98/611/EC, Euratom: Commission Decision of 23 October 1998 on the creation of the European Research Forum [notified under document number C(1998) 3069] (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1998-10-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Community body, applied research, industrial research, innovation, research and development, scientific research

29. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 290/61

COMMISSION DECISION

of 23 October 1998

on the creation of the European Research Forum

(notified under document number C(1998) 3069)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(98/611/EC, Euratom)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community,

Whereas the Commission needs a reflection, debate and
advisory body, consisting of high-level figures from the
industry, the services sector and
scientific community,
research users,
in order to examine general research
policy issues;

the

Whereas, on the grounds of rationalisation and in order to
increase the synergy between industry and research, it is
appropriate to replace the two existing committees,
namely
Industrial Research and Development
Advisory Committee, IRDAC, and the European Science
and Technology Assembly, ESTA, by a single body en-
titled ‘European Research Forum' comprising a maximum
of 60 members appointed by the Commission and
distributed more or less evenly between two ‘chambers'
working in close coordination: an academic and scientific
chamber and an industrial, services and users chamber;

Whereas the ‘European Research Forum' should be set
up,
its terms of reference should be defined and its
internal operation should be organised,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A consultative committee, hereinafter referred to as the
‘European Research Forum', is hereby established by the
Commission. The Forum shall be a reflection, debate and
advisory body on research and technological development
policy.

scientific and technological policy issues of European
interest in general.

It shall discuss these issues and may prepare opinions for
the Commission.

Article 3

The Forum shall comprise a maximum of 60
1.
members from the Member States and the States asso-
ciated with the framework programmes among which will
figure the chairmen of the expert groups set up by the
Commission to assist it in connection with the content
and direction of the key actions of the fifth framework
programme.

2.
The members of the Forum shall represent the inter-
ests of the various scientific and industrial fields; they
shall be distributed more or less evenly between two
chambers:

— an academic and scientific chamber comprising high-
level scientists and figures from the various parts of
the scientific community,
in particular universities
and national and European research organisations,

— an industrial, services and users chamber comprising
high-level figures from industry and service enter-
prises (including SMEs), European organisations in
this field and organisations of research users.

Article 4

The members of the Forum and of each chamber shall be
appointed in a personal capacity by the Commission,
according to the objective criteria of proven competence
and recognised experience.

Article 2

The Forum shall, on its own initiative or at the Commis-
sion’s request, study strategic issues relating to the formu-
lation and implementation of Community research, tech-
nological development and innovation policy, as well as

1.
The term of office of members shall be two years,
renewable once. Where members interrupt their term of
office before the expiry of
they shall be
replaced for the remainder of their term of office in
accordance with the provisions of Article 4.

this period,

Article 5

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

29. 10. 98

The members of the Forum shall remain in office
2.
until they are replaced or their term of office is renewed.

3. After consultation with each of the two chambers,
the Commission shall appoint a chairman and vice-
chairman for each chamber, who shall exercise this func-
tion until expiry of their term of office.

Article 6

A list of members of the Forum shall be published in the
Official Journal of the European Communities for infor-
mation.

Article 7

1.
Each chamber shall draw up its own programme of
activities according to the issues it considers important to
examine, may give opinions and set up working groups to
study specific subjects.

2.
In order to examine issues of common interest,
notably to increase the synergy between industry and
research, the two chambers may conduct certain activities
jointly, may give joint opinions and set up joint working
groups.

3.
The two chambers shall closely coordinate their
programmes of activity by means of a Bureau made up of
their chairmen and vice-chairmen.

4.
The two chambers shall hold a joint meeting at least
once a year in the form of a plenary session. The meeting
chairman for the plenary sessions shall be a member of
the Bureau and appointed by the latter.

Article 9

The functions exercised by the members of the Forum
and possible experts shall not be remunerated. Their
travel and subsistence expenses in connection with the
activities of the Forum, and in particular with the plenary
meetings of the Forum, the two chambers, the working
groups and the Bureau shall be paid by the Commission
in accordance with the current administrative rules.

Article 10

The Forum and the two chambers shall meet as a rule at
the Commission headquarters and shall be convened by
the latter.

Article 11

The deliberations of the Forum shall not give rise to any
the Forum’s
vote. Where the Commission requests
opinion, it may set a time limit within which the opinion
should be given.

Article 12

Without prejudice to Article 214 of the EC Treaty and
Article 194 of the Euratom Treaty, the members of the
Forum shall not divulge any information they obtain
through the work of the Forum or one of the chambers or
a working group or the Bureau, where the Commission
informs them that a requested opinion or a question
asked relates to a confidential matter.

In this event, only members of the Forum and represent-
atives of the Commission shall attend meetings.

Article 8

Article 13

1. Commission representatives may take part in the
work of the Forum, each chamber, the working groups
and the Bureau.

2.
The Forum may invite any person with special
competence to participate in its work as an expert, in
respect of a subject being dealt with. Experts may only
participate in deliberations on matters for which they are
invited to attend.

3.
The Commission shall give the Forum practical as-
sistance with its operation and provide a joint secretariat
to serve both chambers.

Commission Decision 84/128/EEC establishing an Indus-
trial Research and Development Advisory Committee
(IRDAC) and Decision 94/204/EC, Euratom on the crea-
tion of a European Science and Technology Assembly
(ESTA) are hereby repealed.

Done at Brussels, 23 October 1998.

For the Commission

(cid:144)dith CRESSON

Member of the Commission