Outgoing EU head of international research cooperation outlines “exciting and challenging times”
A new commission and parliament later this year means the European Union is facing “exciting and challenging times”, one of its lead international research cooperation officials has said.
Despite this, there is “solid ground for moving ahead” in the EU’s partnership with Africa, Maria Cristina Russo, director of global approach and international cooperation in research and innovation at the European Commission, told a conference this week.
Russo, who is leaving the post for that of ‘prosperity director’ of the commission’s research and innovation arm, was speaking at the fourth Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum held in Brussels, Belgium, from 22 to 25 April.
She said the current commission is being phased out, and that a new one will be in place in November. That, and EU parliamentary elections on 9 June, means “there will be a change in the political leadership”, she said.
“There are a lot of discussions ongoing on what this change should look like,” she said. While there are calls to defend and strengthen Europe, Russo said that Europe “cannot revamp on its own”.
The fact that both Africa and Europe have set targets to increase domestic R&D financing binds them together, she added.
“We have important challenges ahead. The fact that we have similar challenges can only bring us closer together.”