Foreword

Russia and the other New Independent States (NIS) are important international partners for the European Union. The numerous political, economic and historical ties that exist between the EU Member States and the NIS will come to play an even more significant role as the EU prepares to welcome Central and Eastern European countries as new members.

Indeed, the economic and, in particular, the scientific and technological potential in the NIS is huge. However, as a consequence of economic crises and the often painful political restructuring processes which all NIS have been experiencing since 1991, public funding in most areas, including science and technology (S&T), has fallen significantly. In this respect, the EU, through its TACIS programme, has provided the NIS with substantial technical assistance which will continue for years to come. In addition, the EU has concluded Partnership and Co-operation Agreements (PCAs) with almost all of the NIS. Each of these Agreements is a joint commitment to closer political relations, fosters trade and investment, and sets the parameters for mutually beneficial economic, social, financial, as well as S&T co-operation.

In this context, the European Commission has promoted several initiatives and programmes which cover research and technological development (RTD) in the NIS and help their organisations address specific problems in fields such as environmental protection, food science, production technologies, information technologies, health protection, energy and nuclear safety. Specifically concerning Russia, the recently concluded S&T co-operation agreement aims to facilitate the implementation and coordination of all relevant activities.

At a strategical level, the new concept of 'European Research Area' (ERA), proposed by the Commission at the beginning of 2000 and supported by the EU heads of state and government calls for closer integration of EU political and scientific efforts. This new approach, which is largely open to the entire world, also provides a further incentive to increase synergy between the initiatives and programmes open to NIS scientists.

This brochure offers a current overview of S/T co-operation opportunities and highlights the most important characteristics and procedures for participation in the following European programmes:

• The EU's Fifth Framework Programme for RTD with specific programmes, one of which, the International Co-operation Programme (INCO), includes the Copernicus initiative dedicated to NIS.
  
  
• INTAS, the International Association for the Promotion of co-operation with scientists from the New Independent States from the former Soviet Union.
  
  
• The International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) in Moscow and the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU), both funded by TACIS.
  
  
• Some projects related to scientific policy development and innovation and also assisted by TACIS.
  
  
• While not strictly speaking EU programmes, the COST and EUREKA initiatives which also stimulate European S&T co-operation.

I hope that this brochure, which provides information through both printed and internet media, will help all interested scientists in the NIS, the EU Member States and the Associated Countries to participate more actively in these programmes, led by common interest and mutual benefit.

Philippe Busquin
EU Research Commissioner