News archive - EU Ministers: "Science Must be Part of the Solution"
At an informal council in the Spanish town of San Sebastián, EU ministers approved the so-called Donostia Declaration, defining the role that European science has to play in economic recovery and stating that “science must be part of the solution.” “All science, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to natural sciences, and from basic research to technological development, has something to contribute here and now,” Spain’s Minister of Science Cristina Garmendia said after the meeting, which she chaired.
The host country Spain took over the rotating six-month EU presidency just weeks after the Lisbon Treaty came into effect. The new treaty has many implications for science and technology, not least the addition of the following words: “The Union shall have the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a European Research Area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely.”
Researchers' Mobility in the Focus
The creation of such a European Research Area (ERA) and specific proposals to enable researchers to move around the 27-nation bloc were discussed at the San Sebastián meeting. The Spanish Presidency intends to promote certain aspects which will give prominence to the European Research Area, such as mobility and the careers of researchers and the extension of their employment rights, and hopes to reach “important agreements” before the Employment Council in March.
The Science ministers will stress to their colleagues in employment the importance of developing a knowledge economy and, in order to achieve this, the need for researchers to have complete freedom of movement. Particular focus will be placed on recognising researchers’ social security entitlements, a point raised time and time again by advisory bodies such as the European Research Area Board (ERAB).
"Pace S&T&I firmly at the heart of Europe's future"
“We see the European innovation plan and the launching of the 2020 Strategy as opportunities to place science and innovation firmly at the heart of Europe's future,” said Garmendia. “Investment in R&D must be maintained, sustained and increased,” she said. The bulk of the Spanish presidency’s work on science and research issues during the next six months has been placed into three broad categories: integration, with a focus on developing the European Research Area; involvement, with the aim of involving science and innovation in the major challenges facing citizens; and inclusion, referring to the presidency’s wish to make science a part of society and a key to social cohesion.
The ministers’ next formal meeting is on March 1-2 in Brussels.
Source: ScienceIBusiness Bulletin, as accessed on February 15, 2010.
- International; Other
Entry created by Katarina Rohsmann on February 15, 2010
Modified on February 15, 2010
