On 20 June 2005, a summit between the European Union and the United States of America brought together the Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and US President George W. Bush in Washington D.C. The leaders explored means to eliminate impediments to further economic integration and to develop a forward-looking strategy to enhance the EU-US economic partnership.
A new EU and US Initiative was launched to enhance transatlantic economic integration and growth. Both countries will increasingly rely on innovation and advanced technologies to stimulate economic growth and prosperity: the aim is to increase synergies across the Atlantic as both economies become more knowledge-based.
More particularly, activities will be carried on to promote cooperation using civilian space-based technologies for sustainable development, science/exploration, and deepening the knowledge society. Targeted initiatives will encourage collaboration on long-term basic research within the context of the EU-U.S. Science and Technology agreement, and develop exchanges of good practices concerning the policies needed to support science and innovation.
