LJUBLJANA/BRUSSELS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ministers from the European Union (EU) member states pledged on Tuesday to improve research across the bloc to increase its competitiveness.

"Our goal is to create an efficient and inclusive European Research Area (ERA) bringing faster social progress and greater resilience and competitiveness of Europe," Simona Kustec, Slovenia's Minister of Education, Science and Sport, said in a statement issued after a meeting of ministers from 27 EU states in Brussels.

The ERA was launched in 2000 to create a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology across the EU.

The ministers agreed that the EU must promote balanced openness and strive for a level playing field when cooperating with third countries in research and innovation. The EU also aims to promote gender equality and freedom of scientific research.

Slovenia, currently holding the half-year EU Council presidency, also said it will in November publish the Ljubljana Declaration which aims to improve equal and balanced consideration of female and male researchers in the ERA. Enditem

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