New brochure provides insight into recent developments in international research cooperation

Brussels, 07 Sep 2004

A new publication from the European Commission's Research DG outlines the international cooperation activities in the field of research that took place between January and June 2004.

The brochure is divided into several sections, dealing with the EU's new Member States, the candidate countries, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, countries from the Mediterranean and the Balkans, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, Latin America, Asia and Russia (plus the new independent states) in turn. The publication also contains chapters on other third countries, such as Australia and Canada, and international organisations.

The publication provides information on the content of meetings between EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, as well as high-level representatives from the European Commission, and government representatives from third countries. It also gives an overview of non-EU countries' participation in EU research programmes and activities aimed at promoting this.

Details of a meeting between Mr Busquin and the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan are given, revealing how Mr Erdogan invited the EU to increase its funding for specific support actions for associated countries such as Turkey. Mr Erdogan also emphasised to the Commissioner the importance that Turkey awards to the Lisbon strategy and of increasing Europe's research capacity.

Also included is an overview of a six day visit to China by the EU's Research Commissioner in April 2004. The visit represented 'a unique opportunity to take stock of EU-China S&T [science and technology] cooperation over the past few years, to broaden and deepen EU-China cooperation relations and to explore concrete avenues to reinforce this cooperation in the future, both in terms of policy dialogue and of partnership,' states the Commission. Both parties agreed to explore cooperation in new areas such as space, hydrogen and emerging diseases affecting both humans and animals. To access the publication, please visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/iscp/ pdf/whathappened.pdf

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