diversity of scientific
and technological disciplines in its very composition, as it is made up
of twenty- four leading figures selected on account of their expertise.
FINDING TOPICS
Matters may be referred to the OPECST by the Bureau of either Assembly
(upon its own initiative, upon the initiative of the chairman of a
political group, or upon the initiative of 60 MPs or forty Senators),
or by a committee.
Until now, the topics dealt with have belonged to four main areas:
energy, environment, new technologies and life sciences.
Some matters referred to the OPECST have been reexamined for several
years, such as problems connected with the safety and security of
nuclear installations. Others have required the updating of one of the
OPECST´s previous reports (development of the semiconductor sector,
television with digital high-definition, high-activity nuclear waste,
etc.). The renewal of referrals on such matters has enabled the OPECST
to ensure a real follow-up of certain subjects.
WORK PROCEDURES AND METHODS
THE APPOINTMENT OF A RAPPORTEUR
Any matter referred to the OPECST leads to the appointment of one or
more rapporteurs, exclusively selected amongst the members of the
OPECST. Several study programmes have brought together an MP and a
Senator.
THE FEASABILITY STUDY
Once appointed, the rapporteur first makes a feasibility study. This
study aims at providing a snapshot of knowledge on the topic,
determining possible research avenues, appreciating the possibilities
of obtaining relevant results in the required time period and, last,
determining the necessary means to start a study programme. The
rapporteur then submits the conclusions of his feasibility study
together with methodological remarks to the members of the OPECST. At
that stage, he suggests either that the study should be closed, (this
happens very rarely), or he proposes to modify the extent of the study
(a study first dealing with biofuels was thus extended to prospects for
development of non food agricultural products), or, much more
frequently a study programme is set up that leads to the drawing?up of
a report.
THE DRAFTING OF A REPORT
The rapporteur then goes ahead with hearings enabling him to gather,
without exclusion, all opinions from concerned persons and
organisations. He may also travel in France or abroad in order to
inspect installations and firms connected with his work. Throughout his
study, the rapporteur is assisted by a parliamentary civil servant and,
if need be, by a study group made up of specialists from outside
Parliament. He may also hire French or foreign free?lance experts and
consultants for further investigation into specific items. He may
likewise gather the opinions of trade unions, professional bodies, and
organisations for the protection of the environment or consumer
defence. However, the OPECST reports are not restricted to setting out
the experts´ points of view. Their conclusions are the work of
Parliamentarians and may go beyond merely informing, by including
suggestions and recommendations. If the rapporteur deems it necessary,
public hearings, open to the press, are organised to gather and
confront the opinions of leading figures and organisations wishing to
express themselves on the subject in discussion. The minutes of these
hearings may then be annexed to the report.
THE RAPPORTEURS´ POWERS
The OPECST rapporteur have identical powers to financial rapporteurs:
they may therefore carry out direct investigations on any State Agency
and have access to any available document, with the exception of those
dealing with military matters or State security. In addition, in the
event of difficulties encountered in exercising their mission, the
OPECST rapporteurs may request to be given the prerogatives granted to
parliamentary committees of inquiry.
THE PUBLICATION OF REPORTS
At the end of their work, the rapporteurs submit their draft report and
their conclusions to the members of the OPECST. These conclusions are
presented in such a way that they may be used directly for legislative
work or budgetary discussion. Members of the OPECST must decide whether
they publish these reports and all or part of the minutes of the
hearings and the contributions by the experts. In this respect, the
OPECST´s decisions are mostly unanimous and the consensus of its
decisions is one of the OPECST´s main features.
The documents from the OPECST, which make up a special collection
within all the parliamentary reports, are on sale at the »Boutique de
l´Assemblée Nationale«, at the »Espace Librairie du Sénat« and at the
Journal officiel, and are available on each Assembly website. Since its
creation, the OPECST has published more than 90 reports.
TOPICS
RECENT REPORTS
- Nuclear safety, the scope of the nuclear safety, present
and future outlook of the nuclear industry, by Messrs Christian
Bataille, deputy and Bruno Sido, senator (13th legislature, December
2011).
- Innovation put to the test of fears and risks, by Messrs
Claude Birraux and Jean-Yves Le Déaut, deputies (13th legislature,
January 2012).
- The impact and challenges of the new diagnosis and
therapeutic technologies for the brain, by Messrs Alain Claeys and
Jean-Sébastien Vialatte, deputies (13th legislature, February 2012).
- The stakes of synthetic biology, by Mrs Geneviève Fioraso,
deputy (13th legislature, February 2012).
- Technological breakthroughs in medical science, by Mr
Claude Birraux, deputy, National Assembly report 3723 (13th legislature)
- The stakes of strategic metals : the case of rare earths
elements, by Messrs Claude Birraux and Christian Kert, deputies.
National Assembly report 3716 (13th legislature)
- Endocrine disruptors : a time for caution, by Mr Gilbert
Barbier, senator. National Assembly report 3662 (13th legislature),
Senate 765 (2010 - 2011).
- Nuclear safety : Intermediate report of the special joint
parliamentary committee on nuclear safety, present and future outlook
of the nuclear industry, by Messrs Christian Bataille and Claude
Birraux, deputies, and Bruno Sido, senator. National Assembly report
3614 (13th legislature), Senate 701 (2010 - 2011).
- The pollution in the mediterranean sea : current situation
and perspectives for 2030, by Mr Roland Courteau, senator. National
Assembly report 3589 (13th legislature), Senate 652 (2010 - 2011).
- Assessment of the three-year national plan on radioactive
waste management, by Messrs Christian Bataille and Claude Birraux,
deputies. National Assembly report 3108 (13th legislature), Senate 248
(2010 - 2011).
- Mathematics in France and in modern sciences, by Mr Claude
Birraux, deputy. National Assembly report 3085 (13th legislature),
Senate 222 (2010 - 2011).
- State of research on the prevention and treatment of
obesity, by Mrs Brigitte Bout, senator. National Assembly report 3020
(13th legislature), Senate 158 (2010 - 2011).
- Assessment of the application of Article 26 of the
Bioethics Act, by Messrs Alain Claeys and Jean-Sébastien Vialatte,
deputies. National Assembly report 2718 (13th legislature), Senate 652
(2009 - 2010).
- Mutation of viruses and the management of pandemics: the
example of the A(H1N1) virus (final report), by Mr Jean-Pierre Door,
deputy, and Mrs Christine Blandin, senator. National Assembly report
2654 (13th legislature), Senate 581 (2009 - 2010).
- Management of pandemics: HINI, what hindsight? (report of
the public hearing of 14 June 2010), by Mr Jean-Pierre Door, deputy,
and Mrs Christine Blandin, senator. National Assembly report 2717 (13th
legislature), Senate 651 (2009 - 2010).
- Effects on health and the environment of the
electromagnetic fields produced by high and very high voltage lines, by
Mr Daniel Raoul, senator. National Assembly report 2588 (13th
legislature), Senate 506 (2009 - 2010).
- Pesticides and health, by Mr Claude Gatignol, deputy, and
Mr Jean-Claude Etienne, senator. National Assembly report 2463 (13th
legislature), Senate 421 (2009 - 2010).
- Mutation of viruses and the management of pandemics: the
example of the A(H1N1) virus (interim report), by Mr Jean-Pierre Door,
deputy, and Mrs Christine Blandin, senator. National Assembly report
2314 (13th legislature), Senate 307 (2009 - 2010).
- Faced with A(H1N1) influenza and the mutation of viruses,
what can researchers and the public authorities do? (Report of the
public hearing of 1 December 2009), by Mr Jean-Pierre Door, deputy, and
Mrs Christine Blandin, senator. National Assembly report 2226 (13th
legislature), Senate 204 (2009 - 2010).
