Brussels, 01/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 28 September in Brussels, the European commissioner for research, Janez Potocnik, declared that Joint Technological Initiatives (JTI) planned for the beginning of 2008 are not expected to encounter the same difficulties as Galileo. During a press conference closing the Competitiveness Council Potocnik stated: “We are basing ourselves on new and unique cooperation. This is a bottom up initiative. It involves optimising cooperation initiatives that have already been established. Therefore I do not see why this should fail”. During this meeting, research ministers from the EU27 reached consensus on what form JTIs would take in the future, namely Community bodies (EUROPE 9512). The legal basis for JTIs exists under Article 171 of the Treaty. The only joint project launched on the basis of this Article is the joint Galileo venture, which is currently subject to serious delays.
The Commission report, published in June 2005, identified six areas - the most advanced technological platforms - in which JTIs could be implemented. These include: innovative medicines, aeronautics and aviation, nano-electronic technologies, embedded information systems, hydrogen and fuel batteries, as well as global environmental and security surveillance. The Council is currently examining the first four JTIs. Potocnik said that a proposal on hydrogen and fuel batteries will come into being next year.
The Council also held an exchange of views on a draft decision on Community participation in an R&D programme aimed at improving the quality of life of senior citizens by way of new information and communication technology (Ambient Assisted Living: AAL). Community participation in this kind of programme embarked upon by several member states is determined by Article 169 of the Treaty. Speaking on behalf of the presidency, José Mariano Gago, the Portuguese minister of science, technology and higher education, said that there was “consensus on the need for this initiative”. Resuming the wishes expressed by the EU27, Gago underlined the need for producing a “centralised and common assessment” of the project and rules on national eligibility. He called for a “reasonable compromise” between the single platform and the possibility of member states using national funding. He hammered home the fact that they needed to reach consensus quickly in the face of counties questioning them about how to organise governance for this platform. Consequently, he appealed to each member state to send its position in writing to him on how to reach a compromise over the next few weeks. During the debate, many states, such as Belgium, called for a “maximum of flexibility” on the decision making power of member states concerning funding. Viviane Reding, the European commissioner for information society and the media, reminded ministers that there was still work to be done on this project and that they had to ensure adoption of a common approach at the Council in November. (bc)