Slovenia and France Sign Agreement on Cooperation in Energy
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Jure Zupan and the vice-chairman of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Jean-Pierre Le Roux, signed on Monday an agreement on cooperation between the Slovenian ministry and the CEA.
"The agreement is a result of years of cooperation between Slovenian and French researchers, which will now be taken to an even higher level," Zupan said, adding that the two countries cooperate in 30 to 50 science and technology projects a year.
Slovenian institutions which have been successfully cooperating with the French institutes include Slovenia's main research institute, Institut Jozef Stefan, the Ljubljana Medical Faculty, the Chemistry Institute, the National Biology Institute, and the Agency for Radwaste Management.
The two countries are also working together in 103 joint projects within the EU, such as Cost, Eureka and the 5th and 6th Framework Programme, while Zupan and Le Roux expressed hope that the 7th Framework Programme will also be included soon.
Furthermore, Slovenia cooperates in the construction of the international experimental fusion reactor ITER. In Le Roux's view, it is important that the two countries have a positive approach toward nuclear energy.
He also pointed to the problem of new energy sources, which would replace fossil energy sources, and to environmental issues. He stressed that Europe must follow the goal of a sustainable and efficient energy policy.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|