European scientific co-operation (1st Conference of European ministers responsible for Research) (Paris, 17 September 1984)

Resolution 832 (1984)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 2 and 3 October 1984 (18th, 19th and 20th Sittings) (see Doc. 5287, report of the Committee on Science and Technology). Text adopted by the Assembly on 3 October 1984 (20th Sitting).

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

1. Welcoming the positive outcome of the 1st Conference of European Ministers responsible for Research (Paris, 17 September 1984), and the clear political will expressed in favour of the creation of a European scientific and technological area, to be achieved by concerted measures to strengthen existing and to establish new networks of co-operation, and by making it easier for researchers to move between European laboratories and scientific institutions ;

2. Reaffirming its view, as expressed in its Resolution 805 (1983) :

a that technological innovation, if taken together with the necessary social adjustments, must be the cornerstone of any industrial and economic strategy to combat the recession and reduce unemployment ;

b that the development of new technologies and materials, and their applications in combinations many of which are as yet unforeseeable, are closely linked to progress in fundamental research ;

c that initiatives for the concerted improvement of the scientific capabilities of member countries will directly help, in the medium term, to achieve economic and social objectives ;

3. Aware that reductions in public expenditure on research and technical innovation in many countries have seriously injured the overall capability and competitiveness of Western Europe in research and advanced technology ;

4. Convinced that it is all the more important at a time of economic crisis for Europe to maintainand, if possible, increase- investments in human resources, equipment and budgetary allocations for science and technology ;

5. Recalling its longstanding proposals for the concertation of the scientific and technological policies of Council of Europe countries- in Recommendations 789 (1976) and 932 (1982) on the 4th and 5th Parliamentary and Scientific Conferences, and in Order No. 418 (1983) on European scientific cooperation-together with its conviction that this concertation can only be gradually and lastingly established on the basis of sustained mutual interrelations between the programmes and policy discussions of the Council of Europe, the Commission of the European Communities, OECD and the European Science Foundation ;

6. Considering :

a that scientific and technological research and training are priority fields for the extension of new initiatives by the European Communities to the whole of democratic Europe ;

b that the Council of Europe- through its membership and its structures- is the natural frame for examining and negotiating the extension of such initiatives ;

c that the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Research (Paris, 17 September 1984), convened by decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on a proposal by the French Government, has provided a necessary forum in which to discuss the implementation of initiatives such as the decision in principle of the "Research" Council of the European Communities, meeting in Brussels on 28 February 1984, that the "Stimulation Plan for European Scientific and Technological Co-operation and Exchanges", drawn up by the European Commission, should be opened up to other European countries ;

7. Welcoming the invitations addressed by the Conference of Ministers to the European Science Foundation in regard to the strengthening and setting-up of networks of scientific co-operation and the geographic and inter-sectorial mobility of researchers, and trusting that the Foundation's response will be proportionate to the hopes invested ten years ago in its setting-up as an instrument for the creation of a European scientific area in the best long-term interests of European and world science,

8. Decides to examine a further report by its Committee on Science and Technology on the state of implementation of the Ministers' resolutions in the light of the Ministers' Political Declaration (see texts in appendix) ;

9. Calls upon the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe, together with the other governments taking part in the Conference :

a to sustain and if possible strengthen those sectors of the Intergovernmental Work Programme essential to the implementation of the Ministers' resolutions ;

b to encourage positive and immediate action on the part of their scientific institutions and from within the higher education sector, to take advantage of those opportunities for better cooperation across Europe which should be generated in implementation of the Ministers' resolutions ;

c to ensure, through appropriate budgetary measures if necessary, that such opportunities for co-operation are genuinely created and exploited ;

d to arrange for the continued concertation of their scientific and technological policies, having regard to the respective roles of the Council of Europe, the Commission of the European Communities, OECD and the European Science Foundation, in the preparation and proceedings of this 1st Conference of European Ministers responsible for Research.

Appendix Texts adopted by the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Research - (Paris, 17 September 1984)

Political declaration

The European Ministers responsible for Research,

1. Recalling the statement made on 30 September 1982 by the President of the French Republic to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that : "It would perhaps be sensible to think of keeping Europe's brains in Europe and, to that end, offering sufficient scope for their research capability and its realisation" ;

2. Recalling the proposal made by the Federal Minister for Science and Research of Austria at the Parliamentary and Scientific Conference held by the Council of Europe in Helsinki in June 1981, that a conference of European ministers responsible for universities and research should take place ;

3. Recalling the joint declaration of the ministerial meeting between the European Community and its member states and the states of the European Free Trade Association on 9 April 1984, where the Ministers agreed to broaden and deepen in particular co-operation in research and development, stressed the need to increase these efforts and agreed to promote mobility for European research workers ;

4. Recalling the joint declaration of the ministerial meeting between the European Community and its member states and the states of the European Free Trade Association on 9 April 1984, where the Ministers agreed to broaden and deepen in particular co-operation in research and development, stressed the need to increase these efforts and agreed to promote mobility for European research workers ;

5. Convinced that international scientific and technical co-operation is an absolute imperative contributing to the vitality, efficiency and success of research ;

