Report from the Committee of Senior Officials adopted on 19 May 2003 to the Ministerial Conference on the state and future of Cooperation in Scientific and Technical research (COST) (link)

Brussels, 23 May 2003

Full text of Document 247/03
Suite of documents 247/03

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS The COST intergovernmental mechanism, established in 1971, offers a structure of cooperation and consultation among 34 Member States and 1 co-operating state that meets the need for European coordination in different research domains. Each coordination takes the form of a Concerted Action by way of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by a minimum of five COST countries. COST Actions, of 4 years duration as a rule, may cover any promising field of research. Over 30 years COST has proven its value as an important instrument for coordination of research in Europe, in particular by taking up emerging areas of science and technology. The European scientific community participates with enthusiasm in the COST framework that allows for flexible research cooperation through the setting-up of efficient scientific networks. COST has seen a number of new members and a rapid growth in the volume and scope of Actions. The main objective of COST is to provide a mechanism for integration of European R&D, thereby also fostering European integration as a whole, and promoting international cooperation at the borders of Europe. COST Activities are characterised by the principle of open and equal access for European researchers into networks built on coordination of national research resources. [...]

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