Charity urges EU to expand research area

The Wellcome Trust charity is urging the European Union to forge a stronger European research area, which includes the UK and other countries outside the bloc, after Brexit. In a fresh report, the charity argues that not agreeing on a suitable model would cause damage and that the UK should be prepared to pay more than it does currently to ensure continued participation. But it also sees opportunity in such a move to change the status of other associated countries. Finding a sustainable and inclusive approach, the report says, could even allow for the expansion of the ERA which would be an opportunity in the longer term to “harness talent and opportunity from further afield.”

Commission and UEFA strengthen cooperation

The European Commission and the Union of European Football Associations have signed a new agreement to continue working together on common priorities. The commission says the agreement covers “most of the challenges sport faces today, including violence, match-fixing, fair taxation, doping and racism.” The first vice president of the commission, Frans Timmermans, said at the signing ceremony that “football is also a cross-border business, with cross-border threats to its security and integrity which can be tackled in partnership with the European Commission.”

Luxembourg City Film Festival opens

The most prestigious film festival in the greater region opens today with a screening of Oscar-nominated Luxembourg co-production “The Breadwinner”. The Luxembourg City Film Festival runs through Sunday 4 March and includes the screening of 56 films as well as a series of parallel events and workshops. Ten films are up for the festival’s main prize, and a further six will compete for the documentary prize. The festival closes with a screening of Wes Anderson’s latest animated feature “Isle Of Dogs”. Delano.lu will feature its pick of the day throughout the festival. Meanwhile, the full screening schedule can be found here.