Research programmes in the Baltic States serve as a role model

02.10.2013 12:33

Research programmes in the Baltic States serve as a role model

The EPP Group held a public Hearing today on 'Horizon 2020 and research in the Baltic States: Stairway to excellence. The Baltic example'. The Hearing served as a great opportunity to gather policy-makers and researchers from the EU to discuss not only the situation in the Baltic States, but also to elaborate on policy measures on how to further promote excellence in science in the Member States.

“Cooperation is the key to success in research. The Baltic States have huge potential in increasing their cooperation, combining the best of each country. The EU Horizon 2020 Programme envisages cross-border cooperation as the stairway to excellence in research. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are poised to be a great example of how this can function”, said Krišjānis Kariņš MEP.

Algirdas Saudargas MEP added: “Excellent science, as one of the three pillars of Horizon 2020, is the leading aspiration in EU research. We have to give it enough attention and take specific measures to make smaller countries equivalent partners with large countries in the research and development field.”

“I am glad that the Baltic States are among the EU Innovation Growth leaders serving as role models in building up knowledge-based societies and economies. Such long-term planning will also be the key to achieving the Europe 2020 strategy goals. In this regard, I underline that Horizon 2020, as the new framework programme, has to enable easy access for research communities from all Member States and cooperation free of unnecessary bureaucracy to boost R&D”, concluded Tunne Kelam MEP.

Currently, the need for excellence in EU research raises a lot of discussion, but there's too little discussion on how to attain this in the Member States which are lagging behind. In this context, the Baltic States can still be characterised as lagging behind, but are currently working out a very promising cooperative framework which will mesh very well with the new Horizon 2020 framework. The Baltics could even become a great example of cross-border research coordination as a means of attaining excellence in research.

Note to editors

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 275 Members from 27 Member States.

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