2008/111/EC,Euratom: Commission Decision of 7 December 2007 establishing the European Research Area Board
Date: 2007-12-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, committee (EU), personal data, research body, research staff, technological change

14.2.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 40/7

(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)

II

DECISIONS

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 7 December 2007

establishing the European Research Area Board

(2008/111/EC, Euratom)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

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

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

In order to examine general research policy issues, the
European Research Advisory Board was
set up by
Commission Decision 2001/531/EC, Euratom (1).

related to research,

the
Given the new challenges
European
Commission,
in its Green Paper
Research Area: New Perspectives’ (2), envisaged a reform
of the European Research Advisory Board in order to
role in the realisation of a European
enhance its
Research Area and to make the operation of
that
group more flexible and efficient.

‘The

(5)

(6)

(7)

The group should advise the Commission on the
realisation of the European Research Area, taking into
account
in the Commission's
‘The European Research Area: New
Green Paper
Perspectives’.

the objectives set out

The group should support the Commission in its efforts
to achieve the objectives specified in Council Decision
2006/970/Euratom of 18 December 2006 concerning
the European
the Seventh Framework Programme of
for nuclear
(Euratom)
Atomic Energy Community
research and training activities (2007 to 2011) (3) and
Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006
concerning the Specific Programme Cooperation imple-
menting the Seventh Framework Programme of
the
European Community for research, technological devel-
opment and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (4).

The group should be composed of specialists from the
scientific community,
industry, the services sector and
social actors.

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the
new group should be provided for, without prejudice to
the rules on security annexed to the Commission’s Rules
of
ECSC,
Euratom (5).

2001/844/EC,

by Decision

Procedure

(3)

It is therefore necessary to set up a new group of experts
in the field of European research and technological devel-
opment policies and to define its tasks and structure.

(1) OJ L 192, 14.7.2001, p. 21.
(2) COM(2007) 161 final, 4.4.2007.

(3) OJ L 400, 30.12.2006, p. 60, as corrected by OJ L 54, 22.2.2007,

p. 21.

(4) OJ L 400, 30.12.2006, p. 86, as corrected by OJ L 54, 22.2.2007,

p. 30.

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

2006/548/EC, Euratom (OJ L 215, 5.8.2006, p. 38).

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(8)

Personal data relating to members of the group should
be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
45/2001 of
the
the European Parliament
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 (1).

and of

(9)

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.

(10) Decision 2001/531/EC, Euratom should be replaced by

this Decision,

DECIDES:

The Board's opinion shall be given within the time limit

4.
given by the Commission.

Article 3

Consultation

The Commission may consult the Board on any matter

1.
relating to the realisation of the European Research Area.

2.
The Chairperson of the Board may advise the Commission
that it is desirable to consult the group on a specific question.

Article 4
Composition — Appointment

The Board shall comprise 22 members representing the

1.
scientific community, the industry and civil society.

Article 1

European Research Area Board

2.
The members of the Board shall be appointed by the
Commission. The set of criteria to be applied throughout the
selection and nomination process is the following:

The European Research Area Board, hereinafter referred to as
‘the Board’, is established with effect from 1 March 2008.

Article 2

Tasks

1.

The tasks of the Board shall be the following:

(a)

to advise the European Commission (the Commission) on
the realisation of a European Research Area;

— experience in the design and implementation of research

policy,

— excellence in research and/or research management,

— advisory experience on a European or international level,

— balance among science and technology disciplines including

persons with specific university-industry experience,

(b) to deliver opinions on the realisation of a European
Research Area, at the request of the Commission, or on
the Board's own initiative;

— geographical balance, taking into account the countries as-

sociated with the framework programmes,

(c)

to provide the Commission with an annual report on the
current state of the European Research Area.

— appropriate gender balance.

The Board shall be regularly informed on relevant devel-

2.
opments and actions.

3. When formally requested by the Board, the Commission
shall provide written comments on the Board's
services
opinions or
advice. The Commission services may also
provide regular information on the possible follow-up actions
undertaken.

(1) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

Applicants deemed suitable for membership but not
list, which the

3.
appointed may be placed on a reserve
Commission may use for the appointment of replacements.

4.
The members are appointed by the Commission in a
personal capacity and shall advise the Commission indepen-
dently of any outside influence.

5. Members shall inform the Commission in good time of
any conflict of interests which might undermine their objec-
tivity.

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6. Members shall be appointed for a four-years-renewable
term of office and shall remain in office until such time as
they are replaced in accordance with paragraph 7 or their
term of office ends.

7. Members may be replaced for the remainder of their term
of office in any of the following cases:

(a) where the member resigns;

(b) where the member is no longer capable of contributing

effectively to the group’s deliberations;

(c) where the member does not comply with Article 287 of the

Treaty;

(d) where, contrary to paragraph 4, the member is not inde-

pendent of all outside influence;

(e) where, contrary to paragraph 5, the member has failed to
inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of
interests.

The names of

8.
Internet site of the Directorate-General for Research.

its members shall be published on the

The names of members shall be collected, processed and
published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.

Article 5

Operation

The Board shall elect a Chairperson and two Vice-
1.
Chairpersons from amongst its members by a simple majority.

The Commission may ask experts or observers with
3.
specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate
in the work of the Board, or in the deliberations or work of a
subgroup,
is
necessary or useful.

in the opinion of

the Commission,

this

if,

Information obtained by participating in the deliberations
4.
or work of the Board or of a subgroup shall not be divulged if,
in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to
confidential matters.

5.
The Board and its subgroups normally meet on the
Commission’s premises in accordance with the procedures and
schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secre-
tarial
services. Commission representatives may attend the
meetings of the Board and of its subgroups.

The Board shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis

6.
of a draft presented by the Commission.

The Commission may publish, or place on the Internet, in
any
conclusion or working

conclusions, or partial

7.
the original
summary,
document of the Board.

the document

language of

concerned,

Article 6

Reimbursement of expenses

The Commission shall reimburse travel expenses and, where
appropriate, subsistence expenses for members, experts and
observers in connection with the Board’s activities in accordance
with the Commission's rules on the compensation of external
experts.

The members of the Board, subgroups, experts and observers
shall not be remunerated for the services they render.

The Chairperson and the two Vice-Chairpersons will form the
Bureau of the Board. The Bureau shall organise the work of the
Board.

Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the
annual budget allocated to the group by the competent
Commission department.

2.
The Board may, with the agreement of the Commission,
set up subgroups to examine specific questions under terms of
reference established by the group. Such subgroups shall be
dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.

Article 7

Repeal

Decision 2001/531/EC, Euratom is repealed.

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This Decision shall expire on 29 February 2012.

Article 8

Expiry

Done at Brussels, 7 December 2007.

For the Commission
Janez POTOČNIK
Member of the Commission