# CE2013251EN.01011501.xml

| 31.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 251/115 |
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31.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 251/115

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Thursday 15 March 2012Science Capacity Building in Africa: promoting European-African radio astronomy partnerships

P7_TA(2012)0095

Declaration of the European Parliament of 15 March 2012 on Science Capacity Building in Africa: promoting European-African radio astronomy partnerships

2013/C 251 E/22

The European Parliament,

The European Parliament

| — | having regard to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, which aims at strengthening science and technology cooperation between the EU and Africa, |
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having regard to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, which aims at strengthening science and technology cooperation between the EU and Africa,

| — | having regard to the Millennium Development Goals, which identify the essential role of science and technology for socio-economic transformation, |
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having regard to the Millennium Development Goals, which identify the essential role of science and technology for socio-economic transformation,

| — | having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure, |
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having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | recognising the value of research infrastructures in facilitating cooperation with Africa, promoting human capital development and addressing societal challenges, as noted in the Innovation Union and Europe 2020 Strategy, |
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A.

recognising the value of research infrastructures in facilitating cooperation with Africa, promoting human capital development and addressing societal challenges, as noted in the Innovation Union and Europe 2020 Strategy,

| B. | acknowledging Africa’s unique competitive advantage in the study of radio astronomy, reflected in the extensive existing radio astronomy projects located in Africa (PAPER, VLBI network, MeerKAT, etc.), |
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B.

acknowledging Africa’s unique competitive advantage in the study of radio astronomy, reflected in the extensive existing radio astronomy projects located in Africa (PAPER, VLBI network, MeerKAT, etc.),

| C. | recognising that further European involvement in African radio astronomy can become a powerful driver of socioeconomic growth in Africa and create a new range of market opportunities for both continents, |
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C.

recognising that further European involvement in African radio astronomy can become a powerful driver of socioeconomic growth in Africa and create a new range of market opportunities for both continents,

| 1. | Urges the Commission, Council and the parliaments of the Member States to:






  (a) | support the development of science capacity in Africa through greater investment in research infrastructures, with particular focus on radio astronomy projects, |
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1.

Urges the Commission, Council and the parliaments of the Member States to:

(a)

support the development of science capacity in Africa through greater investment in research infrastructures, with particular focus on radio astronomy projects,

| (b) | promote the science of radio astronomy and the innovation and research potential of radio astronomy initiatives in future Africa-EU partnerships, |
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(b)

promote the science of radio astronomy and the innovation and research potential of radio astronomy initiatives in future Africa-EU partnerships,

| (c) | mobilise EU funding mechanisms, including the Framework Programmes and the Development Cooperation Instrument, to support these objectives; |
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(c)

mobilise EU funding mechanisms, including the Framework Programmes and the Development Cooperation Instrument, to support these objectives;

| 2. | Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories (1), to the Commission, the Council and the parliaments of the Member States. |
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2.

Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories (1), to the Commission, the Council and the parliaments of the Member States.

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(1)  The list of signatories is published in Annex 1 to the Minutes of 15 March 2012 (P7_PV(2012)03-15(ANN1)).

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