The Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment

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.

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 1980s, during a number of debates such as the orientations concerning nuclear, spatial or cable programmes, the FrenchParliament came to the conclusion that it was unable to assess Government decisions on themajor directions of scientific and technological policy. It therefore decided to establish its own structure of assessment: the Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (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."

The structure of the OPECST

An independent body

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 M.P.s and eighteen Senators; each member may be appointed as a « rapporteur ». A « rapporteur » is an M.P. 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.

Only M. P.s or Senators may refer matters to the OPECST

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 sixty M.P.s 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 OPECSTs previous reports (development of the semiconductor sector, television with digital highdefinition, high activity nuclear waste, etc.). The renewal of referrals on such matters has enabled the OPECST to ensure a real followup of certain subjects.

The Scientific Council
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 and technological disciplines in its very composition, as it is made up of twenty four leading figures selected on account of their expertise.

The study programmes

The appointment of the « 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 M.P. and a Senator.

The feasibility study
When a « rapporteur » has been appointed, he first draws up a feasibility study, whose aim is to establish the state of our knowledge on the subject, to determine possible trends of research, to assess the possibilities of obtaining relevant results within the deadline, and finally to evaluate the necessary means for starting 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 prospectsfor 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 organizations for the protection of the environment or consumerdefence.
However, the OPECST reports are not restricted to setting out the experts points of view. Their conclusions are the work of Parlamentarians 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 « rapporteurs » 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.

The OPECST ’s influence and international activities

The OPECST has over the years become an efficient instrument in parliamentary affairs. 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 ofvarious organisations.
It has also become an acknowledged spokesman for the whole scientific community and maintains privileged links with this community. The events bringing together the OPECST and high level scientific organisations, the Académie des Sciences, 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.

  Hearings : reports in English

- Is tuberculosis a major public health problem ? February 22^th 2007

- Nanotechnologies : potential risks and ethical challenges, November 7^th 2006

- Electromagetic compatibility between mobile telephony and electronic medical equipment, July 5^th 2006

- Research on the operation of human cells (report no 3498), November 22^th 2005