Associate Membership in EU's FP7
The European Commissioner in Science and Research, Potoènik, met with the Prime Minister of the Faroes, Jóannes Eidesgaard, in Brussels on December 5th. The two parties met to discuss associate membership for the Faroes in EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). Potoènik gave Eidesgaard a political promise of associate membership of the Faroes to the FP7. The Faroese Prime Minister, Jóannes Eidesgaard, is content with the result of the meeting since the FP7 will be very important for research in the Faroe Islands.
The Prime Minister advocated that there should also be room for small countries in EU's Research Programme. He underlined that the Faroe Islands have the authority to conclude agreements with other countries and organisations within a range of areas. Eidesgaard also made the point that participation in the FP7 should not be judged by a country's size, but rather from the ability and research results.
The Commissioner showed great understanding of the situation of the Faroes as a small country in the Atlantic Ocean. He stated that the Faroese role in FP7 had been a difficult political decision to handle. Nevertheless, Potoènik was pleased about the progress and the future associate membership.
Source: www.tinganes.fo