Research policies and environment protection

Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 15587 | 01 July 2022

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1437th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (15 June 2022). 2022 - Third part-session

Reply to Recommendation

: Recommendation 2215 (2021)

1. The Committee of Ministers has carefully examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2215 (2021) “Research policies and environment protection”. The recommendation has been brought to the attention of the governments of the member States and forwarded to the relevant committees for information and possible comments. [(1) Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU) and Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP).]

2. The Committee of Ministers welcomes the Parliamentary Assembly’s interest in and commitment to seeking solutions to global warming, particularly in the fields of energy transition and the green economy. It shares the Assembly’s view that research and innovation in these fields are of major economic and strategic importance, as energy independence is essential for economic and social prosperity. With this in mind, it echoes the Assembly’s call to Council of Europe member States to review their research, innovation and development policies and to work closely together at international level to develop these policies.

3. In this context, the Committee of Ministers welcomes the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme focusing on research and innovation, Pillar 2 of which includes a “Climate, Energy and Mobility” cluster and in which third countries can participate subject to certain conditions.

4. The Committee of Ministers highlights the potential of culture, cultural heritage and landscape as a strategic resource for sustainable development and environmental protection. It has instructed the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) to “devise and follow up innovative policies and strategies related to the sustainable management of culture, heritage and landscape and reflecting environmental and climate change challenges”. The Committee of Ministers also makes reference to the European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21st century, [(2) See Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)1.] which, in conjunction with shared best practices in relation to its recommendations, is a tool that can be used to develop knowledge banks on local and traditional materials, techniques and know-how, as well as studies and research programmes.

5. The Committee of Ministers has taken due note of the Assembly’s innovative proposals concerning the establishment of a framework, such as a new enlarged partial agreement, on the basis of which Council of Europe member States could co-operate in the various areas mentioned and the establishment of a bank of strategic resources to be managed in a mutually beneficial way. In this regard, it recognises the role that the Council of Europe Development Bank could play in helping to bring such initiatives to fruition. However, due to the uncertain budgetary situation and the current international context, the Committee of Ministers cannot consider implementing such projects for the time being, however attractive they may be.