- Assessment of the principles applying in France to animal
experimentation and alternative methods to it, by Messrs. Michel
Lejeune and Jean-Louis Touraine, deputies. National Assembly report
2145 (13th legislature), Senate 155 (2009 - 2010).
PUBLIC HEARINGS
- An assessment of French presence in sub Antarctic islands,
by Messrs Claude Birraux, deputy, and Bruno Sido, senator.
- Monogenic diseases : the current situation, by Messrs
Claude Birraux and Jean-Louis Touraine, deputies.
- The stakes of strategic metals : the case of rare earths
elements, by Messrs Claude Birraux and Christian Kert, deputies.
- Technological breakthroughs in medicine, by Mr Claude
Birraux, deputy. National Assembly report 3723 (13th legislature)
- The Alliances : a new dynamic for research, by Mr Claude
Birraux, deputy, National Assembly report 3375 (13th legislature),
Senate 453 (2010 - 2011).
- The inputs of sciences and technologies to the evolution of
financial markets, by Mr Claude Birraux, deputy, National Assembly
report 2987 (13th legislature), Senate 140 (2010 - 2011).
- Lessons to be learnt from the eruption of the volcano
Eyjafjöll, by Mr Christian Kert, deputy. National Assembly report 2851
(13th legislature), Senate 28 (2010 - 2011).
- Is France ready for an earthquake? by Messrs Jean-Claude
Étienne and Roland Courteau, senators. National Assembly report 2721
(13th legislature), Senate 653 (2009 - 2010).
TARGET GROUPS
First, Members of parliament. But also research institutions, academies
of science, universities and civil society.
COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICATIONS
OPECST reports are published. A summary of 4 pages is usually also
available. All its publications and the videos of its public hearings
are posted on the National Assembly web site, section OPECST.
IMPACT
The Office has progressively become an acknowledged instrument of
parliamentary action. Several laws make provision either for it to be
informed of, or to participate in the appointment of representatives of
Parliament to various bodies, or for its representation, by its
President or one of its members, on the board of directors of various
organisations. It has also become a special interlocutor for the
scientific community as a whole and maintains close links with it. The
events bringing together the OPECST and high level scientific
organisations, Académies, CEA, Cité des Sciences et de l?Industrie,
CNRS, etc.? are the true illustration of this.
Every year, several conferences and seminars are organised by the
OPECST, either in relation to one of its reports or on a scientific or
technological subject. Finally, the OPECST also contributes to the
development of international parliamentary relations and takes part in
various congresses and events, in particular at a European level. Thus,
over the last few years, we have seen the setting?up of an information
and exchange network, the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
(EPTA), bringing together the European organisations responsible for
conducting scientific and technological assessments for national
Parliaments and the European Parliament.
In the near future, the OPECST would like to continue to strengthen its
various missions and, in particular, to play a role in furthering the
exchange between the political and scientific worlds.
THE WAY AHEAD
1. Study in progress
Outlook of the civil aviation for 2040.
2. Towards a new group of MPs members of OPECST, after the future
parliamentary elections in June 2012. A new programme of studies will
be
then launched, probably in September-October 2012.
CONTACT
OPECST
Office Parlementaire d´Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et
Technologiques
Assemblee Nationale
103, rue de
l´Université
F-75355 Paris Cedex 07 SP
France
Chairperson: Mr Bruno Sido, Senator (Senate)
First Vice-Chairperson: Mr Claude Birraux, Deputy (National Assembly)
Fon +33 1 40 63 70 56, 65
Fax +33 1 40 63 70 95
Assemblée nationale : Mr Eric Szij
Sénat : Mr Philippe Dally
opecst@senat.fr
opecst-groupe@assemblee-nationale.fr
www.senat.fr/opecst/english.html
www.assemblee-nationale.fr/documents/index-oecst-gb.asp
www.opecst.assemblee-nationale.fr
© EPTA, provided by ITA; version 19 Oct 2012