2008/824/EC: Commission Decision of 22 October 2008 setting up a European Cluster Policy Group
Date: 2008-10-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: exchange of information, industrial policy, innovation, inter-company cooperation, research and development, technological change

30.10.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 288/7

COMMISSION DECISION

of 22 October 2008

setting up a European Cluster Policy Group

(2008/824/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Article 157 of the Treaty assigned the Community and
the
the Member States
conditions necessary for
the
Community's industry exist, as well as fostering better
exploitation of
the industrial potential of policies of
innovation, research and technological development.

the task of ensuring that
the competitiveness of

Article 13 of Decision No 1639/2006/EC of
the
European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October
2006 establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation
Framework Programme (2007 to 2013) (1), calls for
action to foster sector-specific innovation, clusters, inno­
vation networks, public-private innovation partnerships
and cooperation with relevant
international organi­
sations, and the use of innovation management.

In its Communication ‘Putting knowledge into practice:
A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU’ (2)
the
Commission recognises the important role of clusters
for competitiveness and innovation as instruments for
research and
closing
gap between business,
resources,
to the
market, and calls for a strategic policy orientation and
cooperation.

thereby bringing knowledge faster

the

In its conclusions of 4 December 2006 the Competi­
tiveness Council
identified clusters as one of the nine
strategic priorities for the implementation of the broad-
based European innovation strategy.

The European Council of 13 and 14 March 2008
stressed in its conclusions that the framework conditions
for innovation should be better coordinated,
including
through improved science-industry linkages and world-
and the development of
innovation clusters
class
regional clusters and networks.

the
The European Cluster Memorandum,
European Presidency Conference on Innovation and
Clusters in Stockholm on 22 and 23 January 2008 and

launched at

signed by more than 70 national and regional authorities
further
and agencies, marked an important step for
encouraging cluster development.

(7)

(8)

(9)

The European Cluster Alliance, which currently brings
together more than 70 partner organisations across
Europe, was a first step towards cluster policy cooper­
ation across the EU.

In its opinion on clusters and cluster policy adopted on
19 June 2008, the Committee of the Regions calls for the
setting-up of a High Level Expert Group on Clusters,
which could serve as a platform for discussing the imple­
mentation of a general strategic framework for clusters.

In the Communication from the Commission ‘Towards
world-class clusters in the European Union: Implemen­
ting the broad-based innovation strategy’ (3), the estab­
lishment of a European Cluster Policy Group is identified
as an important step of the policy agenda in support of
world-class clusters in the EU.

(10)

It is therefore necessary to set up a European Cluster
Policy Group and define its tasks and structure.

(11) With a view to achieving the above-mentioned objectives
the Commission needs to call upon the contributions of
policy makers and experts in the field of cluster develop­
ment.

(12)

(13)

(14)

The European Cluster Policy Group should share intel­
ligence about cluster policies with a view to further
in
exploring how to better
supporting the emergence of world-class clusters in the
EU.

assist Member States

The European Cluster Policy Group should be composed
of high-level members with experience and competence
in the field of competitiveness and innovation policies
and with a very good understanding of the role and
functioning of clusters in economic development.

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the
European Cluster Policy Group should be provided for,
without prejudice to the rules on security as set out in
the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC,
Euratom (4).

(1) OJ L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 15.
(2) COM(2006) 502 final, 13.9.2006.

(3) COM(2008) 652, 17.10.2008.
(4) OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(15)

the European
Personal data relating to members of
Cluster Policy Group should be collected, processed and
published 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

(h) to collaborate with a view to communicating the discussion

and common findings to the public;

(i)

to provide the Commission with a mid-term report nine
months after its launch and a final report at the end of
its term summarising progress on the tasks and recommen­
dations. The final report should be made publicly available.

(16)

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,

The Chairperson shall participate in relevant conferences and
events presenting the key findings of the Group.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The European Cluster Policy Group

The European Cluster Policy Group, hereinafter referred to as
‘the Group’, is hereby set up by the Commission.

Article 2

Tasks

Article 3

Membership — Appointment

the Group shall be appointed by the
1. Members of
Commission from high-level specialists with competence in
the areas under Article 2, who have responded to the Call for
Applications. The Commission’s representative may ask experts
or observers with specific competence on a subject on the
agenda to participate in the group’s deliberations whenever
appropriate.

The Group shall have the following tasks:

The group shall be composed of a maximum of 20

2.
members.

(a)

to improve the Commission’s and the Member States’
understanding of modern policy responses in support of
cluster excellence;

3. Members of the Group shall be appointed for a term of
18 months.

(b) to identify and further analyse successful and unsuccessful
practices in support of clusters, and make recommendations
on how to better design cluster policies in the Community;

The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity
4.
and shall advise the Commission independently of any outside
influence.

(c)

to assess international trends in cluster development and
identify future challenges for cluster policies in response
to globalisation;

5. Members of the Group shall remain in office until such
time as they are replaced or their mandate ends.

(d) to explore tools for removing existing barriers to trans-

national cluster cooperation;

(e)

(f)

to analyse complementarities among the main policies and
support
financial
clusters, draw conclusions and formulate recommendations;

instruments at Community level

that

to liaise with the European Cluster Alliance and where
appropriate with other initiatives in support of clusters
and cluster policies,
and draw from their practical
experiences;

6. Members who are no longer capable of contributing effec­
tively to the deliberations of the Group, who resign or who do
not comply with the conditions set out in the paragraph 4 of
this Article or in Article 287 of the Treaty may be replaced for
the remainder of their term of office.

7. Members appointed in a personal capacity shall each year
sign an undertaking to act
in the public interest and a
declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest
which may undermine their objectivity.

(g) to conduct up to a maximum of three exploratory study
visits within the term of office of the members, with a view
to learning from international experience;

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

The names of members appointed in a personal capacity
8.
shall be published on the Internet site of the Directorate-General
for Enterprise and Industry and in C series of the Official Journal
of the European Union. The names of members shall be collected,
processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC)
No 45/2001.

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Article 4

Operation

Article 5

Meeting expenses

The Commission shall appoint

1.
Group.

the Chairperson of the

2.
Information obtained by participating in the deliberations
of the Group shall not be divulged if the Commission considers
that such information relates to confidential matters without
prejudice to the rules on security as set out in the Annex to
Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom.

3.
The Group shall normally meet on Commission premises
in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by
it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services to the
Group. Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings
may attend meetings of the Group.

4.
The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.

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

Members of the Group shall not be remunerated for the services
they render.

Meeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the annual
budget allocated to the group by the responsible Commission
services.

Article 6

Expiry

The Decision shall expire on 30 June 2011.

Done at Brussels, 22 October 2008.

The Commission may publish or place on the Internet, in
5.
the original
any
summary, conclusion or part of a conclusion or working
document of the Group.

the document

language of

concerned,

For the Commission

Günter VERHEUGEN
Vice-President

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ANNEX

European Cluster Policy Group

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.

Background
A ‘High-Level Advisory Group on Clusters’ was established in December 2006 under the Europe INNOVA Initiative
with the mission to steer cluster policy discussions in Europe and develop a cluster agenda of common actions that
would foster trans-national cooperation. The group played the lead role in the preparation of the ‘European Cluster
Memorandum’ (1) launched at the European Presidency Conference on Innovation and Clusters in Stockholm on
22-23 January 2008 and signed by more than 70 national and regional authorities and agencies.

The Communication ‘Towards world-class clusters in the European Union: Implementing the broad-based innovation
strategy’ (2) adopted on 17.10.2008 foresees the establishment of a European Cluster Policy Group to help Member
States to develop a more strategic vision to reach critical mass and world-class excellence. This Group will replace
the current ‘High-Level Advisory Group on Clusters’ and raise its profile and visibility.

2. Mandate of the European Cluster Policy Group

The scope and objective of the European Cluster Policy Group is to share intelligence about cluster policies in view
to further explore how to better assist Member States in supporting the emergence of world-class clusters in the EU.

