News archive - French unveil presidency priorities
The French took over the EU Council Presidency from Slovenia on July 1. During their time at the helm, they plan to focus on four main areas: energy and the climate, migration issues, agriculture, and security and defence.
On the field of research the French have set the construction of the European Research Area (ERA) as the main research priority for their presidency of the EU. Other priorities include boosting Europe's role in space and making progress towards a Community patent.
According to the work programme of the French Presidency, a range of activities designed to define a 'vision for 2020' for the ERA will be launched. Among other things, research ministers will discuss the challenges facing European research, with the aim of setting out how the ERA can address priority issues such as energy and climate change, food and agronomy, health and ageing, and the information society.
The French have also set themselves the goal of reaching conclusions on a number of points, namely the joint programme strategy, the mobility of researchers and a strategy for international cooperation in the ERA. They also hope to reach an agreement on the legal framework for pan-European research infrastructures.
For more information, please visit : http://www.eu2008.fr/ and French Presidency service on CORDIS: http://cordis.europa.eu/france/presidency/
Entry created by Elke Dall on July 29, 2008
Modified on July 29, 2008
