Press release
Today, the European Commission called on governments to jointly develop a strategy for international cooperation in science and technology. It proposed a strategic framework for jointly strengthening science and technology cooperation with non-EU countries, notably in the field of Information and Communication Technologies where Europe is a strong exporter. The Commission's objective is to contribute to sustainable development worldwide while at the same time improving Europe's competitiveness in science and technology. The Commission invites Member States to define together, rather than in isolation, priority research and technology areas where a coherent EU effort would have more impact.
According to European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, "Global challenges call for global responses. There is no area today where this is truer than in science. Our international partners are attracted by Europe as a model of regional integration, but they are faced with a multitude of governmental actors, research priorities when they want to engage in concrete cooperation. The aim of our strategic framework is to engage with our Member States to transform Europe's research labyrinth into a European Research Area open to the world, attracting the best brains and contributing to address global challenges".
"At a time where telecommunications, the internet, mobile telephony and television increasingly impact on our life and on the EU economy, it is urgent to improve the effectiveness of the EU's international action in information and communication technologies", said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "If Europe wants to maintain its position as a global leader in Science and Research, we need to find the most efficient ways to collaborate within the EU and to transform our willingness to cooperate with our partners worldwide in acts while targeting our priorities".