INT CONFERENCE ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND SCIENCE START IN VIENNA

VIENNA, June 8 (Hina) - The process of the European Union's enlargement should be based on a prudent approach which will encourage regional cooperation of the countries-aspirants in the fields of culture, education and science, said Austria's Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner at the opening of an international conference on European integration and science on Friday. The two-day conference, which is taking place in Vienna organised by the Austrian club of science journalists in cooperation with the Middle European Working Group of Science and Education Journalists, the international council of Vienna, a society for research promotion and the institute for the Danube River Region and central Europe. The event which has drawn representatives of universities and reporters' societies of nine central and southeastern European countries, has been supported by a few Austrian ministries. Austrian Foreign Minister maintains that European integration processes are currently in the most important period and therefore both EU member-states and countries-aspirants should be responsible partners. In this context she said countries-applicants should develop a prudent rather than emotional approach to this issue and inform their citizens of the seriousness and importance of this process. Ferrero-Waldner added that Austria's platform on the EU expansion was based on those stands. Zagreb University Chancellor Branko Jeren took part in a discussion on how science can contribute to the EU's enlargement. (hina) ms