The Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, spoke on the need for a Joint Approach to Security Research at the Research and Technology Conference, European Defence Agency in Brussels, last week.
"Technology and research are not targets per se. They are instruments which serve political objectives. Technology itself cannot guarantee security but security without the support of technology is impossible," he stated.
This is what he said:
"For the first time the European Commission, the European Defence Agency, industry and representatives from the Member States are meeting to discuss together a joint approach to security research. Some years ago this would not have been possible.
I am happy to be invited to give an opening statement today, and I would like to thank the European Defence Agency for having taken this initiative.
Why does security rank so high on the European political agenda today? And why, at Hampton Court, did heads of State and Government underline the importance of research and express the need for increased spending and more co-operation in this area?
Europe is mostly known for its economic and social policies and identity, but Europe is also increasingly developing a security identity.
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