The Presidency of the European Union Council is held by a different member state every six months. Belgium takes over in July 2010, and will be working closely with the previous president (Spain), and Hungary, who takes over in 2011, on an 18 month joint programme. __The Scientist__ spoke to Sophie van Malleghem, director of communication for Belgian Science Minister linkurl:Sabine Laruelle,;http://www.sabinelaruelle.be/ about their plan for science in the EU.__The Scientist__: What are your immediate priorities for science in the EU?
__Sophie van Malleghem__: Research will be specifically highlighted in the framework of linkurl:Europe 2020,;http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm which was approved by the heads of state and government at the European Council in June. A flagship initiative of the 2020 strategy is "the Innovation Union," which aims to improve the conditions of access to funding for research, and permits industries to be more innovative. This includes...
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__TS__: How do you see these priorities changing over time?__SvM____TS__: Does science funding/policy have a role to play in recovery from the global recession?__SvM____TS__: What would you like to achieve during Belgium's presidency?__SvM____TS__: You say on your website that you're committed to making policy for citizens, to represent them. Scientists are citizens like anybody else: what do you hope to achieve for them?__SvM__Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
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