6. Convinced that international scientific and technical co-operation is an absolute imperative contributing to the vitality, efficiency and success of research ;

7. Aware in particular that the development of science and technology in Europe affects the continent's capacity to respond to, the challenges of developing new industries and modernising traditional industries, and thus the promotion of growth and employment ;

8. Noting that, in research as in many other areas, the fragmentation of efforts carries the risk that Europe may be deprived of its creativity and competitiveness and thus of its potential, at a critical time when scientific and technological developments are accelerating throughout the world ;

9. Noting that, despite the quality and quantity of the human and financial research resources available in Europe, insufficient opportunities for exchange, concertation and co-operation at European level and also too often the presence of social and cultural barriers have limited the development of strong contacts in Europe ;

10. Aware of the importance of scientific exchanges worldwide but convinced that the failure to establish a strong "European scientific and technical area" would be both a missed opportunity for Europe and a loss to science itself ;

11. Convinced that the Europe of science and technology will be all the more vital and powerful a reality if it can draw on a multitude of networks whereby people circulate and ideas are exchanged, innovations become better known, results can be disseminated quickly and more effectively and the resources allocated to research and development employed more effectively ;

12. Conscious of the value of such networks, especially when research efforts are required to be on a substantial scale- in terms of equipment or volume of communication- to be effective, or when the appropriate geographical framework for the subject matter of research calls for a European approach ;

13. Regretting that mobility among European researchers is often hampered by material obstacles which practical measures should be able to overcome, whether in the matter of information, circulation, ccommodation and return in the case of the European research worker or the movement of scientific equipment ;

14. Considering the great value of certain initiatives already taken or implemented at European or international level in the interests of European scientific and technical co-operation, for example by the Council of Europe, the European Communities, by European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST), the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Science Foundation (ESF) ;

15. Considering the great value of certain initiatives already taken or implemented at European or international level in the interests of European scientific and technical co-operation, for example by the Council of Europe, the European Communities, by European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST), the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Science Foundation (ESF) ;

16. Certain that none of the new initiatives will have any meaning or real impact unless they are based on the scientific community's expression of its own needs, on the member states' own priorities and on the expression by European bodies of their tangible interest in supporting these initiatives ;

17. Welcoming the support given by the Commission of the European Communities, which has proposed extension of the "Stimulation Plan for European Scientific and Technological Co-operation and Exchanges" to European states which are not members of the Community, and by the European Science Foundation, which has made a vital contribution to the preparation of the Conference, and welcoming the interest they have shown in playing an active part in the implementation of the resolutions ;

18. Aware that the present economic difficulties and growing budgetary constraints mean that all new projects have to be compatible with and complementary to existing national, community and international programmes, and have to be implemented essentially by reallocation of existing resources and make the best use of existing institutions, thus avoiding duplication,

19. Affirm their desire :

to promote the establishment of a "European scientific and technical area" open to all states taking part in the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Research organised by the Council of Europe ;

to that end, to intensify European concertation and co-operation in the field of research and accordingly to foster contacts and exchanges among scientists, laboratories, universities and other institutions of higher education and research in Europe ;

20. 20. Agree :

to stimulate the strengthening of existing networks and if necessary to promote the preparation of new networks of scientific and technical co-operation in Europe ;

to propose arrangements whereby the conditions governing research mobility in Europe are improved in practice ;

21. Adopt accordingly the following resolutions on :

scientific and technical co-operation networks in Europe, inviting the European Science Foundation in co-operation with the relevant authorities and the scientific community, to submit, within five months, to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, proposals for their implementation ;

mobility of researchers in Europe, inviting the European Science Foundation in co-operation with the relevant authorities to submit, within two years, an evaluation of the progress made in this field.

Resolution on European networks of scientific and technical co-operation

The European Ministers responsible for Research,

1. Basing themselves on the political declaration adopted on 17 September 1984 ;

2. Noting with satisfaction the working method which, in providing for wide-ranging consultation of the scientific community itself and for systematic appraisal by the European Science Foundation of the proposals submitted to it in this context, has made it possible to discern fields in which the development of existing or new networks of scientific and technical co-operation in Europe appears important,

3. Consider the following characteristics appropriate for the networks :

a network should be so designed as to bring together ideas and efforts, human resources and equipment, training capacity and expertise, in a field designated by the scientists themselves ;

a network should be self-managed, in that its organisation and scientific supervision are a matter for the scientists themselves : the scientific community should seek appropriate support structures and financial means from national, community or international sources ;

a network may take a wide variety of forms of communication and co-operation : liaison, contact, information, exchanges, joint research and high-level training projects ;

4. Agree, whilst inviting the scientific community to take appropriate initiatives on its own account, to stimulate the strengthening of existing networks and, as appropriate, to promote the preparation of new networks of scientific and technical co-operation in Europe in the following fields grouped within six categories, taking into account the interest of each member country for particular networks :

1 Earth, ocean, space

Earth sciences (regrouping the following network themes : seismology, geotraverse and geodynamics, volcanology, polar research),

