Second Northern Dimension Action Plan seeks to strengthen scientific research

The Commission has set itself the objective of strengthening scientific research and cooperation in the Baltic and Arctic Sea regions and North West Russia, particularly in relation to climate change and environmental protection. The objective is just one of the priorities of...

The Commission has set itself the objective of strengthening scientific research and cooperation in the Baltic and Arctic Sea regions and North West Russia, particularly in relation to climate change and environmental protection.

The objective is just one of the priorities of the Commission's proposed second Northern Dimension Action Plan. The action plan sets out perspectives and objectives for actions during 2002 to 2004 in the sectors where added value from cooperation is greatest.

In the case of scientific research, the plan underlines the importance of setting up a viable support infrastructure, namely a Northern Dimension research network for scientific technology, to help 'improve communication and information exchange among all sectors of the scientific community in Russia and in the enlarged EU, encouraging at the same time the involvement of young researchers.'

However, the plan states that it is equally crucial to strengthen existing international networking structures such as the virtual research institute for sustainable agriculture and the Baltic 21 institute for sustainable industry.

In terms of the type of research activities to be supported, the action plan specifies that preference will be given to research with a particular focus on climate change; environmental protection; sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources; safety and security of energy supplies; maritime safety and social and economic developments in the region. In this context, the plan points to the role that Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) will play in providing the necessary funding for such research activities: It cites the example of research into increasing the safety of ice bound shipping, which is expected to receive support within the thematic priority 'sustainable surface transport'.

The plan also notes that projects underway in the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) and carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are already providing the framework for further cooperative research activities in the area of marine environmental protection and sustainable management.

Kraje

Russia