The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council believes that research and innovation (R&I) is a crucial asset for asserting European leadership and enabling the EU to meet the challenges of the green and digital transitions.
It therefore intends to work to strengthen and develop R&I ecosystems in Europe at all territorial levels.
During its six-month presidency, Spain aims to reach a consensus within the Council on three main issues. It will be looking at the role of science in public policy. A great deal of work had already been done on this issue under the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13213/17). The Spanish Presidency also intends to guide the EU Council’s work on the role of regional and local R&I ecosystems in strengthening territorial cohesion. Finally, it intends to include in its priorities the question of the impact of the recovery and resilience mechanism on R&I.
Another focus of the new Presidency’s work will be to consolidate the ‘Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area’ (PRIMA). The Presidency also intends to facilitate the renewal of the programme in the next multiannual financial framework, up to 2027.
As far as the timetable is concerned, the Presidency will shortly be inviting the research ministers to Santander on 27 and 28 July for an informal meeting on the subject of: “Advancing together through knowledge and innovation towards a fairer and more sustainable society”.
Link to the Spanish Presidency programme: (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)