EU law to ease set-up of new research centres

Newly built large-scale research centres in the EU may now be able to operate VAT-free under the latest law announced by the commission.

Research chief Janez Potocnik said on Tuesday that member states had asked the executive to help them develop world-class research facilities.

“Asscience moves forward the infrastructure we have is becoming more complex and expensive, beyond the reach of countries and even groups ofcountries,” he said.

“There is no adequate legal framework existing in national law, none that can adapt to the specific needs of new unique types of infrastructure.”

Under the new rules, which have yet to be approved by parliament and council, countries would apply to the commission to form what is called a European researchinfrastructure (ERI).

This ERI would then be granted ‘legal personality’ by the executive, rather than each application having to be approved separately by the council.

According to the commissioner, this would aid the speedy creation of new large-scale buildings, such as space observatories and data banks.

He addedthat although there is no new money being allocated from the EU budget for the plans, ERIs would be eligible to apply for funding under thebloc’s research framework programmes.

“This is not about more money but about how to better use money,” the Slovenian commissioner explained. “This is a legal framework – a complementary tool to national toolboxes.”

The regulation on ERIs was launched at the same time as a communication advising member states on how to pool their limited R&D funds so that they have more impact.

The commission says that 85 per cent of all European public research funding is used at national level, but that the challenges we face – such as climate change and food safety – are better tackled jointly.

The communication on ‘joint programming’ suggests a voluntary – or what Potocnik calls ‘à la carte’ – membership of a three-stage process in pooling resources and expertise in defined key areas, such as ageing.

The member countries in each programme would set their long-term objectives; translate this into what is being called a strategic research agenda (SRA), when the objectives are matched to relevant expertise across Europe; and finally the implementation of the SRA, where public authorities in participating member states link their funding and research to the agreed objectives.

The moves are part of a five-step plan to build up the so-called European research area (ERA), which was first launched in 2000.

The commission hopes to have both plans endorsed by EU ministers at the December European council, with a view to having them operational in 2009.

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