Following the Commission’s Communication on intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum - an EU Agenda for better responsibility-sharing and more mutual trust, the rapporteur organised his remarks, proposals and recommendations in 4 main parts, focusing on (a) practical cooperation and technical assistance; (b) financial solidarity; (c) allocation of responsibilities; and (d) mutual trust at the heart of a renewed governance system.

43. Reiterates that international cooperation for peaceful purposes is a basic value of the European Union and is at the heart of its policies; considers that international cooperation should promote European technology, infrastructure and services, scientific, technical and industrial excellence, optimal data access for European users, knowledge sharing and interoperable development of applications useful for meeting the great societal challenges that Europe and the world are currently facing; points out that the European Union should be a leader in the space field and maintain a substantial strategic role at world level, particularly in the international negotiations on the Space Situational Awareness System and space exploration; stre ...[+++]sses that work in the space policy sector may be made more effective through industrial cooperation and sharing of investment in major programmes, such as the International Space Station;

Increasing the competences of the European Parliament as a democratic institution could make a greater contribution to streamlining the Union than major declarations and programmes, as the latter fail to reach the citizens’ hearts and minds.

Mobility, both trans-national and intersectoral, which is central to this programme , recognition of experience acquired in different sectors and countries, and adequate working conditions, in terms both of the independence of research, the alignment of remuneration with the best international standards, and greater attention to welfare and insurance cover, are key elements throughout the "Marie Curie Actions".

Mr Busquin, the Sixth Framework Programme has the great ambition of establishing a European Research Area, and I truly hope that the small, yet excellent, research teams which we even have in the more peripheral regions will be able to play a role in this.

I just came back from a meeting with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and they are looking at putting out a national research agenda because they want to know what happens to kids who are part of their organization.