The Specific Programmes are part of the legal basis for the Framework Programme, and have been formally agreed through an official consultative process involving both the European Parliament and the National Governmental representatives of each of the Member States (Council of Ministers). The Specific Programmes expand upon the formal decision to have a Framework Programme, and provide a more detailed approach to the types of activities that should take place in that area.

For FP7, the Specific Programmes (e.g., Co-operation, Ideas, People, Capacities) have been been combined into one document. The Annual Workprogrammes for each area may make explicit reference to this Specific Programme document, and any in case will have been produced in line with the spirit of this document.

You might choose to look at the Specific Programme document to see what sorts of areas are expected to be covered in your field in the lifetime of the Framework Programme (2007-2013). Bearing in mind that the workprogrammes associated with calls for proposals are expected to be revised on an annual basis, it may be that there is nothing directly relevant to you in the current call, but that you might seek to be prepared in advance of a future call.

However, you should note that whilst the Annual Workprogramme may change on an annual basis, if an activity is not mentioned in the Specific Programme document – and is not in the scope of the Specific Programme - then it should NEVER appear in the workprogramme.

The complete Specific Programme document for FP7 can be downloaded from here

The individual FP7 Specific Programme documents are available in pdf format from the links below:

 Co-operation

Ideas

People - for pages 1 and 2, please refer to the end of the Ideas SP

Capacities

Joint Research Centre

Euratom

Euratom Joint Research Centre

The Framework Programme official decision document is available for download here