Chairman outlines future plans for European Science and Technology Assembly
On 7 September 1994 Dr. Jan Borgman was elected as Chairman of the European Union's European Science and Technology Assembly. The Assembly will assist the European Commission with the implementation of the European Union's research and technological policy. It aims to facilitate and improve coordination between all the research activities undertaken in Europe. RTD-News put the following questions to Dr. Borgman. - As Chairman, what are your priorities for the European Science and Technology Assembly? The Assembly has been created by the Commission as an advisory body for science and technology. The membership of the Assembly is characterized by a wide range of disciplines in fundamental and applied sciences, as well as a variety of experience related to the European policy on science and technology. My first priority will be to find ways to take advantage of this diversity without losing sight of the necessity to work on a collective identity. This collective identity will gradually emerge on the basis of further implementation of the Commission's decision to create the Assembly. - What contribution will the Assembly make to the implementation of the Fourth Framework Programme? The birth of the Assembly has come too late for an effective involvement with the definition of the Fourth Framework Programme. However, at the explicit request of the Commission, the Assembly will undertake to formulate comments on a number of specific programmes where final decisions are still pending. During the implementation phase the Assembly's role should be restricted to a rather low profile: no interference with the normal review of proposals but emphasis on process aspects, i.e. criteria and methods of assessment applied in specific programmes, as well as a more general assessment of the specific programmes at the half-way point. In order to make a realistic contribution, the Assembly may wish to be placed in a position from where it can observe effectively what is going on in the implementation of the specific programmes. - When is the next meeting of the Assembly and what is the agenda? The next meeting will be held on 7 and 8 December. The agenda has still to be set by the Assembly's Bureau, but is likely to include a further discussion and adoption of its rules of procedure, as well as a workplan for 1995. Undoubtedly, the Assembly will also wish to assess its first but rather limited involvement with some of the specific programmes of the Fourth Framework Programme and discuss options for further involvement in the operational phase.