Maria da Graça Carvalho was invited by the ECOS2011 Organizing Committee, Dr Gordana Stefanovic, ECOS2011 Conference Coordinator and Dr Noam Lior, ECOS2011 Conference scientific board President, to participate in the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, that took place in Novy Sad, Servia from 3 to 7 of July.
Maria da Graça Carvalho addressed the audience during the Plenary Opening Ceremony and participated in the EU Energy and Climate change Strategy Panel.
Ms Carvalho said that the targets of the European Energy and Climate Change Policy drawn up by the EU "can only be achieved through strong investment in areas of the knowledge triangle".
MEP Carvalho spoke about the proposal for an EU budget for 2020 that was adopted by the European Commission which includes a proposal for creating a Connecting Europe Facility to accelerate the infrastructure development that the EU needs in the areas of transport, energy and information and communication technologies (ICT).
In the EU Budget for 2020, Ms Carvalho acknowledged the proposal for a stronger investment in the areas of research, science and education and culture and the Commission proposal to allocate €80 billion for the 2014-2020 period for the Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation, complemented by support for research and innovation in the Structural Funds.
MEP Carvalho,remembered that the Lisbon Treaty entered into force 1 December 2009 giving new powers to Europe in several policy areas such as energy, climate change and scientific research.
Conference program here