Hongaars voorzitterschap: ruimtevaartonderzoek stimuleert economische groei (en)

Activities related to space research will help to promote economic growth in the EU and to significantly contribute to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, therefore, they should be put in the service of EU citizens, emphasised Zoltán Cséfalvay, Minister of State for Strategy of the Ministry for National Economy, at the press conference held during the meeting of the Competitiveness Council in Brussels, on 31 May 2011

Measurable contribution to economic growth

Mr Cséfalvay highlighted that it is the primary aim of the Council to ensure that space research provides tangible benefits for EU citizens and enterprises. In his opinion this primarily requires that “projects related to global satellite navigation systems (the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Programme, the EGNOS and Galileo systems), should be implemented timely and efficiently.”

The ministers also agreed that space research and the related enterprises and projects will contribute to economic growth and to the accomplishment of several objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy in a measurable way. Therefore, in an effort to make this work more efficient, the Presidency has also invited representatives of the Commission to discuss with the Council, the medium and long-term initiatives.

The press conference was also attended by Vice-President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani i, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn i, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.

Mr Tajani acknowledged the Presidency for their excellent cooperation with the Commission in the preparation of every file. He and Mr Cséfalvay confirmed that the financing issues of the Galileo programme were not discussed at the meeting.

R&D: simplifying conditions of participation

After the press conference, the ministers discussed opportunities to complete R&D programmes - that are already in the implementation stages - even more efficiently. In this context, Mr Cséfalvay said before the meeting: a similar debate took place in March for the 7th Research Framework Programme, and at that time it was concluded that future applicants, especially small and medium enterprises, should enjoy simplified conditions of participation.

At the business lunch, the ministers sought ways to coordinate, in order to increase the efficiency of the EU’s two most important financing activities, i.e. the future research and regional development programmes. The topic was put on the agenda at the ministerial level for the first time, with the participation of three Commissioners: Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes i and Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn i.

Nuclear research: different sensitivities

The ministers held a public debate about the Presidency’s report on the Euratom nuclear framework programme. Under the framework programme, a total of 2.5 billion Euros will be assigned to long-term research, which will focus primarily on nuclear safety.

At the press conference preceding the debate, Mr Cséfalvay indicated that “the Presidency is strongly committed to reaching a political agreement, even though we realise that it will most likely be our Polish colleagues who will have to complete the legislative procedure.”

Mr Geoghegan-Quinn appreciated the Presidency’s report and indicated that the Commission recognises different sensitivities in the EU on nuclear power. At the same time, he regretted that Member States are not ready to adopt the preliminary position on the extension of the Euratom framework programme; although formerly there had been a consensus in principle that the programme, originally designed for 5 years, would be extended by two years, bringing it in harmony with the 7th Research Framework Programme, which is valid for 7 years.

The Commissioner warned that without appropriate research activities, Europe may lose its leading role in the field of nuclear safety. He also mentioned that under the proposal on the Euratom framework programme 1.3 billion Euros of additional funding is required in 2012 and 2013, to deliver the international EU commitments concerning the experimental fusion reactor called ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).As he explained, the Commission is hopeful that a political agreement will be reached on this matter before the summer.„