Competitiveness Council

The Council meeting will take place on 5 and 6 March in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. It will be chaired by Czech ministers Mr Martin Řman, Minister of Industry and Trade and Mr Ondřej Lika, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

Tthe Council is called upon to exchange views and adopt conclusions on the Follow-up to the Single Market Review.

The Council will conduct a policy debate on the Lisbon strategy leading to adoption of a Key Issues Paper, which will be forwarded to the Spring European Council. An assessment of impacts of the current economic situation on competitiveness of the EU will also be addressed.

Research ministers will hold a public debate on the perspectives for the development of the European Research Area, the so-called "Ljubljana process".

Finally, the Council will hold an exchange of views on the role of European research infrastructures within the knowledge triangle, notably in the context of the economic recovery plan.