In its January 2001 report "European Aeronautics: A Vision for 2020", the Group of Personalities considered Europe's goal of better serving societies needs while becoming a global leader in the field of aeronautics. Among its conclusions, the Group stressed the need for a new Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) whose aim would be to develop and maintain a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for aeronautics in Europe.

Launched at the Paris Airshow in June 2001, the ACARE comprises about 40 members with a clearly defined and commonly agreed terms of reference , including representation from the Member States, the Commission and stakeholders, including manufacturing industry, airlines, airports, service providers, regulators, the research establishments and academia.

ACARE's main focus will be to establish and carry forward a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) that will influence all European stakeholders in the planning of research programmes, particularly national and EU programmes, in line with the Vision 2020 and the goals it identifies. To this end ACARE's activities are likely to include

• Launch and approve the SRA and update it periodically;
  
  
• Make strategic and operational recommendations as well as commission studies for implementing the SRA and achieving the 2020 Vision;
  
  
• Evaluate the overall results and benefits of the SRA for Member States, the Commission and stakeholders groups;
  
  
• Recommend measures for optimising the use of existing research infrastructures and achieving cost-effective investments;
  
  
• Recommend measures for improving educational policies to attract the scientists, engineers and other skills that the sector needs;
  
  
• Develop and implement a communications strategy to promote awareness of the SRA (within the stakeholders community as well as to larger public audiences) and to disseminate information on stakeholders' research programmes for facilitating consensus on priorities.