EARTO Policy Breakfast with ITRE MEPs on the Future of EU R&I Policy

– Brussels, 5 November 2014 –

  On 5 November 2014, EARTO organised a breakfast debate with members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) to present EARTO’s Recommendations for Future R&I Policy. The breakfast was kindly hosted by MEP Dr. Christian Ehler (German, EPP), rapporteur for H2020 Rules for Participation. We welcomed some 25 MEPs and assistants as well as 12 of our members representing the EARTO Board.   EARTO President Ms Khorsand’s presentation opened the debate on future priorities for R&I in Europe. MEPs and EARTO members discussed, among others, how to best exploit Structural Funds (SF) and H2020 to the benefit of Europe, while creating synergies between both funds. Dr. Ehler highlighted the “important role” RTOs will play in H2020 and called on EARTO members to look at the synergies issue, which according to him will represent an important dossier to new Commissioner for R&I Carlos Moedas. MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij (Dutch, EPP), key on the SF/H2020 dossier, invited RTOs to use the European Parliament to voice their concerns and suggestions on how to best link these funds.   This breakfast debate has been an effective way to foster debate between EARTO and the newly elected MEPs on relevant issues for RTOs.