Commission invites independent counsel in setting up Scientific Advice Mechanism
The European Commission today announced that Sir David King (former UK Chief Scientific Advisor), Rianne Letschert (Chair of the Dutch Royal Young Academy of Sciences) and António Vitorino (former European Commissioner) will assist the Commission in selecting members of the High Level Group of the new Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM).
This so called Identification Committee will provide recommendations to the Commission for the seven members of the High Level Group, so that it can begin work this autumn. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, was hosting a first working lunch with the members of the Identification Committee.
Commissioner Moedas said: "With the Identification Committee in place, we are now looking to have the High Level Group of the new Scientific Advice Mechanism set up by autumn. I am delighted that we have such renowned experts to help us select the best people to give the European Commission high-quality, independent scientific advice."
The three members of the Identification Committee have expertise in a range of scientific disciplines and knowledge of EU policy making that will allow them to make an objective assessment of the needs for the membership of the High Level Group.
They will assist the Commission to define the criteria and method for identifying members of the High Level Group and recommend potential candidates for selection. The agreed methodology will be published on the webpage of the Scientific Advice Mechanism.
Commissioner Moedas also met with the five presidents of the European Academy networks (Academia Europaea, ALLEA, EASAC, Euro-CASE, FEAM) which will also play an important role in the Scientific Advice Mechanism.
Background
As announced by President Juncker on 13 May 2015, the European Commission intends to set up a new Scientific Advice Mechanism. The mechanism will support the Commission with high quality, timely and independent scientific advice for its policy-making activities.
The Scientific Advice Mechanism will be headed by a High Level Group of scientific advisors who will draw on the wide range of scientific expertise in Europe through a close relationship with national academies, universities, research organisations and specialised EU bodies.
