Brussels, 24th November 2004
Following a Communication from the Commission in June 2004 (see IP/04/750 ) and a wide consultation on future European research policy, Ministers will debate a number of orientations for the Commission's proposal for a Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development. Discussion will centre on such issues as ways to optimise trans-national collaboration in science; the potential for public -private partnerships in key technology areas; mechanisms for funding basic research at European level; actions to make Europe more attractive to the world's best researchers; and approaches for developing competitive research infrastructures of European interest.