1. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
Scientific evidence in Brussels
Dr Jan Marco Müller
Assistant to the Chief Scientific Adviser

2. 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

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

4. 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)

5. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
In the EU we have 23 Community
languages (Welsh etc. not counted)…
…3 alphabets…
Europa
Ευρώπη
Европа
…and a lot of
national traditions,
also in the way
scientific evidence
is provided to
policy-makers

6. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
The European Commission
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.
Berlaymont Building

7. 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)

8. 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

9. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
and the
science?

10. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
Science in the EU policy cycle
Policy anticipation
Policy formulation
Policy evaluation e.g. Science &
Technology e.g. Consultation
Foresight with experts and
e.g. Ex-post impact
assessments stakeholders,
ex-ante impact
assessments
Ad-hoc policy
EVIDENCE
support
Policy adoption
e.g. Scientific Policy
support to crisis implementation e.g. Scientists at
response (BSE, Parliamentary
EHEC, ash cloud…) e.g. Support Hearings
provided by Tech-
nical Committees

11. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
Institutional setup of science in the EC
José Manuel Barroso
President of the
European Commission
Professor Anne Glover
Secretariat-General (SG) Chief Scientific Adviser
Impact Assessment Board to the President
Bureau of European
Policy Advisers (BEPA)
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science
DG Research and Joint Research
Innovation (RTD) Centre (JRC)

12. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
JRC 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.
• Established in 1957
• 7 institutes in 5 countries
• 2859 staff (2011)
• 1467 publications (2011)
• Budget: €369 million
annually, plus €66 million
earned income

13. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
Professor Anne Glover CBE

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

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

19. STEPS Centre Annual Symposium, University of Sussex, 6 Feb 2013
Thank you for your attention!
E-mail: jan.mueller@ec.europa.eu
Twitter: EU_ScienceChief