Minister Fuchs participated in the EU Competitiveness Council for Research and Space in Brussels

Minister of Science, Education and Youth Prof. Radovan Fuchs, Ph.D. and Director-General of the Directorate for Science and Technology Meštrić, PhDn participated in the EU Competitiveness Council for Research and Space held in Brussels on 29 November 2024. 

At the EU Competitiveness Council meeting for Research, ministers approved Conclusions on strengthening the competitiveness of the EU, reinforcing the European Research Area and overcoming its fragmentation recognising the importance of overcoming the research and innovation gap through continuous efforts at national and European level, while recognising the need for tailored measures for widening participation and spreading excellence. Conclusions on a potential Europe-wide R&I initiative on advancing sustainable natural resource management, food systems security and the deployment of the bioeconomy, harnessing the potential of Central and Eastern Europe were approved, launching an assessment on a potential new initiative for research and innovation on the sustainable natural resource management, food systems security and the deployment of the bioeconomy, as well as Conclusions on the Commission Communication on Advanced Materials that express support and strategic vision for advanced materials.

Policy debate was held on the contribution of research and innovation to the competitiveness of the European Union: follow-up to the recommendations of the report on The future of European competitiveness, where the Minister in his address welcomed the focus on excellence and the recognised importance of cutting-edge research infrastructures for accelerating innovation and boosting talent, as well as strengthening the future framework programme, with further simplification for applicants.

In conclusion, a discussion on sustainable research infrastructures was held at the working lunch on one of the priority issues for the future of European competitiveness.

In the afternoon part of the Competitiveness Council meeting of Ministers responsible for space, the conclusions on reinforcing European competences in the space sector were approved, recalling the urgency of developing a holistic approach aimed at strengthening and enhancing European competences in the space sector in order to ensure the competitiveness, leadership and non-dependency on the global stage.

Conclusions on the interim evaluation of the European Union’s Space programme were also approved to assess the progress made in the implementation of the Union’s Space programme and the performance of the EU Agency for the Space programme (EUSPA).

The exchange of views was held on the future of the Union space policy, where Minister Fuchs emphasized the importance of space for the normal functioning of a number of sectors, and stressed the importance of multidimensional approach, i.e. the inclusion of the security and defence sector despite the commitment to the peaceful use of space. Finally, he welcomed the development and enforcement of international norms in space and the continued investment of the Union in space.

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