Brussels, 02/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 2 March, the European research ministers agreed to step up their actions to promote greater movement of researchers within the European Union. "We have recognised the need to facilitate more co-ordinated mobility of researchers in Europe, so that the free movement of people, knowledge and technologies (the fifth liberty) becomes a reality", said Cristina Garmendia, Spanish Minister for Science and Innovation. "In order to attract talent, Europe must make decisions which go beyond the political scope of research, moving towards a social policy and pensions", she added. In their conclusions, the ministers call upon the member states, in line with their national legislation, to allow researchers, including PhD students, carrying out a paid research activity, to enjoy a appropriate social cover. The Commission is called upon to put forward a roadmap for measures at European level to provide social cover for all paid researchers. The member states and the Commission are also called upon to improve the existing information services, particularly by providing the option for interested mobile researchers easily to obtain precise information on their rights and obligations as regards social security in the event of mobility, particularly by means of EURAXESS. As regards pensions, the ministers called upon the Commission to draft a Green Paper envisaging proposals for pensions for extremely mobile workers, taking account, amongst other things, of the specific issues and requirements of researchers. The minister also stated that a delegation of research ministers would attend the "Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs" Council (EPSCO) on 8 March, which is set to make proposals in these areas to promote research ability. The ministers also discussed work on the involvement of the Community in a research project on the Baltic Sea ("BONUS-169") programme, in which a number of member states are involved (Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden). Several of these countries, however, have asked the Commission to delay the "pooling resources" method of funding for the project, as many of the legal systems involved do not permit this type of funding. Responding to a question put by EUROPE, the European commissioner for research and innovation, Ireland's Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, nonetheless stressed that this way of funding the project remained "a very strong commitment" of the Commission, adding that it would be up to the Presidency to seek a compromise. The minister Cristina Garmendia stressed that she hoped to reach a political agreement at the May Council, ahead of an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament, at the June plenary. Furthermore, the ministers adopted conclusions on examining the structures and mechanisms of the European Research Council (ERC). Lastly, at the press conference, Geoghegan-Quinn pledged to make progress in the ITER dossier, adding that she would ensure that the costs remained "acceptable" to the citizens. The Commission will present recommendations to the Council of the EU with a view to reaching a common position at the May Research Council, ahead of the ITER Council in June. (B.C./trans.fl)