14.12.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/54

1.

The Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial and general research institutions and learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of research and technological development (RTD) to submit lists of proposed independent experts who could be called on to assist in connection with:

(collectively, the Seventh Framework Programme).

2.

The EC Framework Programme will be organised in five specific programmes, which shall cover the following:

The Euratom Framework programme will be organised in two specific programmes, which shall cover the following:

3.

Subject to the applicable criteria and procedures established by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) and by the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2011) (collectively, ‘the rules’), the Commission will appoint independent experts:

4.

To this end, the Commission hereby invites scientific, professional, industrial, general research institutions and/ or learned societies and other organisations with an active interest in the performance of RTD to submit lists of prospective independent experts in order to be included in its database of experts for the Seventh Framework Programme. The proposal of experts coming from institutions, organisations or countries different from the submitter's own institution/organisation is particularly encouraged.

[It must however be noted that the Commission is not bound to appoint only experts registered in this database. It may appoint independent experts from outside, where foreseen by and in accordance with the appointment procedures established by the rules.]

5.

Prospective independent experts are expected to have skills and knowledge appropriate to the areas of activities in which they might be asked to assist.

Prospective independent experts are also expected to have a high level of professional experience in the public or private sector in one or more of the following areas of activity:

Prospective independent experts must also have appropriate language skills.

6.

To ensure the independence of proposal evaluations and project monitoring and, where appropriate other tasks, appointed independent experts will have to sign a declaration certifying that there is no conflict of interest at the time of appointment and that they undertake to inform the Commission if any conflict should arise in the course of providing their opinion or carrying out their duties. Throughout their work they shall have to demonstrate the appropriate devotion to duty and observe complete confidentiality of the information and documents brought to their attention.

7.

The abovementioned organisations are invited to register their interest by visiting the Cordis web page (http://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7) set up for this purpose. From there, they will be able to log on in order to submit the lists of experts that they wish to recommend. Early registration of interest is particularly encouraged, in order to allow the Commission to make use of the lists of prospective experts for its first proposal evaluation sessions under the Seventh Framework Programme, expected for March 2007.

The final closing date for submission of such lists is 31 July 2013.

Each list of proposed experts must include:

Lists of proposed prospective independent experts must be submitted in one of the official languages of the European Union.

Following receipt of these lists, the Commission shall contact the proposed independent experts, inform them of the recommendation and invite them to register their details in its database of prospective independent experts established for the Seventh Framework Programme.

The personal data collected in the context of the present call will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

8.

For reasons of transparency and in line with the objectives of the European Research Area, the Commission may authorise access to its database of prospective independent experts by public research funding bodies from the Member States and the States associated to the framework programme and by other Community programmes, on condition that the prospective independent experts concerned have given their prior agreement.

In addition, in accordance with the procedures established by the rules, lists of independent experts appointed for the evaluation of proposals will be published at regular intervals on the Internet.

9.

The policy of the European Commission is one of equal opportunities for women and men. In this context, the Commission has set itself a target of having evaluation panels comprising, if possible, 40 % women. In order to achieve this target, it hereby invites organisations proposing lists of prospective independent experts to ensure a balanced participation of women and men in the lists.