Origin

Origin
A proposal for a European initiative on international agricultural research for development was launched by France at the Research Council of 29 September 1994. During a Ministerial level meeting of the CGIAR, held in Lucerne 9-10 February 1995, the French Presidency of the Union presented a political statement from the Council, and a Memorandum on "Europe and Agricultural Research for Development". The proceedings of the Lucerne meeting were reported at the Research Council of 10 March 1995, at which the Commission was invited to consider a mechanism for the European Initiative, and to prepare a proposal for consideration by the Research Council. The Development Council of 1 June 1995 also underlined the importance of research for development. The Commission presented a Working Paper to the Research Council of 9 June 1995, proposing a European Coordination Group (ECG) to implement the Initiative, which would improve coordination between the Member States and the Commission, and between research and development policies. To ensure the Initiative's continuity, the Commission announced its intention to send a Communication on the Initiative to the Council and Parliament. A Communication was prepared in the context of: the INCO Programme of the 4th Framework Programme for RTD; the Commission Communication (COM(95)489) of 18 October 1995 on Perspectives for International Cooperation in the field of RTD; the Council Resolution of 25 March 1996 underlining the objective of promoting RTD relevant to the needs and priorities of developing countries, and promoting r egional integration to foster their sustainable development. The Communication COM(97)126 on the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) was recognised by the Council and European Parliament in 1997. EIARD was implemented under the guidance of the ECG, which met for the first time in Vienna from 11-13 October 1995, and for the second time in Bonn from 10-11 October 1996. It has since continued to meet annually.


A proposal for a European initiative on international agricultural research for 
development was launched by France at the Research Council of 29 September 1994. 
During a Ministerial level meeting of the CGIAR, held in Lucerne 9-10 February 1995,
the French Presidency of the Union presented a political statement from the Council,
and a Memorandum on "Europe and Agricultural Research for Development".

The proceedings of the Lucerne meeting were reported at the Research Council of 10 
March 1995, at which the Commission was invited to consider a mechanism for the European 
Initiative, and to prepare a proposal for consideration by the Research Council. The 
Development Council of 1 June 1995 also underlined the importance of research for development.

The Commission presented a Working Paper to the Research Council of 9 June 1995, proposing 
a European Coordination Group (ECG) to implement the Initiative, which would improve 
coordination between the Member States and the Commission, and between research and development 
policies. To ensure the Initiative's continuity, the Commission announced its intention to send 
a Communication on the Initiative to the Council and Parliament.

A Communication was prepared in the context of:

the INCO Programme of the 4th Framework Programme for RTD;
the Commission Communication (COM(95)489) of 18 October 1995 on 
Perspectives for International Cooperation in the field of RTD;
the Council Resolution of 25 March 1996 underlining the objective of promoting 
RTD relevant to the needs and priorities of developing countries, and promoting r
egional integration to foster their sustainable development.  

The Communication  COM(97)126  on the European 
Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) was recognised by the Council and 
European Parliament in 1997.

EIARD was implemented under the guidance of the ECG, which met for the first time in Vienna 
from 11-13 October 1995, and for the second time in Bonn from 10-11 October 1996.  It has since 
continued to meet annually.