Council Resolution of 10 November 2003 on the profession and the career of researchers within the European Research Area (ERA)
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: professional career, research and development, research staff, single market

25.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 282/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 10 November 2003

on the profession and the career of researchers within the European Research Area (ERA)

(2003/C 282/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

RECALLING:

supports

chapter,
the development of abundant and
dynamic world-class human resources in the European
research system, taking into account the inherent inter-
national dimension of research;

1. The Council Resolutions of 15 June 2000 and 16
November 2000 (1) on the European Research Area
(ERA) which,
importance of
the key to research
developing human resources as
excellence in Europe, as well as the need to introduce a
European dimension into researchers' careers;

stressed the

inter alia,

2. The Commission Communication on: ‘A mobility strategy
subsequent Council Resolution (2)
for ERA’, and the
concerning the ‘Reinforcement of
the mobility strategy
within the European research area (ERA)’ which endorsed
for
efforts
researchers
the Commission
Communication on ‘The role of the universities in the
Europe of knowledge’;

to create a more favourable environment
as well

in Europe;

as

3. The Commission's Communications on ‘More Research for
Europe — towards 3 % of GDP’, and ‘Investing in research:
an action plan for Europe’ which stressed that more
researchers are needed by 2010 as well as the subsequent
Council Resolution of 22 September 2003 on ‘Investing in
research for European growth and competitiveness’ (3)
which underlined the fact that enhanced investment in
human resources in particular through the development
of
researchers and the promotion of
career opportunities would be key factors in achieving
the 3 % objective for investment in research;

the training of

5. The Council Resolution on ‘Science and society and on
women and science’ (5) and the importance of the science/
society dialogue and the gender dimension in achieving the
full potential of R&D efforts in ERA;

6. The discussions in the context of the Bologna Process and
the development of the European Higher Education Area,
and in particular the conclusions of the Berlin Conference
on the Bologna Process in September 2003, which referred
to the importance of research as an integral part of higher
education across Europe;

7. The conclusions of recent European Councils, which have
endorsed the creation and development of the ERA, high-
lighted the importance of investment in R & D to achieve a
higher degree of competitiveness and economic growth
and, in this context, have emphasised the importance of
developing human resources in R&D;

8. REAFFIRMS that research and researchers play a key role in

stimulating European growth and competitiveness;

4. The Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) (4) which,
in particular under its ‘Human resources and mobility’

(1) OJ C 205 of 19.7.2000, p. 1.

OJ C 374 of 28.12.2000, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 367 of 21.12.2001.
(3) OJ C 250 of 18.10.2003.
(4) OJ L 232 of 29.8.2002 and OJ L 294 of 29.10.2002.

9. WELCOMES the Commission's Communication ‘Researchers
in ERA: one profession, multiple careers’ which analyses
the different factors which condition and shape careers in
R&D and which refers to researchers as ‘professionals
engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge,
products, processes, methods and systems, and in the
management of the projects concerned’;

(5) OJ C 199 of 14.7.2001.

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.11.2003

and evaluation of

10. RECOGNISES that a variety of factors affect the careers of
researchers in Europe, bearing in mind the diversity of
approach within Member States. These relate to,
inter
training, mobility, recruitment methods, the devel-
alia,
the
opment
contractual and salary situation according to the sectors
in which researchers operate or the legal, administrative,
infrastructural and cultural environment
in which they
work, as well as the level of R&D funding. RECOGNISES
that improvements in these areas are needed to contribute
to the development of a true European employment
market
for researchers, paying specific attention to an
enlarged European Union;

as well

careers,

as

inherent

difficulties

11. THE COUNCIL THEREFORE WELCOMES the Commission's
approach to overcome
in
the
research training and mobility and career development,
in cooperation, on a voluntary basis, with Member States
and other stakeholders including both public and private
sectors. The Commission's actions would complement
other initiatives in this area being undertaken also in the
international context taking into account the experience of
relevant
It welcomes in particular the
Commission's intention to:

third countries.

— Work towards

a

the development of

‘European
in order to further improve the
Researcher's Charter’
the career management of human
framework for
for the
resources in R&D, and a code of conduct
recruitment of researchers,
the
specificities of different sectors and based on best
practice;

taking into account

— Launch a European Year of Researchers to strengthen
the public recognition of the profession of researchers
and careers in R&D;

— Further analyse different career development issues and
research training including data collection and analysis
of needs, which could also feed
into actions
implementing the open method of coordination;

— Intensify efforts

to improve the operation of

Researchers' Mobility
network of mobility centres.

Portal

and

the

the
European

12.

and

States

the
States, Acceding
INVITES Member
Commission,
stakeholders
in cooperation with the
including both public and private sectors, to undertake,
on a voluntary basis, actions,
in particular through the
the open method of co-ordination
implementation of
(omc), as agreed by the Scientific and Technical Research
Committee (CREST), in relation to:

— developing criteria for recording different professional
researchers
achievements
taking into account developments in the ‘Bologna
Process’;

the career of

throughout

— exchanging good practice, where appropriate at inter-
national level, as regards the evaluation and appraisal
systems for careers in R&D;

— encouraging the social dialogue, as well as dialogue
among researchers, stakeholders and society at large,
including improving public awareness of science and
promoting the interest of young people in research and
in a career in science;

— overall working conditions for doctoral candidates,
leave, and taking
including aspects such as parental
necessary
at
steps, bearing
European level, regarding the portability of national
loans and grants in the context of enhanced mobility
for researchers;

in mind reciprocity

— promoting equal opportunities for men and women

researchers when developing these initiatives;

— continuing efforts to remove other obstacles to a career
in research or to mobility, including those related to
intersectoral mobility and mobility between and within
public and private sectors as well as mobility between
different
taking into account an enlarged
European Union;

functions,

13.

regularly on the
INVITES the Commission to report
progress achieved in improving the employment and
career prospects for researchers in Europe.