Jan Marco Müller, European Commission - #steps13

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Scientific evidence in Brussels

Dr Jan Marco MüllerAssistant to the Chief Scientific Adviser

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

"We also need a fundamental review of the way European institutions access and use scientific advice.

In the next Commission, I want to set up a Chief Scientific Adviser who has the power to deliver proactive, scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery.

This will reflect the central importance I attach to research and innovation.“

- José Manuel Barroso, 15 September 2009

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Europe is a rather complex matter

“Who do I call if I want to call Europe?” (Henry Kissinger)

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

In the EU we have 23 Community languages (Welsh etc. not counted)…

…3 alphabets…

EuropaΕυρώπη Европа

…and a lot of national traditions, also in the way scientific evidence is provided to policy-makers

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

The European Commission represents the interests of Europe as a whole, independent of national governments. The EC has the right of

initiative to suggest new legislation.

The EC implements European policies and manages the EU budget.

The EC acts as "Guardian of the Treaties" and can sue Member States which do not comply with EU legislation.

The EC represents the EU internationally.

The European Commission

Berlaymont Building

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

The European Parliament

The European Parliament represents the citizens of Europe

The EP controls the EC (and has the power to dismiss it)

The EP approves together with the European Council new legislation (in most policy areas) and the EU budget

The EP is elected directly every 5 years and has 736 Members (6 of them scientists)

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

The European Council

Summit of the Heads of State (or their Ministers)

The Council represents the interests of the Member States The Council meets at least four times per year The Council decides on the overarching EU priorities The Council approves (mostly together with the European

Parliament) new legislation and the EU budget

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

and thescience?

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Science in the EU policy cycle

e.g. Support provided by Tech-nical Committees

Policy implementation

e.g. Consultation with experts and

stakeholders, ex-ante impact assessments

Policy formulation

e.g. Scientists at Parliamentary

Hearings

Policy adoption

e.g. Ex-post impactassessments

Policy evaluation

e.g. Scientific support to crisis response (BSE,

EHEC, ash cloud…)

Ad-hoc policy support

e.g. Science & Technology Foresight

Policy anticipation

EVIDENCE

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Institutional setup of science in the EC

José Manuel BarrosoPresident of the European Commission

Máire Geoghegan-QuinnCommissioner for Research, Innovation and Science

Professor Anne GloverChief Scientific Adviser to the President

Secretariat-General (SG)Impact Assessment Board

Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA)

DG Research and Innovation (RTD)

Joint Research Centre (JRC)

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

• Established in 1957• 7 institutes in 5 countries• 2859 staff (2011)• 1467 publications (2011)• Budget: €369 million

annually, plus €66 million earned income

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's in-house science service and the only DG executing direct research.

Its mission is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies.

JRC

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Professor Anne Glover CBE

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Mandate of the Chief Scientific Adviser

• To provide independent expert advice, analysis and opinion to the President on any aspect of science, technology and innovation - in particular, the Chief Scientific Adviser will provide authoritative guidance on interpretation of scientific evidence in presence of uncertainty, and will be involved in strategic emergency planning;

• To build relationships with high-level advisory groups, the scientific Committees of the Commission, the EU agencies, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies as well as with similar science advisory structures in Member States and beyond;

• To advise on novel science, technology and innovation issues arising both in the context of the EU and internationally, that might entail either an opportunity or threat for the EU;

• To enhance public confidence in science and technology, and in general to promote European culture of science and technology widely within Europe and abroad.

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

Sources of EC scientific advice• Chief Scientific Adviser• Joint Research Centre (JRC)• DG Research and Innovation (RTD)

and its Advisory Groups such as ERIAB and EFFLA• Commission Scientific Committees (e.g. health) and

Expert Groups (e.g. Evaluation Boards, European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies)

• EU Agencies (e.g. EFSA, ECHA, ECDC, EEA, EMA)• European Research Performing Organisations (e.g. ESA,

EMBL) and European Science Associations (e.g. EASAC)• Research Organisations in Member States (and beyond)

such as Learned Societies, Research Performing Organisations, Higher Education Institutions

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

How does the European Commission procure scientific evidence?

• Using in-house resources (in particular JRC)• Using formal advisory bodies (EU Agencies, Scientific

and Technical Committees, Expert Groups)• Public consultation• (Sub-) Contracting of studies via open tenders• Proactive feed-in from stakeholders• Consultation of internet, literature, informal contacts

etc.

>> all of the above influences EC proposals, which then go through an exhaustive impact assessment and are agreed by all DGs, before being adopted by the college of Commissioners

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

And then?

The political bargaining starts between the European Council

and the European Parliament(none of them have a science service)

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013

E-mail: [email protected]: EU_ScienceChief

Thank you for your attention!