# C_2006305EN.01005401.xml

| 14.12.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 305/54 |
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14.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/54

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Call addressed to organisations to propose lists of prospective independent experts to assist the Commission's services for tasks in connection with the Seventh RTD Framework Programme

(2006/C 305/17)

| 1. | The Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial and general research institutions and learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of research and technological development (RTD) to submit lists of proposed independent experts who could be called on to assist in connection with:






  — | the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (1) and its specific programmes (the EC framework programme), |
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1.

The Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial and general research institutions and learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of research and technological development (RTD) to submit lists of proposed independent experts who could be called on to assist in connection with:

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the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (1) and its specific programmes (the EC framework programme),

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| — | the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) (1)and its specific programmes (the Euratom framework programme), |
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the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) (1)and its specific programmes (the Euratom framework programme),

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(collectively, the Seventh Framework Programme).

| 2. | The EC Framework Programme will be organised in five specific programmes, which shall cover the following:






  — | Cooperation |
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2.

The EC Framework Programme will be organised in five specific programmes, which shall cover the following:

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Cooperation

| — | Ideas |
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Ideas

| — | People |
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People

| — | Capacities |
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Capacities

| — | Non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre. |
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Non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre.

The Euratom Framework programme will be organised in two specific programmes, which shall cover the following:

| — | Fusion energy research, nuclear fission and radiation protection |
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Fusion energy research, nuclear fission and radiation protection

| — | Nuclear energy activities of the Joint Research Centre |
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Nuclear energy activities of the Joint Research Centre

| 3. | Subject to the applicable criteria and procedures established by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) and by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2011) (collectively, ‘the rules’), the Commission will appoint independent experts:






  — | to assist in the evaluation of proposals in line with the various scientific, technological and socioeconomic aims of the Seventh Framework Programme. Evaluation work includes making recommendations on ways to gear research towards optimum achievement of the aims of the specific programme concerned, |
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3.

Subject to the applicable criteria and procedures established by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) and by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2011) (collectively, ‘the rules’), the Commission will appoint independent experts:

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to assist in the evaluation of proposals in line with the various scientific, technological and socioeconomic aims of the Seventh Framework Programme. Evaluation work includes making recommendations on ways to gear research towards optimum achievement of the aims of the specific programme concerned,

| — | to assist in the monitoring of projects selected and funded by the Community, including, where necessary and as appropriate, the monitoring of projects funded by the Community under previous RTD framework programmes, |
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to assist in the monitoring of projects selected and funded by the Community, including, where necessary and as appropriate, the monitoring of projects funded by the Community under previous RTD framework programmes,

| — | for other purposes where specific expertise might be required (e.g. monitoring of the implementation, evaluation and assessment of impacts of RTD programmes and policies). |
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for other purposes where specific expertise might be required (e.g. monitoring of the implementation, evaluation and assessment of impacts of RTD programmes and policies).

| 4. | To this end, the Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial, general research institutions and/ or learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of RTD to submit lists of prospective independent experts in order to be included in its database of experts for the Seventh Framework Programme. The proposal of experts coming from institutions, organisations or countries different from the submitter's own institution/organisation is particularly encouraged.
  [It must however be noted that the Commission is not bound to appoint only experts registered in this database. It may appoint independent experts from outside, where foreseen by and in accordance with the appointment procedures established by the rules.] |
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4.

To this end, the Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial, general research institutions and/ or learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of RTD to submit lists of prospective independent experts in order to be included in its database of experts for the Seventh Framework Programme. The proposal of experts coming from institutions, organisations or countries different from the submitter's own institution/organisation is particularly encouraged.

[It must however be noted that the Commission is not bound to appoint only experts registered in this database. It may appoint independent experts from outside, where foreseen by and in accordance with the appointment procedures established by the rules.]

| 5. | Prospective independent experts are expected to have skills and knowledge appropriate to the areas of activities in which they might be asked to assist.
  Prospective independent experts are also expected to have a high level of professional experience in the public or private sector in one or more of the following areas of activity:






  — | research in the relevant scientific and technological fields, |
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5.

Prospective independent experts are expected to have skills and knowledge appropriate to the areas of activities in which they might be asked to assist.

Prospective independent experts are also expected to have a high level of professional experience in the public or private sector in one or more of the following areas of activity:

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research in the relevant scientific and technological fields,

| — | administration, management or evaluation of RTD projects, programmes or policies, |
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administration, management or evaluation of RTD projects, programmes or policies,

| — | use of the results of RTD projects, technology transfer, innovation, and business cooperation, particularly with regard to SMEs. |
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use of the results of RTD projects, technology transfer, innovation, and business cooperation, particularly with regard to SMEs.

| — | issues at the interface of science and society (i.e. education, communication, expertise, risk, ethics, etc.), |
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issues at the interface of science and society (i.e. education, communication, expertise, risk, ethics, etc.),

| — | international cooperation in science and technology, |
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international cooperation in science and technology,

| — | development of human resources. |
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development of human resources.

