With the Spanish presidency at the halfway point, it is poised to enter negotiations with the European Parliament on an extension and increased budget for the EU Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). Securing an extension and increased funding for PRIMA was one of the Spanish presidency’s big aims and with the mandate set they hope to conclude negotiations before their six month stint ends on 31 December.
Europe, closer: with that statement of intent Spain has kicked off its six-month stint leading the EU. For science this means a focus on expanding the reach of research and innovation into policy areas related to strategic autonomy, digitisation and green policies, and at the same time advancing cooperation in these spheres with North Africa and Latin America.