COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL : MINISTERS DISCUSS WAYS TO IMPROVE RESEARCHER MOBILITY.

Chaired by Cristina Garmendia, Spain's minister for science and innovation, the Competitiveness Council has adopted conclusions on improving the European Research Council's structures as well as researchers' mobility and careers. At their meeting, on 2 March, the Union's research ministers also reviewed the European Research Area as well as more specific features, such as the European Earth observation programme GMES and the joint Baltic Sea research programme. There was also an exchange of views on the impact of research issues on the EU's strategy for growth and jobs.

Aside from approval of conclusions setting out changes to the European Research Council, ministers also gave concrete consideration of how to improve researcher mobility. Member states, in accordance with their national legislation, should ensure "appropriate" social security coverage to all researchers as well as address the issue of supplementary pensions for them.

The problem for researchers has long been on the agenda of the Council. Back in September 2008, the Council adopted conclusions on identifying a number of actions in the field of human resources specifically for science and technology. Likewise, research ministers, in Brussels on 2 March, identified several areas for specific action, including provision to researchers of information on social security rights in case of transnational mobility; solutions for social security needs of researchers; addressing the issue of...