EU Ministers discuss research and innovation programme

European Union Ministers, who met earlier this week at an informal Competitiveness Council in Copenhagen, discussed Horizon 2020 programme, which addresses research and innovation issues.

Cyprus was represented at the meeting by Health Minister Stavros Malas, who will chair the Competitiveness Council in the second half of this year, when Cyprus will assume the six monthly rotating presidency of the EU Council.

Horizon 2020, with an estimated budget of 80 million euro, will fund European activities in research and innovation.

Minister Malas said emphasis must laid on small size businesses, on ventures between the public and the private sector to ensure that funds will be channeled to projects that would bring actual results.

He expressed support for Commission proposals to simplify procedures through this programme, saying this would be to the benefit of researchers and academics.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Malas conferred with his Danish counterpart and other officials with whom he discussed issues pertaining to Cyprus’ forthcoming EU presidency.