Parliamentary office of evaluation of the scientific and technological choices

The Parliamentary office of evaluation of the scientific and technological choices (OPECST) has the role of informing the French Parlement of the consequences of choice of the scientific and technological nature in order to clarify its decisions. For this purpose it collects information, implements programs of studies and carries out evaluations The OPECST was created by the law n° 83-609 of the July 8th 1983, which stipulates that the Office must inform the Parliament of the consequences of choice of the scientific and technological nature, so, in particular, clarifying its decisions .

The members of the OPECST are designated in order to ensure a representation proportional of the political groups, is common to the National Assembly and the Sénat: the OPECST is composed of eighteen Député S and eighteen Senator S.

The presidency of the office is taken by a member of one or the other assembly, an alternative way, for one three years duration, the First Vice-president pertaining to the other assembly. Currently (2007), the President of the OPECST is the senator Henri Revol and the First Vice-president the deputy Claude Birraux.

The problems tackled by the OPECST were distributed about also between four broad topics: the energy, the Environment, the new technologies and the Life sciences. Certain files were renewed several years of continuation, for example those related to the nuclear energy. Others asked for the actualization of a preceding report/ratio of the office (Semi-conducteur S, numerical high definition television, Radioactive waste with long life, etc).

The independence of the OPECST on the related questions with the nuclear power was however questioned by several observers, of which Michele Rivasi, Députée Drome of 1998 to 2002 and founder of CRIIRAD: it had many difficulties to be allowed to sit within this office in spite of its recognized competence and declared in particular: " One does not imagine at which point the lobby nuclaire impregnates work of Office" (quoted in Appointed under influences, of Helene Constanty and Vincent Nouzille, Beech, 2006).

Members (updated: August 2007)

President: First Vice-president: Vice-presidents: Members:

External bonds

  • Site of the OPECST - lodged by the Senate
  • Presentation of the OPECST on the site of the National Assembly
  • Reports/ratios of the OPECST

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