Specific support actions for Russia and other NIS
The European Commission has published a call for proposals for specific support actions for Russia and other NIS (newly independent states) under the thematic priority 'Specific measures in support of international cooperation - Russia and other NIS'. This is one of the areas covered by the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme. The specific support action will be used to fund activities relating to this call (10.6.2 D in the work programme). The general objective of international cooperation activities carried out under the Framework Programme is to help open up the European Research Area to the rest of the world. These activities represent the particular contribution of the Framework Programme to this opening-up process, which will require a joint effort by the Community and the Member States. In the case of Russia and other NIS, research priorities should cover the following issues: stabilisation of research and development potential, changes in the industrial production system, environment and health protection and related safety aspects (section 10.3.1.D of the work programme). Activities will be carried out by means of research, technological development and demonstration projects, and actions to coordinate national efforts and specific support actions. Cooperation activities with Russia and the other NIS will be carried out in particular through the International Association for Promotion of Cooperation with scientists from the NIS (INTAS), set up jointly by the Community and the Member States, in accordance with the existing statutes of INTAS and its established instruments and procedures, modified if necessary, and applicable Community law. A dedicated call for proposals will be launched in 2004. The budget for this call is 0.6 million euro in 2003. The budgets for 2004 to 2006 will be given in periodic updates of the work programme.To see the call text, please visit: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/call_details.cfm?CALL_ID=45(opens in new window)