Commission sets out vision for the JRC''s role in ERA
A leaner, more focused, flexible and better networked Joint research centre (JRC) is outlined in the latest communication from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament on 'Fulfilling the JRC's mission in the European Research Area [ERA].' The document is a response to the invitation issued by the Research Council last November to the Commission to submit a communication outlining the many facets of the JRC, its methods, its links, its human resources and its links to its users. The main areas it tackles are focusing and concentrating the JRC's activities, reinforcing and broadening its users, orientation and base, strategically increasing cooperation with external partners and streamlining its management. The JRC's mission is two fold according to the Communication. Firstly, to support the policy making process by providing a broad range of specific science and technology (S&T) services (including for example technical support on policy issues, policy implementation, research, monitoring and the ability to react to crises). Secondly, to contribute to the development and operation of EU systems of scientific reference for policy decisions. This includes assisting within relevant networks of excellence and taking a role which could range from facilitator to validating research methods and results. One especially important area will be the assisting of candidate countries in gaining appropriate scientific tools, methods and training. Refocusing the attention of the JRC will include ensuring that it sticks to core competencies, as overextending itself will not provide such benefits, nor make best use of its limited resources. To this end, the Communication outlines three competence pillars, which will form the central lines of focus. These are - food, chemical products and health - environment and sustainability - nuclear safety and security In addition to these, it also outlines horizontal competencies to support these areas. These include production of reference materials and measurements and the development of risk management tools for increased safety and public security, including the fight against fraud. A sharpened focus also has to be given to the use of the JRC's human resources and to this end an assessment carried out has identified a required reduction of 175 posts. Part of the assessment looked specifically at the institute for advanced materials in Petten and a 'realistic potential for increased focus and concentration was identified'. One of the largest parts of the Communication is dedicated to strengthening the JRC's links with users and stakeholders. It provides several recommendations in this respect, in terms of strengthening links with existing groups and forging links with new groups. The existing stakeholders include the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission plans to strengthen the relationship between the JRC and the Parliament via the initiation of a series of meetings with the relevant committees. The Commission is the primary user of the JRC, followed by other international partners, regulating authorities and the candidate countries. Again the Communication makes particular reference to these countries, saying 'increased efforts should be made to integrate them as much as possible in the JRC's activities related to the implementation and monitoring of Community legislation.' A review of the links with national regulators and/or enforcement agencies will be carried out. This will particularly analyse the three corner network, which includes the JRC, the policy DG in the Commission and the competent authorities in the Member State (or pre-accession States). The JRC will systematically increase the association of Member States and accession countries' research to the development of its own work. Setting up, participating in and managing networks 'will be a crucial element of the JRC's future development,' says the Communication, referring to networks which provide both products and services. Again, it emphasises that specific effort will be dedicated to the inclusion of organisations from pre-accession countries in the networks. Another area which is to be strengthened is the customer-contractor relationship. The Commission decided on 22 January to establish an inter-service group, composed of Director Generals of user DGs and chaired by the Director General of the JRC. Its task will be arbitration, setting priorities and formulating an opinion on the JRC annual and multi-annual work programmes. Further collaboration should be given in pro-active help to customer DGs in formulating their needs, and to this end a systemic secondment of a set number of JRC staff to policy-related DGs for a limited period of time (six to nine months) will be promoted. The JRC will also be looking to help the next generation of researchers. It will provide research training to young scientists (again, to include those from candidate countries) so that it can attract the best 'intellectual vitality'. The training will be in collaboration with both the community and national mobility schemes. Furthermore, JRC staff exchanges with national institute staff will be actively encouraged. The number of national experts detached to the Commission will also be increased. One of the major pushes will be to increase the awareness and usefulness of the work carried out by the JRC. To this end it will engage in information days, give presentations and deal with highly regarded press and web sources. The Communication concludes by emphasising that the measures set out will come into force progressively and that an assessment at the end of the Fifth Framework programme will shed new light on whether any further modifications will be needed.