French scientists want long-term plan

Scientists in France have attacked the government for maintaining its silence on its plans for the long-term funding of science just a month ahead of legislation for the biggest overhaul of the country's research system in decades.

Legislation for a new organization and funding system for science is due to go before the French Parliament in June and to come into effect in January 2006.

Jacques Fossey, the secretary general of the National Union of Scientific Researchers, told The Scientist that he was very worried that the government was stalling on a commitment to increase funding to the European Union's target of spending 3% of gross domestic product on science each year by 2010.

"We have no information on the long-term funding plans of the government. The new law covers the period from 2005 to 2010, but we do not have any figures still about how much the government is...