Activities of EAGLES

Proposal to the Sixth Framework Programme and other fundings

The European Commission has referred to the needs of the developing world in Life Sciences & Biotechnology - A Strategy for Europe Action Plan, and we know that more would be done if public and political opinion could be mobilised.

Following the first EAGLES meeting in Brussels, January 2003 and the constitution of an EAGLES Steering Committee, composed of scientists from developing countries and Europe, a proposal has been submitted to the European Commission in April 2003 to fund the setting up of EAGLES in the name of the members of the EAGLES Consortium. Unfortunately this proposal, essentially a planning stage for further actions, was not granted by the European Commission. Further planning was therefore set-up by EAGLES members through informal actions.

Two EAGLES Programmes were developed in the area of Health and Food and submitted to the European Commission in November 2003 and February 2004 respectively. Both proposals were evaluated positively. The Food Programme officially started on 1st July 2005 and the Health Programme started on 1st January 2006.

EAGLES FORA

EAGLES activities are divided in two Fora:

EAGLES Food Forum

The EAGLES Food Forum is a multilateral review, strategy and communications programme which will strengthen the European responses to the global challenges posed by food security, quality, safety and agriculture, including environmental conservation, in the developing world.

The programme has been designed and will be implemented by a group of leading EU and DEC life scientists, regulatory and communication specialists, and ethicists in the agriculture and food area. The aims are:

1) To review and define strategies of food, agriculture and biotechnology research in Europe and with a world-wide perspective, in view of tackling global challenges and meeting the needs of developping countries
2) To encourage open and balanced dialogue with the European public, media and opinion formers about the needs and competencies of the DEC in this specific sector.

EAGLES Food Forum provides a platform for the scientists from DEC and the EU where they will be able to:

• Give voice in Europe through various consultations and dialogues to the needs and competencies of the DEC in the life sciences;
• give input and advise to Framework Programme 7 on collaboration with DEC countries on research on food (security, quality and safety), agriculture and biotechnology, including environmental issues;
• encourage and advise Europeans in applying more effectively European competencies in the life sciences for the benefit of the poor and needy in the DECs;
• discuss ethical and regulatory questions in the life sciences from the perspective of the needs of the developing and emerging countries and
• strengthen the global responsibilities of EU programmes in research, education, innovation, application and implementation.
• initiate and promote extensive international S&T cooperation and collaboration between developed and developing countries in achieving the United Nations Millenium Goals and other EU international commitments towards adressing global challenges and meeting the needs of the least developped countries.

EAGLES Health Forum

 The Eagles Health Programme is a communications programme which will strengthen the European responses to the global challenges posed by poverty-related diseases in the developing world. The programme has been designed and will be implemented by a group of leading life scientists in the health area from Europe and the developing world. The aim is to provide information to the European public, media and opinion formers about the needs and competencies of the developing and emerging countries (DEC) as they face the challenges of poverty-related disease.

The Programme has four practical components:

1. The EAGLES Health Management and Communication Office will coordinate the programme, in particular stimulating the flow of information about the effect of European health programmes and policies on poverty-related disease in the developing world;

2. EAGLES Health Lecturers, authoritative scientists and other experts from the DEC, will consult, lecture, speak and write in Europe, and beyond where appropriate;

3. EAGLES Health Reports will assess the scale and effectiveness of European policies and programmes for DEC;

4. EAGLES Health Symposia will discuss the policies and programmes. They will review and define strategies on selected topics for subsequent development and implementation.

The key strategy of EAGLES is to involve leading scientists and humanitarians from the developing world in public and political discussions in Europe so that it will be better informed about the needs of the developing and emerging countries (DEC) and the ways in which European life science programmes and policies can contribute to meeting these needs.

If you wish to organise events to achieve a better understanding and awareness of the global responsibilities of European life sciences towards developind countries please contact EAGLES Secretariat or Coordinator.