European Universities Association launches consultation on FP7
The European Universities Association (EUA) has begun a consultation process with it membership on areas of the Commission's proposals for the Seventh Framework Programme of importance to the higher education sector. Following the publication of the Commission's proposals, the EUA established working groups to look at three specific areas in detail: support for basic research and the European Research Council (ERC), mobility, research training and careers (Marie Curie actions), and simplification of funding mechanisms and conditions to strengthen university participation. Each of these working groups has since produced a draft report, and the EUA is now inviting its members - particularly those with responsibility for research and research strategy development in their institutions - to consult the documents and provide their feedback. 'Contributions will be fed into the next round of working group meetings which will prepare viewpoints and positions to be presented to the European Commission,' reads an EUA statement. The consultation will be open until 31 October.