EU2020: duurzaamheid, informatie economie en sociale dimensies centraal in EU beleid voor de toekomst (en)

The Spanish Minister of Industry, Miguel Sebastián, the Minister for Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, and the Secretary of State for the European Union, Diego López Garrido, will be chairing the Council of Competitiveness in Brussels on 1 and 2 March. The Council is to discuss the priorities of the future strategy for growth and employment, EU2020, from the point of view of research and innovation.

The starting point for the Council's discussions will be the information provided by the European Commission on the formal document containing "detailed proposals" for the new "EU2020" strategy to be presented on 3 March. The conclusions of the Ministers for Competitiveness will be presented to the Spring European Council (25 and 26 March), where the lines for the new strategy should be set out.

The Council of Competitiveness is expected to examine the needs of a new industrial policy, based on the information economy, sustainability and the social dimension. Particular attention will be paid to plans for an electric car.

The Council is also expected to adopt a resolution on copyright protection in the domestic market.

The Ministers in charge of research should be focusing on the topic of the mobility of European researchers, on reviewing the mechanisms and structures of the European Research Council and on analysing the development of the European Research Area.