Brussels, 04/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - During its 178th Council in Riga on 25 and 26 May, the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) for scientific and technological research unanimously elected its new president, Dr Angeles Rodriguez Peña, of Spain. Appointed for a three-year tenure, he will, on 22 June, replace Professor Francesco Fedi, who has been in the chair since 2004. The CSO also confirmed that the European Science Foundation (ESF) would be the implementing agent, and welcomed a report by independent experts on the mid-term assessment of the 7th framework programme for European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), acknowledging the “success of COST Actions as an important activity in the European Research Area”. The report also recommends that a further €40 million be allocated to COST, bringing the total budget to €250 million for the duration of the 7th Framework Programme. (C-C.G/transl.jl)