2005/516/: Commission decision of 22 April 2005 establishing the European Security Research Advisory Board
Date: 2005-04-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, European security, advisory committee (EU), operation of the Institutions

L 191/70

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.7.2005

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 22 April 2005

establishing the European Security Research Advisory Board

(2005/516/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

ESRAB should include experts from various stakeholder
groups, namely: users, industry and research organisa-
tions. According to the fields in which they operate,
ESRAB should be composed of
two groups having
distinct but complementary roles.

Whereas:

(6) Rules on disclosure of

information by members of
ESRAB should be provided for, without prejudice to the
Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex to
Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom (2).

In 2003, the Commission set up a Group of Personalities
in the field of security research whose primary mission
was to propose principles and priorities of a European
Security Research Programme (ESRP).

(7)

It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this
Decision. The Commission will, in due time, consider the
advisability of an extension,

‘Research for a Secure Europe’
Following the report
presented by the Group of Personalities in 2004, the
Commission Communication of 7 September 2004
entitled ‘Security Research: the Next Steps’ (1), proposed
the setting-up of a European Security Research Advisory
Board (ESRAB).

(3)

It is necessary to set up ESRAB and define its tasks and its
structure.

(4)

ESRAB should contribute to the content and implemen-
tation of the ESRP.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Advisory Board

An advisory board called ‘European Security Research
Advisory Board’
is
hereby set up with effect from 1 July 2005.

(ESRAB), attached to the Commission,

(1)

(2)

(1)

COM(2004) 590 final.

(2) OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

2005/94/EC, Euratom (OJ L 31, 4.2.2005, p. 66).

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Article 2

Tasks

Article 3

Membership of ESRAB — Nomination

The Commission may consult ESRAB on any questions
relating to the content and implementation of the European
Security Research Programme (ESRP), to be effected through
the EC framework programme for research.

1. Members of ESRAB shall be nominated by the Commis-
sion from among high-level specialists and strategists having
expertise in the subject areas indicated in Article 2.

ESRAB shall carry out its work in full knowledge of the
European policy context, in particular of the research activities
carried out at the national level and in support of European
research policy initiatives.

More specifically, but not exclusively, ESRAB shall make
recommendations to the Commission in the following areas:

(a)

(b)

(c)

the strategic missions, focus areas and priorities setting
for ESRP, on the basis of the report ‘Research for a Secure
Europe’ of the Group of Personalities while taking into
account
the European Defence
Agency as well as national and inter-governmental
activities;

the establishment of

the technological capabilities to be put in place among
the European stakeholders; it shall recommend a strategy
to improve the European industry's technological base,
so as to improve its competitivity;

the strategic and operational aspects of the ESRP taking
into account the experience and results obtained from
the Preparatory Action on the enhancement of
the
European industrial potential
in the field of security
research (1), from Commission services with an active
interest in the field of security including research covered
by the EC framework programme for research and from
other expert or advisory groups;

2. Members
shall be nominated ad personam and no
substitutes shall be appointed. Members shall serve in a
personal capacity and shall advise the Commission indepen-
dently of any outside instructions. They shall not disseminate
information obtained by ESRAB in the course of its activities,
if the Commission is of the opinion that such information is
confidential.

3. Members shall be nominated for a period not exceeding
the expiry date of this Decision. They shall remain in function
until their replacement or until the end of their term of office.

4. Members who are no longer capable of contributing
usefully to the work of ESRAB, who resign, or who do not
respect the conditions contained in paragraph 2 of this Article
or in Article 287 of the Treaty, may be replaced by the
Commission, for the remainder of their term of office.

5. The list of ESRAB members and subsequent appoint-
ments thereto shall be published by the Commission in the ‘C’
Series of
the European Union for
Journal of
information.

the Official

Article 4

Functioning

(d)

the implementation issues such as the exchange of
classified information and intellectual property rights;

1.

ESRAB shall be composed of two groups:

(e)

optimising the use of publicly owned research and
evaluation infrastructures in ESRP;

(a)

a group addressing the security research demand
requirements;

(f)

a communications strategy to promote awareness of the
ESRP as well as for providing information on stake-
holders' research programmes.

(b)

a group addressing the technology supply chain require-
ments;

The Chairpersons of either ESRAB group, as defined in
is
Article 4(1), may indicate to the Commission that
desirable to consult the ESRAB on other questions.

it

2. The ESRAB members shall elect a chairperson for each
group.

(1)

COM(2004) 72 final.

3.
In agreement with the Commission, ad hoc subgroups
may be set up to examine specific issues, based on a mandate
defined by one, or both, ESRAB groups. They shall be
dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.

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For the handling of specific agenda items, the Commis-
4.
sion may invite experts or observers, including persons from
Commission services having a specific competence, to guide
the work of ESRAB or to participate in ad hoc sub-groups if
this is deemed useful or necessary.

5. The ESRAB groups shall normally meet at the Commis-
sion’s offices according to the modalities and the calendar
fixed by the Commission. Both ESRAB groups may avail
themselves of the secretarial services of the Commission. They
may hold joint meetings so as to ensure consistency of
approach and greater co-ordination. Such joint meetings shall
be co-chaired by the chairpersons of the ESRAB groups.

6. The ESRAB groups shall adopt agreed terms of reference,
including rules of procedure, on the basis of a Commission
proposal.

7. A restricted intranet shall be established to circulate
working documents, conclusions, minutes, or any other
relevant documents.

Done at Brussels, 22 April 2005.

Article 5

Expenses

Travel expenses incurred by members and selected experts in
connection with the activities of ESRAB, shall be reimbursed
by the Commission according to Commission rules. Members
and selected experts shall not be remunerated for the services
they render.

Article 6

Disclosure of information

Rules on disclosure of information by members of ESRAB
shall be laid down in the rules of procedure of ESRAB.

Any persons participating in the activities of ESRAB shall
refrain from disclosing information to which they have
thereby gained access.

Article 7

Applicability

This Decision shall expire on 31 December 2006.

For the Commission
Günter VERHEUGEN
Vice-President