6. Welcomes the renewal of the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation as well as Russian participation in the Bologna process, which provides for mutual recognition of diplomas; calls on both sides to adopt special programmes aimed at promoting their cooperation in the fields of high-tech and scientific research, including the aircraft-building industry, space exploration, nuclear energy, telecommunications and the pan-European transport system;

8. Calls upon both sides to adopt special programmes aimed at promoting their cooperation in the high-tech and science-incentive spheres, including the aircraft building industry, space exploration, nuclear energy, telecommunications and the pan-European transport system;

A new expert group on Women in science and technology – the business perspective started its work in February 2005 Supporting projects to promote gender research, analyse existing measures, creating ambassadors for women in science, Setting targets for participation in Commission programme (40% female participation in committees, groups and panels, amongst project coordinators and receiving Marie Curie Fellowships) Establishing th ...[+++]e Gender Watch System to monitor progress towards a more balanced participation of women and men in the Framework Programme Support tools include a guide to gender mainstreaming for scientific officers and evaluators.

On being handed the panel’s final report, Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research said: “It is encouraging to receive the panel’s assessment that the Framework Programmes have contributed to the creation of a knowledge society in Europe, and this report will provide considerable inspiration for the design of the next programme.

The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows : Belgium : M. Yvan YLIEFF Minister for Science Policy M. Luc VANDENBRANDE Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Denmark : M. Frank JENSEN Minister for Research M. Knud LARSEN State Secretary for Research Germany : Mme Cornelia YZER Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Education, Science, Research and Technology Greece : M. Emmanouel FRANGOULIS Secretary-General in the Ministry for Research Spain : M. Jerónimo SAAVEDRA ACEVEDO Minister for Education and Science France : M. François d'AUBERT State Secretary for Rese ...[+++]arch Ireland : M. Patrick RABBITTE Minister of State to the Government and at the Department of Enterprise and Employment with special responsibility for Commerce and Technology and Consumer Affairs Italy : M. Giorgio SALVINI Minister for the University and Scientific Research and Technology M. Federico ROSSI State Secretary for Research Luxembourg : Mme Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES Minister for National Education Netherlands : M. Lambert HANRATH Deputy Permanent Representative Austria : M. Rudolf SCHOLTEN Federal Minister for Science and Research Portugal : M. José Mariano GAGO Minister for Science and Technology Finland : M. Antti KALLIOMÄKI Minister for Trade and Industry Sweden : M. Carl LINDBERG State Secretary for Education United Kingdom : M. Ian TAYLOR Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Science and Technology) Commission : Mme Edith CRESSON Member M. Martin BANGEMANN Member Participation of the CCEEs in the structured dialogue meeting : Bulgaria : M. Iltcho DIMITROV Minister for Education, Science and Technology Hungary : M. Lajos NYIRI State Secretary, President of the National Committee for Technological Development Poland : M. Aleksander LUCZAK Chairman of the State Committee for Scientific Research Romania : M. Doru Dumitru PALADE Minister for Research and Technology Slovak Republic : M. ...

This package of immediate measures included an offer to negotiate a simplified agreement quickly, and an offer to negotiate a comprehensive and long-term relationship for relations between the EU and SA. Other elements of the package were: - Improved market access, through granting the benefits of GSP to South Africa, taking into account - inter alia - the specific characteristics of South Africa and the interests of other countries in the region; - An offer to provide South Africa technical assistance in order to facilitate the opening-up of the South African market and the gradual integration of South Africa in the world economy; - Encouragement of and technical support to the process of regional economic co-operation; - Promotion of E ...[+++]U investments in small and medium-sized enterprises in SA, through the instruments of ECIP (European Community Investment Partners) and BC-Net (Business Co-operation Network), and through the encouragement of bilateral investment protection agreements between EU Member States and South Africa; - Preparation of co-operation in areas like industry, commerce, telecommunication, science and technology, education and training; - Continuation of the Special Programme for SA at a substantial level of expenditure; - Introduction of a political dialogue between the EU and the new government of SA. 3. After a second exploratory mission of the Commission in July 1994 the simplified co-operation agreement between the EU and South Africa was signed in October, and approved by the Council in December 1994.