Commission funding initiates unprecedented Baltic collaboration
The European Commission has announced that it is to contribute 3.03 million euro to the BONUS project, aimed at improving sustainable development in the Baltic Sea region. The project, which will be financed over four years under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), will pool the resources of eight of the nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany), and involve the international council for the exploration of the seas (ICES). The aim of BONUS is to encourage a coordinated approach to research into issues such as pollution, regional development, protection of natural resources and marine sciences. 'A coherent transnational strategy is essential to ensure that research is cost-effective, of high scientific quality, and addresses the real needs of policy-makers and of the Baltic region's economy and citizens,' said EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. Until now there have been no joint research programmes involving the nine countries bordering the Baltic. Recent debates over issues such as fishing rights and the pollution of coastlines by oil spills have, however, emphasised the importance of increased international scientific collaboration and strategic planning. The BONUS network will also pave the way for increased cooperation in the future. After preparatory activities in the initial stage of the project, joint research programmes will be established, procedures for the management and shared use of research facilities agreed, and a joint postgraduate training programme set up. This, in turn, will lead to the definition of management and decision-making systems for long-term cooperation. The project is funded under the ERA-NET scheme, which is designed to encourage the creation of close long-term links between national research programmes with shared goals.
Countries
Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden