"I believe it is very incorrect that some leading personalities of Academy of Sciences complain about the Czech
Republic abroad. ELI is not in danger; quite on the contrary. I consider this project our vital priority and we will
not allow this outstanding scientific event to become a pressure tool in connection with Academy budget
demands," said Minister Kopicová.
MEYS refuses false arguments of the Academy which stated that a reduced 2010 budget of the Academy requires
termination of this year´s preparatory works. Financial sources of the Academy (dedicated to ELI´s preparation in
2009) where untouched. Academy, therefore, cannot miss them. Furthermore, from 2010 ELI will be financed by the EU
structural funds and changes in the Academy´s budget will certainly not influence this project.
MEYS and ELI
MEYS widely supports the international project ELI. Governmental support of ELI started already on 24 November 2008
by approving the candidature for ELI siting in the Czech Republic. As a result of this approval a Governmental
Commissioner for international negotiation was named. His name is prof. Vlastimil Růžička, Deputy-Minister of
Education, Youth and Sports. Prof. Růžička participates at every international meeting about siting of ELI. A
negotiation strategy was developed by MEYS, an advisory board for ELI was introduced and we also run a wide-spread
campaign for gaining bigger support and deeper cooperation at all relevant EU meetings. MEYS closely monitors the
preparatory works and regularly participates at the meetings of the preparatory team.
ELI is the only project of pan-European importance which may be built in the Czech Republic. It is the intention of
MEYS to deliver a project prepared in the best possible way for both, national level and the European
Commission.
The Czech Republic has a unique opportunity to raise its infrastructure for basic and applied research in physics and
material engineering onto a European level. MEYS will not allow loosing this chance.
Chairperson of Communication and External Relations Department, MEYS
Karmelitská 8, 118 12 Praha 1, Czech Republic
katerina.bohmova@msmt
cztel: +420 257193566
