Council endorses closer cooperation in agriculture-related research
The EU's Agriculture and Fisheries Council discussed forging closer links between agriculture and research when it met on 22 November. Agriculture ministers examined a report by the Dutch Presidency entitled 'Towards cooperation between research funders and programme managers in the domain of agriculture, food, rural development and fisheries in the European Union'. The report concluded that stronger cooperation between ministries of agriculture and ministries of research is necessary - a recommendation that received broad support within the Council. Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik, present at the meeting, indicated that a high level meeting will take place in 2005, at which Member States will be able to discuss themes for cooperation within the Standing Committee for Agricultural Research (SCAR). Each Member State will be invited to nominate two experts to attend the meeting. Science also played a part in the main outcome of the meeting - the political agreement on measures to ensure animal welfare during transportation. The new regulation has been based on research into the welfare needs of animals, and its implementation will be monitored from 2007 with satellite tracking technology.