27/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The 170th meeting of the COST committee of senior officials (CSO) was held in Athens on 12-13 March 2008. During this meeting chaired by the CSO president, Professor Francesco Fedi, the committee adopted revised guidelines for COST actions for more rigorous assessment of proposals for new COST actions. The committee decided that COST will continue to have two collection dates per year for new action proposals (the next are 28 March and 26 September 2008). The CSO also called for continued synergy between COST and the European Science Foundation (ESF). It approved COST strategy for 2008-2014 to increase visibility and the impact of research networks financed. The committee welcomed new participants in actions already launched: Armenia, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. The next CSO meeting is scheduled for 18 and 19 June. For further information: http: //http://www.cost.esf.org (B.C.)