At the Competitiveness Council (Research) on Friday, 29 November 2024, the ministers responsible for research held a Policy Debate focusing on the contribution of research and innovation to the competitiveness of the EU and the recommendations of the Draghi-Report on the future of European Competitiveness. Furthermore, the ministers approved a set of three Council Conclusions on (1) strengthening the competitiveness of the EU, reinforcing the European Research Area (ERA) and overcoming the fragmentation, (2) a potential Europe-wide R&I initiative on advancing sustainable natural resource management, food systems security and the deployment of the bioeconomy, harnessing the potential of Central and Eastern Europe, and (3) the Commission’s Communication on Advanced Materials. Also on the agenda was an AOB item on reinforcing the independence of the European Research Council (ERC), as well as the obligatory outlook on the work programme of the incoming Polish Council Presidency in the field of research. The meeting was chaired by Hungarian Minister Balász Hankó, the European Commission was represented by Commissioner Iliana Ivanova. It was Ms. Ivanova’s last Council Meeting in her capacity as Research Commissioner.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/compet/2024/11/29