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Background of the projectThe 6th Framework programme is the European Community Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration, which has to serve two main strategic objectives: to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of industry and encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research activities in support of other EU policies. This is where the SASSPO project falls: it has to serve this general goal of supporting EU policies. The outspoken policy context is 'Orientation, objectives and challenges of the Community policy area'. In the FP6 only a limited number of thematic priorities for research activities are funded. One of the thematic priorities is sustainable development. Furthermore, there is a subtheme called 'Sustainable management of Europe's natural resources', which has a further subtitle 'Modernisation and sustainability of agriculture and forestry, including their multifunctional role, in order to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of rural areas'. The Commission maintains that the successful implementation of its new agricultural policy orientations can be facilitated by support through policy oriented research. Literally, our task was expressed in the Call for proposals, 'Workshops and conferences on scientific support to policies'. The aim of this task is to organise workshops or conferences bringing together scientists, policy makers, producers, consumers and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the achievements as well as future needs related to scientific support to agricultural.
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