Brussels, 23/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European ministers for research, meeting in Brussels on Monday 26 May, are set to adopt conclusions on the recommendations of the roadmap for the European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), designating three projects as priorities and to be implement immediately.
ESFRI has identified three pan-European research infrastructure projects as being of strategic importance to Europe. These are the European Plate Observation System (EPOS), the European life-sciences infrastructure for biological information (ELIXIR) and the European spallation source (nuclear reaction). The ministers must confirm this choice, whilst agreeing for ESFRI to start preparations for the development of nine additional projects, the implementation of which will start in 2015 or 2016.
Following on from the recent informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council, which was held in Athens on 13 May (see EUROPE 11078), the ministers will continue their discussions on cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The Greek Presidency is still hoping to convince the Council to consolidate this cooperation by 2016, via a public-private partnership programme based on Article 185 of the TFEU. The third states which have shown an interest are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. This programme will be financed under the framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020, which will mean that certain partner countries, such as Israel, will face the same restrictions (see EUROPE 10972).
The Council agenda also features an address by Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for Competition Joaquin Almunia, who will present the new rules (see EUROPE 11084) on granting state aid for research, development and innovation (RDI). The ministers will then be presented with a progress report on the European innovation partnership, and on innovation in the public sector. (JK)