Busquin says ERA will boost EU bio-defence research
Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, speaking on 12 December at the first meeting of a group of scientific experts brought together to look at ways of tackling biological and chemical terrorism, said that the European research area (ERA) offers the best framework for coordinating EU research in this area. The group of experts will make a joint assessment of Europe's knowledge and capacity regarding bio-defence and identify gaps where additional research is needed, in particular through better coordination of research activities within the Member States and at Community level. Opportunities provided by the next Framework programme for research, FP6, Joint Research Centre (JRC) activities and Member State initiatives will be taken into account. Mr Busquin said that the ERA will maximise European bio-defence research by aiding the exchange of information between researchers and allowing Europe to speak with one voice on the international scene. 'The added value of the ERA is therefore doubled,' he explained, as 'it enhances efficiency by helping to pool research efforts, and it reinforces Europe's credibility vis-à-vis the outside world and the United States in particular.' He said that bio-defence research will have a central role to play in the civil protection strategy drawn up following the Ghent European Council in October, and that European cooperation in this area gives 'an undeniable added value' in relation to questions which transcend national boundaries. 'The role I see for the Commission is as a catalyst for the networking of scientific expertise and European coordination of national efforts, to the benefit of everyone,' he said. The Commissioner also explained that the events of 11 September in the USA and the subsequent anthrax cases, as well as the chemical factory explosion in Toulouse, France, highlighted deficiencies in European civil protection. 'In these two particular cases,' he explained, 'it is not scientific and technological progress which is brought into question, but its use, proven or suspected, to cause large-scale destruction.' At the latest meeting of the Research Council on 10 December, Ministers arrived at a political agreement on FP6 and added civil protection, including the issue of bioterrorism, to the list of European research subjects to be dealt with under the 'Anticipation of emerging needs' priority. The main research subjects are to be the development of tools for early detection and diagnosis and for the surveillance of biological or chemical agents that could be used in terrorist attacks, the production and distribution of vaccines and studies on potential threats to the agri-food industry. A JRC working party on bio-response reported to the group of experts at the meeting. The working party said that a terrorist attack using biological agents is both possible and would be difficult to manage. The best protection against such a threat, the expert group said, is the establishment of a prevention system based on existing tools, the setting up of a bio-response network and efficient management of biological information in the EU. Mr Busquin said that the JRC will also undertake research into specific scientific aspects of biological and chemical terrorism, as well as its economic, social and psychological implications for European citizens. It is also compiling a database on biological and chemical weapons in EU Member States. The group of scientific experts initiative, which was supported by the European Research Council on 30 October, forms part of the Declaration of the Ghent European Council and the Commission communication on civil protection that is to be presented to the Laeken European council taking place on the 14 and 15 December. The group is compose of representatives from Member State Ministries of research and defence and the European Commission. The second meeting of the group is scheduled for February 2002 and a first progress report should be presented to the next Research Council on 11 March 2002.