“R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) in Europe has stagnated at around 1.9% since 2002 - said the JRC (Joint Research Centre) managing director Ronald Schenkel - so no significant progress has been made towards the 3% objective. However, this objective has had a mobilising effect.
A number of reforms are being introduced by EU Member States and new momentum has been given to the development of the European Research Area. Besides, in 2008 European companies overpassed the American counterpart and worldwide R&D investments growth went down to 9% but in the EU it increased by 8.8% up from 7.4% on last year’s scoreboard”.

“In the energy-environmental field - he told - Europe is at the forefront especially in the nuclear energy research and renewable energy development. The JRC supports the development of policy options for limiting and adapting to climate and contributes to the Strategic Energy Technology Plan to accelerate the deployment
of low carbon energy technologies”.

As to recent enlargement of the EU he said: “There is no desire
at this point in time to create a common policy for research in Europe following of the Common Agricultural Policy. Our current objective is the implementation of a European Research Area”.

About security of energy supply JRC “intends to expand its capabilities to deal with economic and geopolitical aspects of the supply of energy to Europe. Key features of this work are analyses of the causes, consequences and possible mitigation measures
of major disruptions to energy. Energy security has become
a key driver of energy policy in Europe. Already 50% of consumed energy is imported, it is expected to rise dramatically
over the next twenty years. The Centre is studying
the relationship between environmental challenges (CO₂ emissions and energy security) and is focusing on regulatory
and market developments in this area”.

Regarding CCS, under FP5 and FP6, the JRC did not work on fossil energy technologies, while under FP7 these are included, given the increased interest in coal as an indigenous energy source that could reduce the EU’s dependence on imported oil and gas for power production. However, coal has the highest specific CO₂ emission of all fossil fuels and so to reduce climate change impact and permit Europe to reach the Kyoto targets, CO₂ from coal combustion for power generation should be minimised.
One of the most powerful method is the CCS”.

With respect to Renewable energies they are said to be the future, indeed all have made an enormous progress in technology, production volume and cost. The share of electricity produced from them in 15 years will also depend on new approaches to distribution (infrastructure) and short-term storage, while other technologies such as marine or geothermal electricity may increase their share. Renewables should play a major role but couldn’t be sufficient. Once again, Europe is talking about nuclear: “European countries are fuelling a nuclear power revival as they face increasing energy prices, closure of old Soviet reactors, fears over meeting EU climate change targets and dependency on Russian gas, particularly in Central Europe and Scandinavia, where 13 plants are under construction. In any case the best energy strategies for countries will depend on national situations”.

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