Latest posts
Goodbye research… hello environment!
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Here we are! We’ve reached a turning point in our journey together… from research and now into the environment. But this is not goodbye! Certainly any of you who have ever lived in a city like Brussels will know it is always better to say ...
Statement of the Commissioner Potočnik on the announcement of the new Commission
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President Barroso has today announced the composition of his new Commission. President Barroso has entrusted me with the responsibility of a challenging and crucial portfolio: Environment. I wanted to share with you the statement I’ve given fol...
Coming together, keeping together, working together for a low carbon future…
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This was the title of the speech I gave recently during the annual Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) Conference held in Stockholm. I was speaking to all the main actors from the Member States, industry and the research community and, in adv...
No scientific “trans-Atlantic divide” between the US and Europe!
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This week we celebrate an important event. It is the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the European Commission’s first research site: the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra on Lago Maggiore in northern Italy. I will be involved in a num...
Inauguration of the ERC executive agency: the future starts …today
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It is with great pleasure and pride that I’ve attended the inauguration of the European Research Council executive agency few days ago in Brussels. It was a special moment, where I could show my recognition of all the extraordinary work accompl...
The Africa Experience
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I’ve been back from my summer break for a week now. Batteries recharged (with renewable sun energy) for the new challenges ahead! But to start with, my agenda takes me far away from our continent, on a mission to promote a topic very dear to my...
The Malta Experience
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This wasn’t my first trip to Malta, but it had a special significance because I have now, as Research Commissioner, visited every Member State. And Malta is a special place – full of history and absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed a highly intere...
A pension as mobile as any researcher
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I’m delighted to announce that we have now launched the feasibility study for a pan-European pension fund for researchers. The stage has now being set for a thorough legal and technical analysis which I hope will lead to the promotion of this a...
Visit to Serbia: On the way towards full integration into the European Research Area
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I was in Belgrade at the beginning of the week participating at an EU Research Information Event that the Commission’s Directorate General for Research and Joint Research Centre organised together with Serbian Ministry for Science and Technolog...
Greening air transport: We’re ready for take-off
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As you might recall, I visited the International Paris Air Show two years ago to launch a project called ‘Clean Sky’. Last week I had the chance to visit Le Bourget, France again during the centennial edition of the famous Air Show. Well,...
Sustainable development: where there’s a will, there’s a way
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Does Europe have the will—not only the wish—to support sustainable development? This is the provocative question posed by the Scientific Committee in their Manifesto for the 2009 EU Conference, “Sustainable Development: A Challenge for Euro...
A step ahead for research infrastructures!
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Last week, the European Research Area took a step forward: thanks to the joint efforts of research ministers and the European Commission, a number of major research projects will soon be able to register in a new legal form which will be exempt from...
JRC-Ispra Open Day 2009
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For science and research to succeed; to advance our knowledge and understanding with the ultimate aim of making life better for all, few things are as important as the enthusiastic commitment and dedication of our researchers. They are the lifeblood...
How do we know our universities are doing well?
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Hello to all, A topic that is increasingly being discussed in European circles is about how to evaluate and compare universities’ performance. We have recently asked a group of experts to advise us on this subject. Professor Wolfgang Mackiewicz...
Joining forces for a greener Europe…and world!
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Whether I am reading newspapers, blogs or discussing with friends and colleagues, people are talking about the G20’s plan for the global economic crisis. Last week, it delivered a groundbreaking statement: leaders from all over the globe declar...
Proud to be the patron of the European Science Parliament!
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One of the best things about being a European Commissioner is the number of exciting initiatives from all over Europe that I get to hear about and be involved in. It’s inspiring to know how many motivated people are out there, doing the best to...
The World in 2025: full of challenges and opportunities
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A few weeks ago my Office arranged a lunchtime debate with my Services to discuss “the world in 2025″. I think prospective thinking is necessary. Don’t French-speaking people say: “Gouverner, c’est prévoir” (Good...
Positive assessment of the Joint Research Centre
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While it came as no surprise to me, I was very pleased to receive good news recently from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) here at the European Commission. An independent report on the JRC’s work from 2002 to 2006 under the Sixth Framework Progr...
What do the numbers tell us about R&D investments and the European Research Area?
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As an economist, I’m always happy when I get the chance to get back to a bit of real number-crunching. Some days ago, along with my colleague Vice-President Verheugen, we presented the latest statistics on the EU’s performance in R&D...
Innovation and Research at the heart of political agenda? Ready and willing!
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Imagine. Create. Innovate. This inspirational message is the motto of European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 (EYCI), whose launch was marked this Wednesday with a conference in Prague. It’s good to see innovation getting a high profile...
