London, July 22 (HNA) – During the first informal meeting under Germany’s Council Presidency, EU Research Ministers plan ambitious programme ranging from green hydrogen to pandemic recovery strategies
At a first informal meeting under the German Council Presidency, the EU research ministers spent several hours in a video conference planning an ambitious programme and reached agreement on initial joint initiatives.
Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek explained:
“I will do everything necessary to ensure that the European Union emerges stronger from this crisis. Germany will take the opportunity of the Council Presidency to consolidate all available resources.
“Excellent research, education, and innovation are the key factors of success in achieving a sovereign, resilient, and sustainable Europe.
“Today’s meeting with my European colleagues has shown that we agree on the goal of strengthening research cooperation and pushing the development of the European Research Area with vigour.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made us all realise the importance of close cooperation and cohesion in Europe.
“Education, research, and innovation – more than almost any other area – can help to turn the challenges of the crisis into opportunity. I am very pleased that we have rallied behind this belief and objective.
“Our specific aim is to make Europe more resilient against future crises. We have launched a joint initiative today for this very purpose. We want to learn from the current crisis so we are better able to cope jointly with future crises.
“The German Council Presidency will, therefore, prioritize medical efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and global health. Transborder research cooperation is key to fighting the pandemic and developing a vaccine.
“Beside coping with the acute crisis at hand, we also want to build our future. At today’s meeting, we discussed a research and development initiative on green hydrogen.
“The overarching aim is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Europe is to become the global innovation leader as well as lead market and supplier for green hydrogen technologies.
“The Commission has already put a few ideas for a European hydrogen strategy on the table.
“Research and innovation play a key role in this context, which is why it is all the more important that the Commission and the member states take action on an equal footing and pull together on this supremely important issue for the future.
“We are working towards these goals during the Trio Presidency closely with Portugal and Slovenia, each of whom will in turn take over the baton from Germany in 2021.
“Making Europe stronger and keeping it strong is a test of endurance and a task which calls for team spirit.
“The kick-off to our cooperation already shows great promise: The ‘Plastic Pirates Go Europe!’ campaign launched by the Trio will promote citizen science for young people in Europe.
“Pupils will be involved in a European research project making a major contribution to the knowledge base on plastic waste in our waters.
“The initiative aims to have a model character. Young people will be learning what research collaboration across national borders means making the European Research Area come alive.”