Oceanography/ oceanology,

Scientific research in space (remote sensing, microgravity...) ;

2 Health, biology

Brain and behaviour research (ETPBBR),

Molecular biology,

Epidemiology ;

3 Materials, energy

Material sciences,

Catalysis,

Energy ;

4 Human development

Longitudinal studies on human development,

Second language acquisition by adult immigrants,

Comparative studies on education systems,

Gerontology,

Research on the problems of the disabled ;

5 Agriculture, food

Food sciences and technologies,

Mediterranean agriculture and tropical agronomy,

Management of water resources,

Aquaculture ;

6 Advanced technologies

Informatics,

Biotechnology (regrouping the following network themes : genetics, plant molecular biology and plant genetics),

Computer-aided manufacturing,

Underwater technologies ;

5. Considering that the list does not rule out any current or possible future initiatives to develop the desired contacts and exchanges between scientists, laboratories and research institutes in Europe,

6. Draw attention to the fact that this resolution calls for attentive follow-up action at European and national level alike, and that it is a matter for the relevant authorities to define the modalities and for the scientific community to specify the scientific content of the themes in liaison with the relevant national, community and international bodies ;

7. Draw attention to the fact that this resolution calls for attentive follow-up action at European and national level alike, and that it is a matter for the relevant authorities to define the modalities and for the scientific community to specify the scientific content of the themes in liaison with the relevant national, community and international bodies ;

8. Invite the European Science Foundation to report on the networks' development to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe within a period of two years following the Conference.

Resolution on mobility of researchers in Europe

The European Ministers responsible for Research,

Basing themselves on the political declaration adopted on 17 September 1984 ;

Convinced that special attention must be paid to both geographical and disciplinary mobility for the purpose of turning to account research and innovation in the European scientific and technological area through concertation, co-operation, comparison of methods and findings and the transfer of knowledge from one discipline to another ;

Considering nevertheless that mobility is not an end in itself but is an essential element of a European research and development policy to reach a "critical mass" of resources and manpower for research and development, which cannot be fully realised at national level alone ;

Aware that the rapid progress of science and technology requires the intensification of international exchanges for postgraduate students, university teachers and researchers in public, private, university and industrial sectors to deepen their knowledge and the development of their professional experience ;

Convinced that personal contact between scientists adds a further dimension to the already considerable contribution of new communication techniques ;

1. Noting that, in order to encourage mobility of researchers in Europe, especially of young researchers, substantial progress should be made in many areas such as :

1 access to laboratories, accommodation and subsistence

reception,

fiscal measures,

social protection, and

reintegration on return (including recognition of periods spent abroad in career structures and retirement schemes) ;

2 mobility in European education at doctoral and post-doctoral level

complementary training,

sabbaticals and leave for research purposes,

encouragement of regional, national and transfrontier inter-university agreements,

shared theses,

Recommend the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe- taking account of the work of the Standing Conference on University Problems (CC-PLJ), in collaboration with the Commission of the European Communities and the European Science Foundation- to examine, following the usual procedure in co-operation with relevant national bodies, measures to improve mobility, including :

1 the possible improvements to mobility resulting from the creation of a European researcher's card ;

2 the development of innovation in training on an international basis, in particular the development of training exchanges between institutions of higher education in Europe ;

2. Welcoming appropriate initiatives to develop European mobility and co-operation between public and private, university and industrial research sectors as a means of stimulating industrial innovation ;

Convinced of the importance of action for extending and improving the efficiency of current Europe-wide initiatives connected with the dissemination and management of scientific and technical information, in particular in assisting the process of innovation,

Invite the Commission of the European Communities to carry out a study, in collaboration with the Council of Europe, of the dissemination and management of scientific and technical information, taking account of all public and private initiatives at national and European level ;

3. Taking note of the intention of the Commission of the European Communities to consider ways of developing a European system of information on practical opportunities for exchanges and meetings in laboratories, in close liaison with the Council of Europe and the European Science Foundation,

Invite the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to consider the results of this examination with the intention to expand, as appropriate, such a system to all member states of the Council of Europe ;

4. Underlining the benefits of effective fellowship arrangements covering all fields of research at postgraduate as well as post-doctoral level,

Affirm the desirability for European researchers of better information on European bilateral and/or multilateral fellowship schemes in order to make access easier to them ;

Invite the Commission of the European Communities to study, in collaboration with the European Science Foundation and the Council of Europe, ways of improving the current situation, including a European research fellowship scheme ;

5. Recommend the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to consider the utility of a European agreement to facilitate the movement of scientific research equipment between member states of the Council of Europe, on the basis of the application of Article 13 of the Customs Convention of 1968, on the temporary importation of scientific equipment, the provisions of which set out the minimum facilities to be accorded, in keeping with the competence of the European Economic Community in matters relating to customs ;

6. Bearing in mind that all these problems involve the competence of different national and regional authorities.

Urge active and continuing co-operation between relevant national and European structures in order to take the appropriate measures ;

Invite the European Science Foundation, in co-operation with appropriate bodies of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Communities, to present to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, within two years, an appraisal of the progress of the work on mobility covered by this resolution.