Common strategy
Member States and the European Commission are involved in a myriad of research cooperation activities with third countries. However, the absence of a common strategy at European level has led to duplication of efforts and often a waste of resources. At the same time, global challenges such as climate change, food and water supply or the digital divide, highlight the need for a better cooperation in science and research between Member States and the Commission to promote EU policy goals as well as global sustainable development.
The strategy adopted by the Commission today sets out a framework for a European approach to international cooperation in science and technology. It outlines core principles which should underpin European cooperation with the rest of the world and proposes specific orientations for action to:
- strengthen the international dimension of the European Research Area (ERA) by integrating Europe's neighbours into the ERA and fostering strategic cooperation with key third countries through geographic and thematic targeting;
- improve the framework conditions for international cooperation in science and technology and for the promotion of European technologies worldwide. This includes the joint development of global large-scale research infrastructures (such as GEANT), support to mobility of researchers or management of intellectual property.
The Commission also recommends strengthening the global position of the EU's ICT industry and other advanced technologies that would, thanks to EU regulatory principles, improve the investment environment and anticipate the convergence between electronic communications and media. It also plans to monitor non-tariff barriers and regulatory hurdles faced by EU industry on third markets.
Background
The Communication is one of five policy initiatives planned by the Commission to follow up the 2007 Green Paper "The European Research Area: New Perspectives" and is a further step in the creation of the "fifth freedom" by removing barriers to the free movement of knowledge.
The initiative proposed today is at the same time a follow up to the 2006 Commission Communication "Towards a Global Partnership in the Information Society" and follows a public consultation launched in July 2007 to gather views of stakeholders on how to open new global markets for ICT industry (IP/07/988).
