CoR President calls for integration of EU R&D programmes with regional strategies

Brussels, 14 March 2002

The newly-elected President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), Albert Bore, has called for EU leaders meeting at the Barcelona European Council to recognise the role of the regions in boosting research and development (R&D), competitiveness and education.

In an open letter to the members of the European Council, the leader of the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the Council to draw on the experience of the Europe's regions in encouraging competitiveness and improving education and training.

Mr Bore also highlights the need to improve Internet access for schools. He recommends a strengthening of the 'human element' in the Commission's current proposals on Internet access, as 'while it is important to install the hardware, it is even more important to ensure it is used effectively.'

The CoR President also stresses the key role of the regions in the promotion of research and development, which the committee says is 'of central importance to the EU's future economic growth.' Mr Bore argues that the European Council should promote ways of designing EU R&D strategies which complement regional economic strategies.

For further information, please contact:

Committee of the Regions
Rue Montoyer 92 -102
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-2822155
Fax: +32-2-2822085
http://www.cor.eu.int

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001