COMMISSION DECISION
of 12 January 2011
amending Decision 2007/134/EC establishing the European Research Council
(2011/12/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (1) and in particular Articles 2 and 3 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2006/972/EC of 19 December 2006 concerning the Specific Programme: ‘Ideas’ implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (2) and in particular Article 4(2) and (3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
The European Research Council (ERC) was established by Commission Decision 2007/134/EC (3).
(2)
According to the Specific Programme ‘Ideas’, an independent review was carried out of the ERC’s structures and mechanisms, against the criteria of scientific excellence, autonomy, efficiency and transparency and with the full involvement of the Scientific Council. The Review Panel suggested a number of adjustments in order to ensure a more effective European Research Council and a coherent presentation of the ERC’s activities to stakeholders.
(3)
On the basis of the review and the ambition to make the ERC fully sustainable, the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: ‘The European Research Council - meeting the challenge of world class excellence’ (4), sets out the aims for the second phase of the ERC’s development. It includes a number of specific actions to improve the ERC’s operations to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the ‘Ideas’ Specific Programme.
(4)
In accordance with that Communication, it is necessary to ensure a single clear and transparent vision and seamless liaison between the ERC’s strategy and operational implementation, reflecting the activities of both the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA), established by Commission Decision 2008/37/EC (5) and the Scientific Council, and to develop and implement a coherent and integrated communication strategy.
(5)
In order to recognise the personal commitment of the members of the Scientific Council, and especially the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons, it is appropriate to introduce an honorarium for their attendance at the Scientific Council plenary meetings. The honorarium should reflect their responsibilities and be benchmarked against similar provisions in similar entities and Member States. It is also appropriate to provide for the financing of a standing Identification Committee for the identification of future Scientific Council members.
(6)
It is necessary to continue the arrangements for the local support to the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairpersons of the Scientific Council, using the ‘Coordination and Support Action’ grant funding scheme of the Seventh Framework Programme.
(7)
The term of office of the founding members of the Scientific Council expires on 1 February 2011 and there is a need for the staged renewal of the Scientific Council, as provided for in Article 4(6) of Decision 2007/134/EC. The identification of new members was carried out by means of an independent Identification Committee and in accordance with the provisions of Article 4(4) of Decision 2007/134/EC, including a report to Parliament and Council. This Committee made recommendations for the staged renewal of the Scientific Council and these recommendations have been accepted.
(8)
Decision 2007/134/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Decision 2007/134/EC is amended as follows:
1.
Article 1 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 1
Establishment
The European Research Council is hereby established for the period from 2 February 2007 to 31 December 2013 for the implementation of the Specific Programme “Ideas”. It shall be composed of a Scientific Council and the European Research Council Executive Agency as established by Commission Decision 2008/37/EC (6).
2.
In Article 3 the following paragraph 3 is added:
‘3. The Scientific Council shall cooperate with the European Research Council Executive Agency to ensure coherent and efficient implementation of the Specific Programme “Ideas” and close alignment of the scientific and administrative aspects of the ERC’s operations. That cooperation shall include a coherent communication of the ERC’s activities and the setting up of a common website covering the different aspects of the ERC’s operations.’
3.
Article 4 is amended as follows:
(a)
paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:
‘4. Future members shall be appointed by the Commission based on the factors and criteria set out in Annex I and following an independent and transparent procedure for their identification, agreed with the Scientific Council, including a consultation of the scientific community and a report to the European Parliament and the Council. The appointment of future members shall be published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. For this purpose, a high level standing Identification Committee of independent experts may be set up as an expert group with honoraria paid under the operational budget of the Specific Programme “Ideas”.’;
(b)
paragraph 9 is deleted.
4.
Article 5 is amended as follows:
(a)
paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:
‘4. The Scientific Council shall be accountable to the Commission, maintain continuous close liaison with it and the European Research Council Executive Agency, and establish any necessary arrangements for this.’;
(b)
paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:
‘6. The Commission shall provide information and assistance necessary for the work of the Scientific Council allowing it to operate under conditions of autonomy and independence. A Coordination and Support Action as referred to in Annex III to Decision No 1982/2006/EC may be used to provide local administrative or advisory support to the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Scientific Council.’;
(c)
the following paragraph 8 is added:
‘8. The Scientific Council is provided access to documents and data in possession of the European Research Council Executive Agency in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex III.’
5.
Article 6 is amended as follows:
(a)
paragraphs 3 and 4 are replaced by the following:
‘3. The Scientific Council shall adopt its rules of procedure which shall include detailed provisions for the elections referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, as well as a code of conduct on confidentiality, potential conflict of interest, and processing of personal data in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
4. The Scientific Council shall meet in plenary up to five times a year as required by its work. A summary minute of the plenary meetings shall be published on the ERC website.’;
(b)
the following paragraph 6 is added:
‘6. The Scientific Council may set up, from amongst its members, Standing Committees, Working Groups and other structures addressing specific tasks of the Scientific Council.’
6.
Article 8 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 8
Honoraria and meeting expenses
1. The Scientific Council members shall be compensated for the tasks they perform by means of an honorarium for their attendance at Scientific Council plenary meetings. The honoraria and travel and subsistence expenses shall be charged to the operational budget allocated to the Specific Programme “Ideas”. The honoraria and related implementation rules are set out in Annex IV.
2. For other meetings than plenary meetings, the European Research Council Executive Agency shall reimburse travel expenses and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses of the members of the Scientific Council necessary for carrying out their activities, in accordance with the Commission’s rules on the compensation of external experts (7). Subject to prior approval of the European Research Council Executive Agency, travel and subsistence expenses related to such other meetings, necessary for the conduct of the Scientific Council’s work may be also covered.
7.
Annex II is replaced as set out in the Annex to this Decision.
8.
Annexes III and IV, as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are added.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 12 January 2011.