The political leaders of the European
Union and the Russian Federation have taken a further
step towards the creation of a 'Common space of research
and education' between the two regions, with the
adoption on 10 May of a road map for its implementation.
The road map was agreed during the 15th EU-Russia
Summit in Moscow, hosted by the Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
Representing the EU were President of the European Council Jean-Claude Juncker,
Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and High Representative for
the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana.
According to the document, the space for research and education (which also
includes culture aspects) 'should reinforce people-to-people contacts, promote
common values and contribute to increase the competitiveness of the EU and
Russian economies.' It also notes the good cooperation that has already been
fostered between the two partners, as evidenced by the renewal of the Science
and Technology cooperation agreement in 2003.
The specific objective of the research element of the common space is to enhance
EU-Russian cooperation in priority fields of mutual interest, aimed at: developing
a knowledge-based society in the EU and Russia, promoting competitiveness and
economic growth, strengthening the links between research and innovation, and
maintaining small and medium sized entrepreneurship in research and innovation.
Possible research fields of mutual interest are put forward in the road map.
These include space, new materials and nanotechnologies, life sciences, information
society technologies (IST) and clean and renewable energy. The document also
calls for a focus on issues relating to intellectual property rights and the
development of conditions to stimulate innovation and quality improvements,
particularly within industry.
The instruments used to further research cooperation will include a planned
Permanent Partnership Council (PPC), designed to intensify dialogue between
the two regions. Other mechanisms are also mentioned, including the existing
EU-Russia cooperation agreement and its action plan, the Commission's framework
programmes and schemes such as EUREKA and INTAS.
Using these instruments, it is foreseen that the EU and Russia will do the
following:
- determine the main short and medium term research
tasks in each subsequently agreed field of
cooperation;
- support the participation of Russian organisations in ongoing EU
projects, if necessary using additional Russian funding;
- strengthen the submission of proposals that include Russian participation;
- encourage Russian participation in the consultation process for the
Seventh Framework Programme (FP7);
- improve instruments to support the mobility of both Russian and EU
researchers;
- promote the participation of EU-based researchers in Russian programmes.
Under
a separate road map to create a common economic
space, the EU and Russia also pledged to establish
an information society dialogue, including a consultation
mechanism to devise policies and strategies in
technology areas of mutual interest. The main objectives
of cooperation in this field are closer policy
coordination and increased interoperability, according
to the road map. For further information, please
consult the following web address:
http://www.eu2005.lu/en/calendrier/2005/05/10eurussia/index.html
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