Brussels, 6 August 2002
Summary of conclusions. 149th meeting of the COST Senior Officials Committee held in Brussels on 4/5 July 2002
European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research - COST Secretariat. Brussels, 1 August 2002 (document COST 255/02)
.... 6. ROLE OF COOPERATION IN S&T AS A TOOL OF FOREIGN POLICY
- Document from the Greek delegation (Annex II to doc. COST 240/1/02 REV 1)
The Greek delegation introduced its paper and reported on progress made since discussion at the 148th CSO meeting. It was suggested that a more active policy from COST towards the Balkan countries and the South Mediterranean area could be developed. It was reported that EUREKA has the same type of preoccupation. In this context, it was mentioned that the EUREKA Ministerial Conference, which took place in Saloniki at the end of June 2002, had invited Morocco to join as an Associate Member.
7. APPROVAL OF MOUs
The Committee approved the following new Actions:
(a) Transport
COST 351: Water movement in road pavements and embankments (Swedish proposal)
COST 352: Influence of modern in-vehicle information systems on road safety requirements (Swiss proposal)
(b) Materials
COST 533: Materials for improved wear resistance of total artificial joints (United Kingdom proposal)
COST 534: New materials and systems for prestressed concrete structures (Swiss proposal)
(c) Meteorology
COST 724: Developing the basis for monitoring, modelling and predicting Space Weather (United Kingdom proposal)
(d) Agriculture and Biotechnology
COST 857: Apicomplexan Biology in the Post-Genomic Era (United Kingdom proposal)
COST 858: Viticulture - Grapevine resistance and berry development for better wine quality (French proposal)
(e) Food Sciences
COST 924: Enhancement and preservation of quality and health promoting components in fresh fruit and vegetables (Belgian/Italian proposal)
(f) Forests and Forestry Products
COST E32: Characterisation of paper surfaces for improved printing paper grades (Norwegian proposal)
(g) Physics
COST P9: Radiation damage in biomolecular systems (United Kingdom proposal)
In regard to the availability of financial support during the transition from the Fifth to the Sixth RTD Framework Programmes and in relation to the services of DG Research being unable to continue the Secretarial services as from 1 January 2003, the Committee concluded that a letter from the Chairman would be addressed to the respective Chairpersons of Technical Committees elucidating the above difficulties...
9. REQUEST FOR PROLONGATION OR EXTENSION OF THE DURATION OF COST ACTIONS
COST 341: Habitat Fragmentation due to Transportation Infrastructure
The Committee endorsed the decision of the Bureau made at its meeting of 18 June 2002 to grant an extension of six months to the above Action.
10. FUTURE MEETINGS
The Committee decided to hold its next meeting in Brussels on 5-6 September 2002 given the postponement of the Ministerial Conference (see point 2 above).
A meeting of the JAF Group is likely to take place in Zurich on 19/20 August next.