RInES Conference on ‘Research and Innovation in the service of Economy and Society – EU Neighbourhood and the Black Sea region’

Flagship Event of the Hellenic Presidency of the EU Council

The objective of the Conference is to highlight the important role of the International Cooperation/INCO for the EU itself by reinforcing the collaboration with the European Neighbourhood/EN and the Black Sea region (BS region) within the framework of the research and innovation exploiting its potential as an integral part of a comprehensive package of external action.

It is highly important to emphasise that during the RInES Conference it will be the first time that the Neighbourhood countries and the Black Sea region will work together with the EU towards a common approach on research and innovation issues, not only on policy options but also on two sectors of high importance of the Societal challenges of the HORIZON 2020:

• Marine research and the maritime strategy in the Neighbourhood countries and the BS region within the frame of sustainable management of ecosystems, marine bio-geo resources, fisheries and offshore renewable energy
• Sustainable energy, especially in low and zero carbon footprint energy’’

The RInES Conference is envisaged to result in the “Thessaloniki declaration”, a Joint Declaration, possibly accompanied by a roadmap regarding the further steps and the way forward for the EU INCO Policy and external R&I relations in the above-mentioned target countries.