Brussels, 19/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Scientific and Technological Co-operation agreement between the EU and Switzerland was signed in Brussels on 16 January by Ann, which Anderson, Ireland's permanent representative to the EU, the European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, and the Federal Counsellor and head of the Federal Department for Internal Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin. This agreement covers Swiss involvement in the EU's 6th framework programme for research 2002-2006 as of I January 2004. Switzerland will contribute 400 million EUR to the overall budget (of some 20 billion EUR), which will also cover its participation in the Euratom programme. The agreement will allow Swiss scientists to take part in European programmes, enjoying equal rights with their European partners.
"This agreement is an important stage in our co-operation, which dates back a long way already, and includes CERN and the European Space Agency. Switzerland will make an active contribution to the improvement and development of R&D policy, the creation of the European Research Area and the Lisbon objectives", said Ann Anderson. "Swiss scientists will now have the same rights as their EU partners, and will be able to manage projects", she added. Philippe Busquin stressed the fact that the signing of this agreement will allow "the European Research Area to benefit from the excellence of Swiss scientific and technological resources (...) the fact that Switzerland wishes to be a full partner is extremely positive". "It will change the political dimension whilst allowing certain contact to be continued", he added, pointing out that Switzerland was already able to be involved in the 5th framework programme 1998-2002, but on a "project-by-project basis". He said that the Swiss partners had been involved in over 1500 research projects supported by the EU, using their universities (14%), businesses (18%), and research bodies (20%). Mr Busquin also stressed Switzerland's role in Euratom and nuclear science, noting that Bern supports the application of Cadarache (France) to host the ITER experimental nuclear reactor, which was confirmed by Pascal Couchepin.
Pascal Couchepin said that the "signing of this co-operation agreement is a decisive stage in the involvement of Swiss research in the European Research Area." He added that "15% of Swiss public expenditure for research and development go on international co-operation, which amounts to 300 million EUR a year, 17% of which is invested in Europe". "Switzerland is highly international", he noted, citing the fact that out of 100,000 students in higher education, 20,000 are foreign, and 2/3 of those are European.