In the framework of the Greek EU Presidency, a Competitiveness Council (COMPET) meeting took place in Brussels on May 26, chaired by Greece's Deputy Minister of Competitiveness and Development, Notis Mitarachi and Dr. Christos Vasilakos, Secretary General for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.

COMPET works to enhance competitiveness and increase growth in the EU. It deals with 4 major policy areas: internal market, industry, research, innovation and space.

The main items included the adoption of two sets of conclusions, titled "Towards a shared EU-ESA vision for space fostering Competitiveness," and "The implementation of the roadmap for the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)," as well as a policy debate on the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation for research and innovation. 

The conclusions on the shared EU-ESA vision for space fostering competitiveness concern relations between the Union and the ESA and how it should be seen in the broader space policy context and Europe's long-term strategic vision, including high-level political objectives for autonomy and industrial competitiveness.

The conclusions on the roadmap emphasize the need for renewing and adapting the mandate of the ESFRI to adequately address emerging societal challenges as well as the need to ensure the follow-up of implementation of already on-going ESFRI projects.