Kucler Dolinar and Potocnik: Energy Research Needs More Funds

Brussels, 25 February

EU ministers responsible for research reached an agreement in Brussels on Monday on the establishment of a fuel cells and hydrogen joint undertaking. Slovenian Minister Mojca Kucler Dolinar and Science and Research Commissioner meanwhile noted that the EU would need more funds for energy research.

The minister of higher education, science and technology, who chaired the afternoon part of the EU Competitiveness Council session, said the regulation on fuel cells and hydrogen would "make a significant contribution towards strengthening the European Research Area and EU competitiveness".
Joint technological initiatives were presented by the seventh framework programme as a new method of establishing public-private partnerships. The joint undertaking "will contribute towards achieving the EU's strategic objectives and meeting Kyoto Protocol commitments," Kucler Dolinar said.
Commissioner Potocnik repeated that the EU would earmark EUR 470m in funds for the fuel cells and hydrogen initiative until 2013, and that it expected the private sector to contribute as much.
The ministers also discussed the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). Commenting on the debate, Kucler Dolinar said the exchange of views had been very useful as it brought forth many ideas about how to effectively coordinate research in the field of energy.
The minister was confident that the European Commission would be able to use those ideas, while she urged closer coordination between the EU and national programmes, also through efforts by the industry.
She also called for enhancing research in the area of climate and energy as well as more innovation and better application of findings from pan-European research in the economy.
Kucler Dolinar and Potocnik were clear on the point that more public and private funds should be poured into energy research. The minister believes research and new technologies can open up new possibilities for European companies as well as leaving a healthy environment to the posterity.
The Slovenian minister also briefed her counterparts on the state of progress in the legislative procedure and further steps to adopt the initiative aimed at improving the quality of life for the elderly (AAL) and the Eurostars programme to support small- and medium-sized EU enterprises engaged in research and development.
The Slovenian presidency and the European Parliament are making efforts to complete the legislative procedure at first reading, so that formal adoption could be achieved before the end of the Slovenian presidency.

Kucler Dolinar and Potocnik: Energy Research Needs More Funds

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