EU commissioner praises Morocco's initiative of research assessment

European Commissioner of research, Philippe Busquin, praised Morocco's initiative to summon European experts to evaluate its national research system in a conference held last May 26-27 in Rabat, calling Europe to support the kingdom's efforts in innovation and development in the field.

Some research pertaining to bio-diversity, plants and sea sciences are "possible only in Morocco," Busquin said in an interview published Monday by l'Economiste daily, adding that Morocco has a "skilled human potential" in the field.

"It is the first time we undertake such a job in a non European Union member country (É), he stressed.

On Morocco's participation in the Europe's research programs, Busquin said Moroccan universities and centers are taking part in 169 projects for which Europe has earmarked a budget of 50 million Euro. He also called for a Moroccan participation in Europe's 19.2 billion Euro research program for 2003-2006 and hoped that the EU budget for Moroccan research will double or triple in the upcoming program.