Meeting of Benoît Cerexhe with the Hungarian State Secretary in charge of research
In the framework of the «Trio» of the European Union Presidency, Minister Benoît Cerexhe, president-in-office of the «Research» Council, has met, on 15 October 2010 in Brussels, his colleague Dr. Zoltan Cséfalvay, State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministery of National Economy.
The priorities of the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the European Union are similar to a large extent and are marked by real continuity.
The majority of files which are at the agenda of the Belgian Presidency as regards Research and which begin to yield results, will also be followed up by the Hungarian Presidency.
This is in particular the case of the European plan for Innovation which was warmly welcomed by the European Ministers in charge of Research, gathered on 12 October in Luxemburg. More than ever it is of prior importance to make converge research policies in Europe and especially researchers and companies should be stimulated to colleborate more in fields where the new challenges demand new technological breakthroughs and new solutions. This rapprochement of research and industry to boost innovation in Europe will be at the heart of debates and decisions of the European Council of Heads of State and Government of next December.
On the basis of political agreements which should intervene under Belgian Presidency, the Hungarian Presidency will have an important role to play for quick implementation of all proposals that the European Commission will formulate in application of this plan.
An other priority is the simplification of European research programmes. After the 15 concrete measures already adopted under Belgian Presidency, a mandate has been given to the European Commission to proceed to a large consultation with researchers, universities, companies,... in the perspective of changing radically the research funding method in Europe. It's about switching from an approach based on costs to an approach based on scientific results.
In order to follow the simplification of European research programmes at the political level, a contact group composed of 4 ministers has been established (Belgium, France, Hungary, Sweden).
Finally, the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies want to pursue the realization of the European Research Area, in particular by establishing a new cooperation instrument entitled « joint programming». It aims at increasing cooperation between Member States of the E.U. as regards research with reference to some major societal challenges. It's about the reinforcement of the ability of Europe to transform the results of its research activities in tangible benefits for society and for the global competitivenes of its economy. A pilot project is currently under preparation concerning Alzheimer's disease. Three other themes have been defined ("Agriculture, food security and climate change" ; "Cultural heritage and global change: a new challenge for Europe" ; "A healthy diet for a healthy life").
At the invitation of Benoît Cerexhe, the Hungarian State Secretary Zoltan Cséfalvay participated on 15 October in Brussels to a conference of the Belgian Presidency dedicated to excellence in universities and research centres.
