CONSIDERING that multinational clinical research is currently hampered by the fragmentation of health and legislative systems in Europe, an obstacle for multinational cooperation in investigator driven, as well as industry-sponsored clinical research (particularly in the biotechnology and medical device sectors), European countries must unlock latent scientific potential and access to patients and expertise, thus strengthening the competitiveness of Europe in clinical science and its attractiveness for the development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures — this is of particular importance for rare diseases, paediatrics, p ...[+++]ersonalised treatments, for the development of biotherapy, and for independent clinical trials that are pivotal instruments for evidence-based medicine;

Others will require vision, courage and leadership if their potential is to be unlocked - but the challenges facing the EU today call for bold and effective action.

the Commission communication ‘Youth on the Move: An initiative to unleash the potential of young people to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the European Union’ , which puts young people at the centre of a framework agenda for the EU,

the Commission communication ‘Youth on the Move: An initiative to unleash the potential of young people to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the European Union’ (8), which puts young people at the centre of a framework agenda for the EU,

The aim of the lead market initiative is to contribute to unlocking market potential for innovative products and services by lifting obstacles that hinder the development of new markets through a prospective, concerted and focused approach of regulatory and other policy instruments to allow a varied set of technologies and of innovative business models to meet rapidly the demand with a global perspective.

It also identifies areas where progress has been slow or insufficient, and points up additional areas where further policy initiatives could be needed in order to free up labour markets further through greater occupational and geographic mobility.