Brussels, 16/04/2008 (Agence Europe) -On 15 March, the research ministers of the EU supported the launch of the Ljubljana process, aiming to speed the development of the European Research Area (ERA), the Slovenian minister, Mojca Kucler Dolinar (Higher Education, Science and Technology), announced at the informal Competitiveness Council in Brdo. According to the minister, key components of this process include: - the commitment of the member states and the Commission to implement the ERA fully; -the rapid conclusion of an agreement on a vision of the ERA to develop the policies and action plans required to achieve them; - improved governance of the ERA in order to ensure its swift and efficient development. The European commissioner for research, Janez Potoènik, said that this "vision" may be finalised at the end of 2008, whilst "governance" is a process which may be concluded over the forthcoming several Presidencies of the EU. (B.C.)