Prospective independent experts must also have appropriate language skills.

| 6. | To ensure the independence of proposal evaluations and project monitoring and, where appropriate other tasks, appointed independent experts will have to sign a declaration certifying that there is no conflict of interest at the time of appointment and that they undertake to inform the Commission if any conflict should arise in the course of providing their opinion or carrying out their duties. Throughout their work they shall have to demonstrate the appropriate devotion to duty and observe complete confidentiality of the information and documents brought to their attention. |
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6.

To ensure the independence of proposal evaluations and project monitoring and, where appropriate other tasks, appointed independent experts will have to sign a declaration certifying that there is no conflict of interest at the time of appointment and that they undertake to inform the Commission if any conflict should arise in the course of providing their opinion or carrying out their duties. Throughout their work they shall have to demonstrate the appropriate devotion to duty and observe complete confidentiality of the information and documents brought to their attention.

| 7. | The abovementioned organisations are invited to register their interest by visiting the Cordis web page (http://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7) set up for this purpose. From there, they will be able to log on in order to submit the lists of experts that they wish to recommend. Early registration of interest is particularly encouraged, in order to allow the Commission to make use of the lists of prospective experts for its first proposal evaluation sessions under the Seventh Framework Programme, expected for March 2007.
  The final closing date for submission of such lists is 31 July 2013.
  Each list of proposed experts must include:






  — | the full names and titles of the experts proposed, |
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7.

The abovementioned organisations are invited to register their interest by visiting the Cordis web page (http://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7) set up for this purpose. From there, they will be able to log on in order to submit the lists of experts that they wish to recommend. Early registration of interest is particularly encouraged, in order to allow the Commission to make use of the lists of prospective experts for its first proposal evaluation sessions under the Seventh Framework Programme, expected for March 2007.

The final closing date for submission of such lists is 31 July 2013.

Each list of proposed experts must include:

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the full names and titles of the experts proposed,

| — | the e-mail address of each of the experts, |
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the e-mail address of each of the experts,

| — | the research area or group of research areas for which each expert is proposed. |
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the research area or group of research areas for which each expert is proposed.

Lists of proposed prospective independent experts must be submitted in one of the official languages of the European Union.

Following receipt of these lists, the Commission shall contact the proposed independent experts, inform them of the recommendation and invite them to register their details in its database of prospective independent experts established for the Seventh Framework Programme.

The personal data collected in the context of the present call will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

| 8. | For reasons of transparency and in line with the objectives of the European Research Area, the Commission may authorise access to its database of prospective independent experts by public research funding bodies from the Member States and the States associated to the framework programme and by other Community programmes, on condition that the prospective independent experts concerned have given their prior agreement.
  In addition, in accordance with the procedures established by the rules, lists of independent experts appointed for the evaluation of proposals will be published at regular intervals on the Internet. |
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8.

For reasons of transparency and in line with the objectives of the European Research Area, the Commission may authorise access to its database of prospective independent experts by public research funding bodies from the Member States and the States associated to the framework programme and by other Community programmes, on condition that the prospective independent experts concerned have given their prior agreement.

In addition, in accordance with the procedures established by the rules, lists of independent experts appointed for the evaluation of proposals will be published at regular intervals on the Internet.

| 9. | The policy of the European Commission is one of equal opportunities for women and men. In this context, the Commission has set itself a target of having evaluation panels comprising, if possible, 40 % women. In order to achieve this target, it hereby invites organisations proposing lists of prospective independent experts to ensure a balanced participation of women and men in the lists. |
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9.

The policy of the European Commission is one of equal opportunities for women and men. In this context, the Commission has set itself a target of having evaluation panels comprising, if possible, 40 % women. In order to achieve this target, it hereby invites organisations proposing lists of prospective independent experts to ensure a balanced participation of women and men in the lists.

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(1)  Not yet published in the OJ. This call is published anticipating the adoption and entry into force of the Seventh Framework Programme. The call will, therefore, take full effect after the Seventh Framework Programme has entered into force and it could be verified that the provisions concerning individual experts for evaluation have not undergone any substantial change. The publication of the call, anticipating the adoption of the Seventh Framework Programme, shall not give rise to any claim against the Commission.

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