ITER is a vital element for sustainable energy supply, says new EU Research Commissioner

Irish national Máire Geoghegan-Quinn took office on 10 February as the new European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science after winning the European Parliament's approval the day before.  Ms Geoghegan-Quinn is a now a member of the new European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, which is appointed for the next five years and is led by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Before taking up office, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn appeared before the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee where she listed her priorities as completing the European Research Area, addressing major challenges such as climate change, energy efficiency and ageing, and creating an innovation research culture. She stressed that “the EU must become a true innovation union” and that her “task will be to put research, innovation and science at the heart of EU policies”. Asked about support for big, important, high-technology projects, Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said that, for example, ITER “is a vital element of a long-term strategy that the Union has for sustainable energy supply and security (...). We have to ensure that this project is working”.

Born in 1950, the former teacher has enjoyed a very strong and long political career in Ireland. Geoghegan-Quinn entered into politics in 1975 being elected as member of the Irish Parliament, and from 1979-1981 she served as the first women Cabinet Minister in Ireland since it achieved independence. In addition, she served in several high-ranking governmental posts including Minister of State for Commerce, later for Education, Minister of Tourism, Transport and Communications, Minister of Justice and Minister for European Affairs. Before becoming Commissioner she was a Member of the European Court of Auditors since 1999 and is a member of the Fianna Fáil party who are in the Liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament.

A whole new set of challenges awaits the team of Commissioners during the mandate 2010-14 where the first order of business is to drive economic recovery, curb unemployment and push for financial reforms to avert another crisis. Long-term objectives are set out in the recently unveiled "Europe 2020" strategy which revolves around promoting low-carbon industries, investing in research and development, unleashing a digital economy and modernising education and training.