Potocnik: Future Lies in Knowledge-Based Society
Addressing parliamentary EU affairs committee in Ljubljana on Monday, European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik said the European Commission would continue in 2008 the path it has set last year. The future lies in competitiveness supported by a knowledge-based society, Potocnik said.
Knowledge-based society is not an abstract idea, it is a concept that connects people and supports science and invention, and it is definitely the right way, he explained at the presentation of the European Commission's annual policy strategy. "The commission will strive to follow the path we have set," Potocnik stressed.
He pointed to two types of tasks, horizontal tasks and strategic goals. The former include environmental protection, energy policies, Lisbon Strategy and migration issues in the EU, while the latter comprise welfare, solidarity, security, freedom and strengthening Europe's stature in the world.
According to Potocnik, the overhauled Lisbon Strategy is heading in the right direction and has already brought positive results. However, it must also result in the necessary reforms. "The key step is to make energy use more efficient," he explained.
Talking about science and research, Potocnik pointed to the importance of earmarking 3% of GDP for research and development. Moreover, he said that the 7th Research Framework Programme was one of the chief aims of the Commission's activities.
Potocnik also underlined the importance of the Berlin Declaration, which EU leaders are expected to sign at the end of this week, as it finally promises to break the deadlock over the EU's constitutional treaty.
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