Topolánek: EU moet vrij verkeer van kennis toevoegen aan vrij verkeer van kapitaal, goederen, personen en diensten (en) - Hoofdinhoud

Czech Prime Minister and European Council President Mirek Topolánek i today launched the Prague conference on “Researchers in Europe without Barriers”.

Mirek Topolánek today launched the Prague conference on “Researchers in Europe without Barriers” and declared himself in favour of greater mobility and as much freedom as possible for European research workers.

“The free movement of knowledge is rightly considered the fifth freedom of the internal market. And I want to believe that the full implementation of this freedom will not take such a long time and will not be hampered by so many unnecessary barriers as was the case with the previous four freedoms, by which I am hinting mainly at the free movement of workers and services”, stated Mirek Topolánek.

The European Council President also highlighted the risk of European research being overtaken by its overseas competitors. “As regards investments in research, the quality of universities, the number of patents and new technologies, the European Union lags behind both the United States and Japan. And if nothing changes, we will fall behind China and India, too”, added the Czech Prime Minister. He stated that the development of the European Research Area also requires creating more links between research and the business sector.

The conference “Researchers in Europe without Barriers” focuses on the scientific environment and appeal of the European Research Area (ERA), on providing better conditions for research workers, supporting young talented scientists and their activities within the ERA as well as developing the research capabilities and business awareness of young scientists.

Contact:

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  Jirí František Potužník, Spokesman of the Prime Minister for the Presidency
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  Tel.: +420 224 002 497, GSM: +420 725 818 435, potuznik.jiri.frantisek@vlada.cz