Brussels, 23/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - European ministers with responsibility for research will gather in Brussels on Friday 26 September to discuss two major matters: completion of the European Research Area (ERA) and the mid-term review of the EUROPE 2020 strategy. These two issues have a point in common: efforts rest squarely on the shoulders of the member states, most of which are little inclined to provide the necessary funding.
The section of the Competitiveness Council given over to research will begin with a policy debate on the EUROPE 2020 strategy. Ministers will avoid tackling head-on the sole, but unrealisable, objective of this strategy, that is, devoting 3% of GDP to research and innovation between now and 2020. The Presidency note which will structure the debate avoids all mention of this objective though it speaks of the need to find fresh sources of funding, of maintaining the current level of spending and of improving efficiency. The angle chosen is to encourage innovation, growth and jobs with the means available;
The ministers will have an exchange of views on the progress made on completing the ERA, on the basis of the latest Commission report, presented in mid-September. The debate will seek to identify possible future areas for action. While the report says that the conditions needed for completion of the ERA, identified by the Commission in 2012, are there, the efforts of the member states are criticised as being too slow. Nor must it be forgotten that the budget difficulties of Horizon 2020 (see EUROPE 11157), which is central to the ERA, could further slow completion. (JK)