Busquin emphasises importance of ERA
At a celebration of the 'European organisation for particle physics' in Geneva on 9 October, European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin reiterated his support for the establishment of a European Research Area (ERA). 'The development, at European level, of an area for the coherent and co-ordinated pursuit of research activities and policies, and an area in which researchers and knowledge move freely will encourage the expression of European excellence in several ways' said Mr Busquin which he then listed. First, by making it possible to establish a 'critical mass' of potential excellence, by networking the capacities present in different Member States, particularly through intensive use of information and communication technologies. Second, by releasing people and teams from the protection of national barriers, thus introducing competition and increasing the general level of excellence. Third, by attracting to Europe the best researchers from the rest of the world, in the same way that American campuses are currently attracting researchers. The European Research Area was proposed by the Commission in January 2000. It has since been endorsed by the Heads of State and Government, and is now the benchmark for the research policy debate in Europe.