The tasks of the Group are:

— to improve the Commission’s and the Member States’ understanding of modern policy responses in support of

cluster excellence;

— to identify and further analyse successful and unsuccessful practices in support of clusters, and make recom­

mendations on how to better design cluster policies in the Community;

— to assess international trends in cluster development and identify future challenges for cluster policies in response

to globalisation;

— to explore tools for removing existing barriers to trans-national cluster cooperation;

— to analyse complementarities among the main policies and financial

instruments at Community level that

support clusters, draw conclusions and recommendations;

— to liaise with the European Cluster Alliance and where appropriate with other initiatives in support of clusters

and cluster policies, and draw from their practical experiences;

— to conduct up to a maximum of three exploratory study visits within the term of the members, with a view to

learning from international experience;

— to collaborate with a view to communicating the discussion and common findings to the public;

— to provide the Commission with a mid-term report nine months after its launch and a final report at the end of
its full period summarising progress on the tasks and recommendations. The final report should be made
publicly available.

The Chairperson shall participate at relevant conferences and events and shall present the results and key findings of
the Group. The reports will not be considered as reflecting the views of the Commission services.

3. Composition and Operation
3.1. Composition

The European Cluster Policy Group will be composed of a maximum of 20 high-level members with experience and
competence in the field of competitiveness and innovation policies. The Group shall consist of members representing
high-level policy makers, businesses and research and higher education institutions.

Representatives from European institutions may participate at the meetings and in the activities of the Group as
observers.

(1) The text of the European Cluster Memorandum is available at

http://www.proinno-europe.eu/NWEV/uploaded_documents/European_Cluster_Memorandum.pdf

(2) COM(2008) 652, 17.10.2008.

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3.2. Call for Applications

The Group will be set up through an open Call for Applications, which shall provide a duly motivated submission,
stating reasons for the desired participation in the Group. The following criteria will govern the selection of experts:

— Members should have outstanding expertise and experience in the field of competitiveness and innovation
policies at regional, national and community levels and should have a very good understanding about the
role of clusters in economic development
the analysis and recommendations
produced are feasible and respect the institutional and legal framework of the EU.

to ensure that

in order

— Members should have strong experience in European affairs and working in an international environment.

— Members should be fluent in English both oral and written at a level which allows them to contribute to

discussions and preparation of reports.

Applications received from interested parties should be accompanied by material demonstrating that the proposed
candidate meets the above conditions.

Members of the Group are appointed for an 18-month mandate. In case a chosen expert is unavailable at the time of
composition of the Group or during its existence, the Commission shall decide upon a suitable replacement from the
pool of eligible proposals submitted.

3.3. Final determination of Group composition

The Commission will decide upon the final composition of the Group on the basis of proposals submitted in
response to the Call for Applications.

The Commission will select the proposed experts, who best embody the required expertise in respect of the matters
covered by the mandate for the Group, as amongst others evidenced by prior experience in proposing or implemen­
ting solutions to these problems within their administration, parent organisation, association or industry.

In addition, the Commission will aim at ensuring a broad geographical coverage, a balanced gender composition and
a good representation of different stakeholders on the basis of proposals received.

3.4. Chairperson

The Commission shall select the Chairperson having regard to the extent to which the selected person credibly
represents the key stakeholders’ interests, contributes to defining/shaping the views on cluster policy in respect of the
matters covered by the mandate and embodies the required expertise. The Commission shall appoint the Chairperson
for a mandate of 18 months.

3.5. Operation

The Group will meet 4 times and is chaired by the appointed Chairperson. The Group will be facilitated by a
Secretariat, provided by an External Contractor. The External Contractor will provide administrative assistance to the
Group, including the organisation of meetings and study visits, facilitating internal communication, and reimbur­
sement of travel and accommodation costs of the members. Furthermore the Secretariat will be in charge of the
organisation of the final public event, as well as the finalisation and dissemination of the final report. Information
obtained by participating in the Group’s deliberations may not be divulged if the Commission says that this relates to
confidential matters.

3.6. Duration

The tasks of the Group shall be completed within a period of 18 months.

3.7. Expenses of members of the Group

The Commission will launch an open Call for Tender in order to select the External Contractor who will be in
charge of providing the secretarial services to the Group and will reimburse within this service contract the travel
and accommodation expenses incurred by members in connection with the Group’s activities.