Est. 2min 24-10-2005 (updated: 05-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Following a future study on the consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe, the Commission is set to update the EU’s biotech strategy before 2007 and tune it to the Lisbon Agenda. The Commission’s 3rd progress report on the European strategy for life sciences and biotechnology states that 2004 seems to have been a year of consolidation rather than growth for European biotechnology. The report highlights some progress since the last report but states that the situation regarding European biotechnology and its competitiveness still needs to be improved, mainly because of: persisting delays in the transposition of the directive (98/44/EC) on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (20 out of 25 member states have transposed it); member states’ poor implementation of the new legislative framework governing GMOs; poor R&D spending. In the report, the Commission announced that a reflection on the role of life science and biotechnology in the Lisbon Agenda was necessary. Accordingly, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) launched, on 21 October 2005, a study on the social, economic and environmental consequences and challenges of modern biotechnology. The Council and all stakeholders are invited to participate in this reflection process. The study aims also to increase public awareness and understanding of life sciences and biotechnology. Read more with Euractiv EU seeks neighbourhood policy deal with Armenia The EU expects to be able to open talks soon with Armenia on strengthening ties and resolving conflicts in the South Caucasus region. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters BackgroundIn January 2002, the Commission adopted a Communication entitled 'Life Sciences and Biotechnology: A Strategy for Europe'. The strategy consists of specific policy orientations and a 30-point action plan to turn the policy into action. Since the adoption of the European biotechnology strategy, the Commission issues yearly reports on its implementation - the first progress report was published in March 2003, the second in April 2004. Timeline The study on the social, economic and environmental consequences and challenges of modern biotechnology is planned to be completed by mid 2007. The Commission plans to use both an in-depth assessment of the progress achieved since 2002 and the JRC study to update its 2002 biotechnology strategy before the 2007 Spring European Council. Further ReadingEU official documents Commission press release:Life Sciences and Biotechnology – A strategy for Europe(21 October 2005) Commission press release:Biotech: Unleashing the enormous potential(21 October 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE] PreLex:Commission report "Life sciences and biotechnology - A strategy for Europe third progress report and future orientations" [FR] [FR] [DE]
