EU Constitution must avoid creating a two speed ERA, says latest position paper

Brussels, 28 Oct 2003

The European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) is the latest organisation to propose changes to the draft European Constitution, calling for the scientific communities of peripheral regions and countries to be well integrated into the European Research Area (ERA).

The Academy says that whilst the Constitution goes a long way towards establishing the legal basis for scientific cooperation in an enlarged Europe, there still exists a danger that the ERA could develop into a two tier structure.

'The Constitution for Europe must ensure that in a politically and economically unified Europe, individual scientists and public and private bodies will have optimal possibilities to create new and innovative forms of scientific linkages and cooperation across national borders,' the EASA position paper states.

Therefore, the Academy would like to see the following passage added to the Constitution: 'Due attention shall be paid to the harmonious development of the regions, while promoting excellence in research.'

EASA also endorses the position on the Constitution outlined by the Academia Europaea, in which it called on Heads of State and Government to 'make explicit the Union's support for the role of scientific research and scholarship in our collective future development.'

For further information, please consult the following web address:
http:///www.european-academy.at

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