Draft Summary Conclusions of the 309th Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) Held in Joensuu (Finland) on 5/6 July 2006 (extract)

Brussels, 26 Jul 2006

Full text of Document 1205/06
Suite of documents 1205/06

Subject: DRAFT SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF THE 309th MEETING OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE (CREST) HELD IN JOENSUU (FINLAND) ON 5/6 JULY 2006

The meeting was chaired by Mr Richard ESCRITT (European Commission, DG Research, Director).

1. ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT AGENDA

The Committee adopted the agenda as set out in communication CM 2240/06 of 19 June 2006.

2. APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF THE 308th MEETING OF 19 MAY 2006

The Committee approved the summary conclusions of the meeting of 19 May as set out in doc. CREST 1204/06 . At this occasion, the AT delegation pointed to a necessary clarification concerning point 4 "Working methods of CREST".1

3. INFORMATION FROM THE PRESIDENCY AND THE COMMISSION

a) Mme NYBERGH (FI Presidency) gave an overview on major research-related activities and events during the Finnish Presidency. In this regard, a document was also circulated to delegations, containing conferences and meeting dates, inter alia:
- the "Manufuture 2006" Conference, scheduled for 9/10 October 2006 in Tampere;
- the Conference on Humanities in the ERA from 22 to 24 November 2006 in Helsinki;
- the Meeting "Nanotechnologies - Services for success" on 14/15 September 2006 in Espoo;
- the eInfrastructure Reflection group (eIRG) meeting on 20 November 2006 in Helsinki.

Furthermore, Mme NYBERGH reported on the next procedural steps concerning the adoption of the 7th Research Framework Programme and the related planning for the Competitiveness Council dates. Finally the topic of a set of "recommendations on innovation policy" to be possibly presented for adoption in December was mentioned.

b) Mme DE LA TORRE (European Commission services) informed the Committee of:

• the recent modified Commission proposal on FP 7 which incorporates a large number of the European Parliament's first reading amendments plus important parts of the Council's General Approach agreed in May;

• the next procedural steps concerning the Euratom Framework Programme and the proposal on the rules for participation;

• the package of Commission communications concerning ITER, some already available, others to be expected in due time;

• the agreements with third countries concerning research co-operation;

• the "umbrella" Communication on Innovation to be issued in September 2006 referring to a number of forthcoming communications or staff papers on different aspects of this topic, for example financial incentives for innovation, role of public procurement for innovation (as well as also a handbook), technology transfer, clusters, innovation and services;

• the work on the new Community framework for State aids, being of relevance also for R&D subsidies;

• the forthcoming communication on digital libraries;

• the communication presented on 8 June 2006 on the European Institute for Technology, and the expected follow-up proposed for autumn 2006 (November Education Council);

• the awaited strategy for International Research Co-operation, to be presented possibly as a Communication or Staff Working Paper in September 2006, which CREST could be invited to discuss.

4. CONCLUSIONS ON "WORKING METHODS OF CREST"

The Committee basically confirmed the results of the previous meetings concerning the "Working Methods" and supported the paper presented by the Commission in this regard. The approach for the long-term planning of agendas will be taken and the Committee will be informed regularly on the points issued for presentation and/or debate.

[...]

[Public Info Net automatically generates links to Council Register documents where an appropriately formatted document number is given. However, the document may not be available for public use and/or it may not be loaded on the Council Register yet.]

Council Register