Valérie Pécresse, Minister of Higher Education and Research, will chair the informal Competitiveness Council (Research) meeting at Versailles and Jouy-en-Josas on 17 July next. This meeting of the ministers responsible for research in the 27 countries of the European Union is the first stage in implementing the recommendations of the Green paper on the European Research Area (ERA) the purpose of which is to pave the way for the decisions to be taken at the Competitiveness Council of 25 and 26 September, and 1 and 2 December. It will be organised around four workshops aimed at preparing and coordinating Europe's responses in the research field to the major challenges facing society.

Discussions will thus focus on :

• Food supply, water and ecosystems: the new face of agriculture. What European research agenda for 2020?
• European energy supply: how to ensure quality and quantity in 2020; the responses of research;
• The information society: the major challenges;
• Health and the ageing of the EU's population in 2020;

During a final plenary session, the ministers will be invited to draw the conclusions of the meeting, by comparing viewpoints and scenarios developed in the workshops. This comparative approach will enable the major features of a long-term vision of the European Research Area to stand out.

Valérie Pécresse along with Janez Poto%u010Dnik, European commissioner responsible for Science and Research, will hold a press conference after this meeting at 4.45 pm, in order to present the main outcomes of the day's work and the next stages of the discussion process in the area of research during the French Presidency of the European Union.

The informal Competitiveness Council will follow on Friday 18 July with a meeting of the European ministers responsible for industry, chaired by Hervé Novelli, Secretary of State responsible for Trade, Skilled Tradespeople, Small and Medium sized businesses, Tourism and Services.