Commission to sign an administrative arrangement with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
The European Commission has decided to sign an administrative arrangement with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The arrangement will be the same type as the one signed on 10 October 1994 with the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN). Launched on the initiative of Prof. Ruberti, former Commissioner for science, research and development, the arrangement is part of the Commission's strategy to coordinate national and Community R&D policy. The strengthening of operational cooperation with other European RTD organizations or agencies is one the activities foreseen by the Commission in order to increase the efficiency of European research in the face of stiff international competition. Established in 1973 in Heidelberg, Germany, EMBL has become one of the principal international research centres in the field of molecular, cellular and structural biology. The aim of the administrative arrangement is to formally reinforce the links that have been developed between the Commission and the EMBL in recent years. The EMBL has in fact participated in more than a 100 Community projects. The strengthening of cooperation between the two should ensure the implementation of competent research networks and increase the coherence of European research efforts in the field.