23/10/2002

Two initiatives for the purpose of promoting cooperation on Research and Technological Development affairs in South-east Europe and the Mediterranean area are planned by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development within the framework of Greek EU Presidency in the first half of 2003.

Specifically, the first initiative relates to the elaboration and promotion of an Action Plan for the EU and Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Special Actions for Bulgaria and Romania, countries which are included among the candidates for membership. According to GSRT sources, preparations for planning the actions have already started with the collection of proposals from Greek institutions active in particular areas. The action plan will be adopted at a meeting of senior officials which will be held in January 2003 and be made official in the ministerial conference in Thessaloniki (June 2003) within the framework of the Greek presidency. It should be noted that there is an interstate scientific and technological collaboration programme between Greece and Albania (2002-2005).

The second initiative is a European-Mediterranean cooperation involving the Member States of the EU and twelve other Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus). Within the framework of its presidency, Greece will undertake the organisation of the 9th meeting of the Steering Committee for Research and Technological Development Affairs (6-8 April 2003) in which the countries concerned will participate together with officials of the Directorate of Research of the European Commission. The Committee meets once a year and its purpose is to review recent developments in the field of research at national and regional level, as well as to plan and undertake new initiatives for the countries of the region.

In both cases, the Greek side will make an effort to promote sectors which are of interest to Greece. Specifically, the priority sectors set by GSRT are as follows: energy and the environment, biotechnology and electronic networks. The possible inclusion of cultural heritage will be examined.

For those institutions active in the region or those interested in contributing to defining the scope of these two initiatives, an invitation has been published on the GSRT website.

Information
General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT)
Directorate for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation
Dr G. Bonas
tel.: + 30 210 7780217,
fax: + 30 210 7714153
email: bonas@gsrt.gr

Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology