Cooperation with Third Countries and International Organizations under the Fourth Framework Programme
On 10 March 1994, a Commission press release outlined each of the specific programmes within the Fourth Framework Programme. This includes an overview of the cooperation with third countries and international organizations to be carried out under the Second Action of the Programme. It is in the interests of the European Union to cooperate with industrialized nations and developing countries and also with international organizations. These actions will generate results (indirectly and in the long-term) supporting industrial competitivity and the strategic position of the European Union at world level. Three action lines are defined: - "Scientific and technological cooperation in Europe", to reinforce links with COST, EUREKA and particularly international organizations. Actions undertaken with the PHARE and TEMPUS programmes will also target the countries of Eastern and Central Europe and the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the Former Soviet Union; - "Cooperation with non-European industrialized countries", optimizing the EU's RTD efforts and assuring, in the long-term, the coherence of RTD policy and potential international markets. Collaboration will concern, for instance, the implementation of projects on "human frontiers" or on intelligent production systems; - "Scientific and technical cooperation with developing countries", to aid these countries to resolve problems affecting them directly (natural resources, health, agriculture) and also to participate in the advancement of knowledge on themes of global importance (environmental protection, epidemiology, desertification). A further objective will be to maintain the standard of European excellence in the research disciplines applicable to the developing countries (agriculture, fisheries, etc.).