Russia-EU scientific cooperation is becoming more dynamic and fruitful

BRUSSELS, January 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s permanent representative to the European Union, has described the Russia-EU scientific cooperation to be fruitful and dynamic.

Scientific-technological cooperation between Russia and the European Union is one of the most advanced and busiest directions of our multi-faceted ties. I am very pleased to say that it is becoming more dynamic and is characterized by the similarity of many priorities,” Chizhov said as he presented a plan of events scheduled for the Russia-EU Year of Science.

He noted that Russia and the European Union had reciprocal projects almost in all spheres, including space research, nuclear energy, nano-technologies, public health and even climate change,” the Russian permanent representative went on to say.

Chizhov believed that Russia and the European Union should go on paying great attention to science and put an emphasis on its development.

“The sides have no plans to slow down mutually beneficial cooperation. Our common task is to make closer cooperation in this sphere a real factor of economic development and effective use of resources,” Chizhov stressed.

The initiative to hold the Russia-EU Year of Science comes from the Russian Ministry of Science and Education and the European Commission. The decision was based on results of the 30th Russia-EU summit held in Brussels in December 2012.

According to the action’s organizers, it is designed to demonstrate the achievements of domestic R&D and create conditions for increasing the potential of scientific-technological cooperation between Russia and Europe.

The Russia-EU Year of Science opened in Moscow on November 25. In his speech at the opening, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed how important the joint initiative was for Europe.

“Through joint effort, we will be able to achieve serious results in various spheres like medicine, pharmaceutics, bio and information technologies, electronics, transportation and space systems. I am convinced that the Year of Science will help solving key tasks in science, technology and education and expand business and creative contacts,” Putin said.