EU and US strengthen scientific cooperation on energy and climate change
European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin, and Secretary of State for the US Department of Energy, Spencer Abraham, met in Brussels on 6 March to discuss EU-US research cooperation on climate change and energy related issues. An agreement to extend cooperation in the field of nuclear energy research between the two parties was confirmed with the signing by Mr Busquin and Mr Abraham of a new EURATOM nuclear cooperation agreement. On the subject of EU-US cooperation on energy research, Mr Abraham said: 'Our shared interests make us partners in the effort to devise innovative ways to improve the energy security in our respective countries. Our discussions will help lead to innovations across the board in energy matters.' Mr Busquin was equally positive about the potential for collaboration, saying that: 'Europe and the United States both have cutting edge knowledge and great industrial potential. [...] Through coordinated action in the energy and environment research area they can jointly address the scientific issues that affect the everyday lives of our citizens.' One area of particular interest to both the EU and US is hydrogen fuel technology. Both sides are committing significant resources in order to develop the technologies and infrastructures needed to make hydrogen powered motor transport a reality, and Mr Abraham announced that Europe and the United States would shortly be signing an annex to the current cooperation agreement which would formalise continued cooperation in this field. The Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) is open to the participation of scientists from US universities, research institutions and private enterprises. The EU currently cooperates with NASA on a series of projects, including the monitoring of ozone loss over the Arctic. The US has also recently rejoined the ITER (international thermonuclear experimental reactor) programme, of which the EU is a partner, Other future areas of cooperation discussed by Mr Busquin and Mr Abraham focussed on climate change issues such as carbon dioxide capture and storage, observation systems, aerosol-climate interactions, and carbon cycle research. Mr Busquin's final message was directed towards researchers on each side of the Atlantic: 'I urge scientists to seize these new opportunities for joint research activities.'