Brussels, 07/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission on Monday kicked off development of a European research programme in the field of security with a proposal to spend 65 million EUR on preparatory actions over the next three years (2004-2006), including 15 million as of 2004. A group of personalities from industrial, governmental and academic circles- including former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, former European Commissioner Peter Sutherland, Burkard Schmitt from the EU Institute for Security Studies, and François Heisbourg from the (French) strategic research foundation- has held its first meeting to guide the development of the research programme.
"Europe is paying a very high price for the artificial, and uniquely European, separation between civil and military research" said Philippe Busquin, European Commissioner for Research. "New and more sophisticated security threats (...) require us to adopt a more structured and European approach to security research. We should be able to foster co-operation between the traditionally distinct sectors of civil and security research by focusing on how best to ensure the security of citizens in an enlarging European Union and a globalising world". This view was shared by Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise, who said "It is crucial (...) that we create an environment in which European defence-related companies can give better value for money by increasing their competitiveness. More focus on better and more efficient defence research is crucial. This would also benefit the civilian sector. The Internet, the "Windows-icons-pointer" interface and GPS are all systems that were originally funded by American military research. Europe invests less than the United States, and the fragmentation and compartmentalisation of defence research accentuates the gap". Indeed, according to figures quoted by specialists attending the meeting, the United States invest 60 billion a year in defence, 15% of which goes on research, whereas Europe only invests 15 billion, with 7% going to research. The investment of 3 billion a year would be needed to reduce the gap.
In the short-term, the Commission is to adopt a communication at the end of 2003, with the title "Towards a programme to advance European security though Research and Technology". The working group should hold two plenary meetings- "sherpas" have been appointed to maintain contact in between- and report back to the European Commission by Spring 2004, when the preparatory action and the initial calls for proposals are also due to be launched. Strategic research axes should correspond to the main guidelines defined currently for the European Security and Defence Policy: reinforcing border control (iris scans, genetic or DNA-based technologies, face recognition...), the improvement of aeroplane and airport security (autonomous bio-chemical analysis of content, computer-assisted visual inspection, assistance with decision-making using techniques to facilitate or make automatic the interpretation of baggage contents...), reducing the risk of bioterrorism (neutralisation of chemical agents used in attacks, satellite protection of sensitive areas such as water reservoirs of nuclear sites...), and improving telecommunications for civil security and humanitarian aid.