MEPs call for more emphasis on Charter for Researchers in FP7

Brussels, 04 Oct 2006

The European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) adopted consultation reports on specific programmes under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) on 3 October, emphasising the importance of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. MEPs voted on reports on the People programme, which addresses human potential and scientific careers, the programme to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the specific programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

On the People programme, the committee adopted amendments calling for attention to measures to reconcile working and family life, including part-time fellowships, and calling for Member States to apply the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. MEPs also stated that the recommendations in the Charter and Code of Conduct should be taken into account in the People programme.

Published by the European Commission in March 2005, the Charter and Code of Conduct are considered to be key initiatives in the EU's policy to help increase the number of researchers in Europe, and to stimulate economic and employment growth. While the Charter addresses the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers and their employers or funding organisations, the Code seeks to improve recruitment, to make selection procedures fairer and more transparent, and proposes different means of judging merit.

'The aim is to provide a level playing field for European research and to give individual researchers the same rights and obligations wherever they work throughout the EU,' EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik has previously told CORDIS News.

MEPs also adopted an amendment stating that it is necessary to start implementing measures to harmonise tax regimes for researchers in order to promote the mobility of researchers within the EU.

The committee will vote on reports on the Ideas, Capacities and Cooperation programmes on 10 OctoberFor further information on the Seventh Framework Programme, please visit:
http:///cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home.html

Cordis
Item source