Belgian EU Presidency to focus on 5 priorities in research policy

Belgium will mainly focus on a European research area and the 6th framework programme during its presidency of the EU. The presidency of the Research Council will be allocating a specific priority to strengthening relations between science, society and the citizen.

Belgium has set five research priorities during its presidency:

• Activating the creation of a European Research Area (ERA);
• Obtaining a common position on the 6th framework programme (2002-2006);
• Making Europe a model of openness to the world;
• Reconciling science and society;
• Pursuing a dynamic European space policy.

The five key areas in the ERA which the Belgian presidency is hoping to advance are:

• Benchmarking;
• Mobility;
• Infrastructures;
• A community patent;
• The role of the regions.

The meetings of the Research Council will be chaired by the president of the Brussels Capital region.

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