European Research Area Board (ERAB)

The role of the European Research Area Board (ERAB) is to assist the Commission in preparing and implementing the European Research Area. It is composed of specialists from the scientific community, industry and civil society.

ACT

Commission Decision 2008/111/EC, Euratom of 7 December 2007 establishing the European Research Area Board.

SUMMARY

Set up on 1 March 2008, ERAB replaces the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) which published more than 30 reports and recommendations between 2001 and 2007 on matters relating to scientific policy.

Tasks

ERAB shall advise the European Commission on the structure and implementation of the European Research Area (ERA). It will also deliver opinions on certain elements of the ERA at the request of the Commission or on its own initiative. Its main task consists of providing strategic direction to the Commission in creating a European Research Area. The ERAB must also write an annual report on the current state of the European Research Area.

Composition - Appointment

The Board has twenty-two members appointed by the European Commission for a four-years-renewable term of office. They are experts from the world of science and from universities and industry, independent of any outside influence, who have experience in the design and implementation of research policy as well as in advisory work at a European or international level.

Criteria related to science and technology disciplines, geographical origin and gender balance were also taken into consideration during the selection process.

Organisation

The Bureau of the Board is composed of a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons elected by the members of the Board by a simple majority. In its work, it is assisted by three additional members, qualified as "Bureau Partners". The Bureau monitors the organisation of the Board’s work. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. For reasons of confidentiality, the results of work carried out by the Board may be held secret at the request of the Commission.

The Board’s rules of procedure have been adopted on the basis of a draft presented by the Commission.

Context

ERAB forms part of the reform of the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) announced in its Green Paper “The European Research Area: New Perspectives”. This reform aimed to strengthen the role of EURAB, whose term of office was six years (2001–2007), with a view to creating the European Research Area.

Last updated: 20.08.2008