Gå til indhold

EU ministers for growth gather in Copenhagen

February 01, 2012
An Informal Competitiveness Council meeting will be held in the Bella Center, Copenhagen on 1-3 February.

On 1 and 2 February, Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard will hold a 2-day session on the EU's coming research programme Horizon 2020. On 3 February, the minister for business and growth, Ole Sohn, will hold discussions on the digital single market.

Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard:

– I look forward to a productive meeting where we will have to roll up our sleeves to a degree. Creating a better European framework for research and innovation is paramount for our competitiveness. In the spirit of Horizon 2020, we have therefore invited a broad spectrum of stakeholders from the business community and the research world. Together we must create the best possible basis for further formal work on the research and innovation programme. The Danish Presidency will have to work hard if we are to negotiate the architecture of what promises to be the world’s largest research programme before the summer.

Minister for Business and Growth Ole Sohn:

– In order to get Europe out of the crisis it is crucial that we create new growth and employment. The European Council in its statement of 30 January pointed to the creation of a well-functioning digital single market as a great growth opportunity for the EU. The digital single market is also a key priority for the Danish Presidency, and during this meeting I hope we can reach a common understanding of the most important concrete actions needed to create a well-functioning Digital Single Market.

Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard has invited ministers from the 27 Member States to the discussions on Horizon 2020, as well as a large number of representatives from associated countries and international stakeholders. Furthermore, the Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, and the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, will also attend the meetings in Copenhagen.

The discussions on the digital single market will see participation from ministers for the 27 Member States, EEA and EFTA countries, as well as candidate countries. Furthermore, the Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, will attend as well as the Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for the EU's Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes.

Regarding Horizon 2020 please contact:

Spokesperson Nils Agerhus, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education
Tel: +4520 75 7817, email: nag@fivu.dk.

Spokesperson Jacob Blomgren Knudsen, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education
Tel: +45 2237 0729, email: jbkn@fivu.dk.

Regarding the digital single market please contact:

Spokesperson Troels Blicher Danielsen, Ministry of Business and Growth
Tel: +45 3395 4541, email: trd@evm.dk.

Spokesperson Henrik Røjgaard, Ministry of Business and Growth
Tel: +45 3392 4199, email: hrg@evm.dk.

Document Actions