New EU projects to address societal challenges
Some 89 new socio-economic research projects addressing some of the major challenges faced by society today, including discrimination, security and citizenship, were presented at a meeting in Brussels on 14 March. Together, the projects will be supported by 81 million euro of EU funds, provided under the 'improving human potential' sub-section of the Fifth Framework Programme. The projects are grouped around five key issues and policy fields: - societal and individual well being and policies - quality of life and social cohesion; - governance, citizenship and the dynamics of European integration, enlargement and security; - gender, governance and quality of life; - challenges to development models: broad perspectives, knowledge dynamics and innovation; - infrastructures for building the European Research Area (ERA). Of the 89 projects, 33 will focus on Europe's distinctive model of development and its approach to combining economic and social development and sustainability. The results from the studies should propose new approaches to issues such as combining working, family and social life, the relationship between inequality and social cohesion on economic development, and integrating environmental sustainability into other policy areas. Of particular relevance at the moment are five new research projects addressing the causes of conflict and possible peace solutions. Until now, researchers have mainly analysed economic and political tensions as the main roots of conflict. The new studies will take other elements into consideration, such as social and psychological factors. The EU is increasingly called upon to help prevent and solve conflicts across the world. Research into the causes and mitigation of conflict is therefore regarded as vital. The five projects involve 53 research teams from 14 EU Member States (all except Luxembourg), nine candidate countries and Israel, and have a budget of over 4.2 million euro. This field of research is also included in the 'citizens and governance in the knowledge-based society' thematic priority of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). Involving 65 teams from 23 countries are eight new projects on gender equality. Some 30 years after European legislation was passed to secure equal rights for men and women, previous EU research has illustrated that women continue to earn less while shouldering the burden of domestic responsibilities. Further research is intended to help shape gender mainstreaming strategies, which ensure that promoting gender equality is integral to all new policies at both EU and national level. The new projects will deal with a range of issues such as gender equality in the labour market; qualifications and training; gender relationships and family life in Europe; gender mainstreaming; civic and political participation of women in the Member States and candidate countries; and women's rights. Under the Sixth Framework Programme, 225 million euro will be available for socio-economic research under the 'citizens and governance' thematic priority. However, research consortia preparing proposals for other research areas are also encouraged to integrate some of the issues covered by 'citizens and governance' into their project plan.