Brussels, 19 May 2006

The challenges of globalisation represented an important theme at the informal European Competitiveness Council that took place on 20-22 April in Graz under the Austrian Presidency. The forum was used to discuss common European strategies and their possible implementation.

On that occasion particular importance was attached to the topic of "cluster formation". The cluster idea is based on the principle of "being stronger together", with the modern networked system offering possible synergies at regional, national and community levels. Precisely from the overall European perspective, strategic linkage of skills is a particular challenge and opportunity.

During the informal Competitiveness Council held in Graz under the Austrian Presidency, it became clear that the Council and the Commission wish to focus greater attention on this theme, in particular against the background of the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

- Adopting the "cluster perspective" (competence nodes, competitive clusters) is in the first instance important at national level.

- This is the first step towards the necessary Europe-wide picture ­ and thereby towards a pan-European alliance of competence nodes and clusters

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

- France, Austria and some other countries have already taken up this idea and provided national competence maps.

- The European Commission should now try to put together a full, Europe-wide picture.

- Together with the activities planned by the European Commission in connection with the cluster theme (mention should be made in particular of Proinno Europe and Europe Innova, which from 2007 onwards will continue in the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) ­ also adopted under the Austrian Presidency of the Council), this will provide the basis for an effective approach ­ making optimum use of Europe's win-win potential.

- In this regard the European Technology Platforms (ETPs) initiative must also be taken into account. This provides a framework in which, led by industry, European research expertise is bundled to focus on the main priority areas of research in order to develop and subsequently implement joint, medium- to long-term Strategic Research Agendas. It should be pointed out that the Austrian Presidency of the Council ­ in cooperation with the European Commission ­ organised a major conference at the beginning of May (Austrian Presidency Conference on European Technology Platforms)1, which further clarified the strategic importance of European Technology Platforms and the concomitant challenges.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Accordingly, the Austrian Presidency would request the competent Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Verheugen, to set out the Commission's position and its further plans as regards

the establishment of a Europe-wide chart

the practical steps it proposes to take (also bearing in mind the related activities of the DGs as a whole)