Regional representatives discuss their role in the ERA
Representatives from more than 130 European regions met with government and Commission officials in Valencia on 23 February seizing a first opportunity to discuss the regional aspects of a European area for research, development and innovation. Spain's new Prince Felipe Science Museum provided an impressive backdrop to the meeting, which drew a number of high level speakers including the European Commission's Research Director-General Achilleas Mitsos, Mr Carl Lindberg, the Swedish deputy secretary at the Ministry for education and science and Mr François-Xavier de Donnea, Minister-President of Belgium's Brussels-Capital region. Discussions focused on the conference of peripheral maritime regions (CRPM) paper on the territorialisation of research and development and innovation policies: the issues involved and the prospects for action. Most delegates agreed it is necessary to consider the role of the regions in any future plan for research policy, although there was some debate as to the weight of influence that regional authorities should be allowed to have in the decision making process. Commission officials joined Mr Lindberg in stressing the need for decisions to be taken at national level, with input from the regions, while a number of participants put the case for even greater consultation with regional authorities.