Competitiveness Council adopts research, co-operation, space conclusions

The Competitiveness Council has adopted conclusions in support of the implementation of the roadmap for the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), on reinforcing EU-Mediterranean co-operation, and on fostering relations between the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The conclusions acknowledge the work done by the ESFRI on prioritisation of projects for implementation and welcomes plans to update the roadmap with new research infrastructures of pan-European interest.

ESFRI has identified three projects that are strategically relevant for Europe and are ready for development: the European Plate Observing System; the European Life-Science Infrastructure for Biological Information; and the European Spallation Source.

The Competitiveness Council also held a debate on ways to reinforce and further develop scientific and technological co-operation between the EU and Mediterranean partner countries with a view to creating an area of shared prosperity and to jointly tackling the society’s greatest challenges.

The Council also adopted conclusions on how to better develop a shared vision for space fostering competitiveness by the EU and the European Space Agency. The conclusions focus on the steps to be taken in order to provide proposals on improving the efficiency of the relations between the EU and the ESA, keeping in mind the broader space policy context and Europe’s long-term strategic vision, which includes ambitious political objectives for autonomy and industrial competitiveness.