EU and US pool research resources

Although discord tarnishes many aspects of Europe's relationship with the US, cooperation is still being pursued in research.

Both sides have agreed a series of deals to pool research expertise in studies, especially on energy and climate change.

Spencer Abraham, the US energy secretary, flew to Brussels recently to sign a research cooperation deal with the European Union's nuclear energy arm, Euratom. He also agreed with Philippe Busquin, European research commissioner, that the US and the EU should sign a research deal on hydrogen fuel technology, formalising continued cooperation in this field.

This followed a meeting of EU and US officials last month where there was agreement to cooperate in studies of global warming, an area where scientific and political differences have been straining transatlantic relations.

Mr Busquin said: "Europe and the US both have cutting-edge knowledge and great industrial potential. Through coordinated action in energy and environment research, they can jointly address the scientific issues that affect the everyday lives of our citizens."

He and Mr Abraham also discussed how to build on last month's climate-change study deal. They agreed to work together in creating and operating a "carbon-observing system over the atmosphere, land and oceans".