Brussels, 22/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The 11 scientific organisations belonging to the Initiative for Science in Europe are to hold a conference in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 25 and 26 October, the aim of which is to relaunch the European Research Council by developing a road map for its creation. This Council will be made up of scientists whose job it will be to manage a fund to support basic research in Europe by selecting a number of priorities. The principle of its creation was approved by the 2004 Spring European Council, but little progress has been made to date. There are still some outstanding questions about whether this fund should be intergovernmental or Community in nature, and how it will be included in or linked to the 7th framework programme for research currently being prepared. The Competitiveness Council is set to lay down a number of criteria and principles as part of the conclusions it will adopt at its meeting on 25 and 26 November in Brussels. More information on the Initiative for science in Europe, which is haired by professor José Mariano Gago, are available at ww.initiative-science-europe.org.