Events

EAGLES’ Achievements

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MEETINGS WITH EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
EAGLES Hearing on the Global Perspective of Biofuels

Biofuels has been seen a renewable energy resource which represent a new opportunity for agriculture and industry. In both the industrialized and in the developing countries there is an increasing demand for alternative fuels due to the high prices of oil. Stavros Dimas, the European Commissioner responsible for the environment, has requested focus on making “credible and serious choices about biofuels”. He notes that the EU target of 10% of energy from biofuels would require us to divert 72% of our arable land with the current technology. Large scale biofuels production has also been cited as a threat to world food security. Does it make sense scientifically and economically to produce biofuels from agricultural products? What are the longer term perspectives for Europe and the rest of the world concerning this new source of energy?



The European Parliament, May 15, 2008 The panel of the EAGLES hearing from left: Richard James Murphy, Kirsten Birkegaard Stær, Willy De Greef, David McConnell, Britta Thomsen and Keith Smith.



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EAGLES MEETING WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS IN 2006

An EAGLES meeting for Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and other stakeholders in Brussels gave very good response from the MEPs and the Commission. A mechanism for measuring how much the developing world is participating in the 7th Framework Programme was suggested. The MEPs are now well aware of the EAGLES target line of 5% research money to developing world about 2.850 M€ in the 7th Framework Programme budget.
During the debate, prominent MEP’s and officers from the European Commission commented on the presentations and discussed the main issue: the draft of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7) does not take sufficient account of the problems of the developing world. Also there are no dedicated funds for collaboration with the developing world. The discussion had a positive note with interventions from some parliamentarians who are playing a key role in the development of the research budget of FP7.
It was suggested by EAGLES that there should be a 5% budget target for research relevant to the developing world. MEP Theresa Riera (Spain) had already suggested a target in the Parliament but did not get sufficient support. If the Commission developed a mechanism in FP7 for measuring research and research training and collaboration with the developing world this mechanism could give an important indication on how the coming policy of “open collaboration but no dedicated budget would go”. Such an indicator could be important for the decision makers and could be used for putting more focus on the development issue.



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Jerzy Buzek, Former President of Poland, Rapporteur on EU-Parliament FP7 Programme talking at EAGLES meeting in Brussels 2006.



This dinner meeting counted with the participation of 16 MEPs and around 35 other important stakeholders interested in developing world research. The meeting was hosted by MEP Britta Thomsen.
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