CZ
Minister Kopicová and the Commissioner Potočnik at the press conference after the Competitiveness Council held
on May 29th 2009.
Chaired by the Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Miroslava Kopicová, the Council
adopted three sets of conclusions and a regulation concerning a legal framework for ERIC.
The meeting of the EU Ministers for Research finalised the activities of the Czech Presidency in the area of research
and development.
"Today, the Czech Presidency managed to meet several important priorities and fulfil the motto of a "European
Research Area without barriers". One of the topics most widely discussed during the difficult negotiations was the
question how to exempt large research infrastructures from VAT and excise duty. The Czech Presidency managed to reach
a compromise even on this issue", Minister Kopicová commented the meeting.
The meeting tried to find political agreement on a proposal for a regulation for the Community legal framework for
the European Research Infrastructures consortium (ERIC). The Czech Presidency inherited this problematic point from
its French predecessors in December 2008 and submitted a compromise proposal, together with the VAT Committee, which
qualified ERIC as an international organisation for the purposes of relevant VAT directives. The proposal was adopted
by a qualified Council majority, which unblocked the stalemate. The compromise means that a country wishing to set up
an ERIC seat will declare in its application that it recognises ERIC as an international organisation from the moment
of its creation, thus exempting it from VAT and excise duty.
"The legal framework will significantly cut financial and administrative costs and clarify the legal environment
for the functioning of European research infrastructures and at the same time enhance scientific cooperation. In this
way it will bring down barriers to investments in science and research. This achievement is considered a valuable
success not only by me but also by my European counterparts", added Minister Kopicová after the
Competitiveness Council meeting.
The Council Conclusions address three areas:
Council conclusions on the Research Infrastructures and the regional dimension of the European Research Area
(ERA). The main objective of this document is to stress the regional dimension and the need for a more
balanced development of the European Research Area as well as access to funding for European research
infrastructures, particularly at Member State level. This is of great importance especially at a time of economic
crisis and is also enshrined in the European Recovery Plan.
Council conclusions on the evaluation and impact assessment of European research framework programmes
(FPs). Towards the end of February, Prague hosted the international Eufordia conference which focused on
this Presidency priority. The output of this conference represents a significant advancement in view of the need for
more efficient investments in science and research, an area in which the EU still lacks relevant tools.
Council conclusions on the first steps towards the realisation of the European Research Area (Vision
2020). The text entitled Vision 2020 is aimed to become a blueprint for building the European Research Area
up to the year 2020. The Czech Presidency has been working hard on tasks started by previous Presidencies and has
successfully worked out the details of the implementation of this project.
Among other items addressed, the Czech Presidency and the European Commission briefed the participants on conferences
and other events aimed to support careers in science. Further, the agenda included a discussion on the possible
association of the Russian Federation to EU framework programmes and on the progress made in the implementation of
the ITER project. Towards the end of the meeting Sweden presented the priorities of its upcoming Presidency.
View the photos from the event.
Mgr. Tomáš BouškaSpokesperson of the MEYS for CZ PRES
tel.: +420 257 193 426
fax: +420 257 193 753
e-mail: tomas.bouska@msmt
cz
