Budget worries cloud Europe’s science plans

because the Commission had been unable to spend all of last year's money. " We accept that this is a priority area, but since you are already underspending, we don't believe they'll be able to spend more of it, " an official said. " It is unhelpful and unfortunate that the commission should choose to single out one country when, as presidency, we are representing the whole council and this is an agreed council position. " Meanwhile the Commission has announced the 22 founding members of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council, which will oversee the ERC's scientific strategy and forms a key part of its Framework 7 research strategy. The ERC represents a new venture for Brussels that seeks to support the best researchers in the EU, a plan that many hope will survive the current budget wrangles. Britain's current presidency of the European Union is overshadowed by worries about the budget in the face of rejection of the new constitution by voters in France and the Netherlands. But the Commission is pressing ahead with science funding plans and its proposal for a new European Research Council. Nigel Williams reports.