Researchers profession (Extract from: Background note for the Competitiveness Council of 10 Nov.)

Brussels, 07 Nov 2003

The Council will hold an exchange of views on the Commission Communication entitled "Researchers in ERA: one profession, multiple careers" and will be called to adopt a draft Resolution on "Profession and the career of researchers within the European Research Area".

The most important points addressed on the draft Resolution are:

• The welcome given to the Commission's intention to work towards the development of a "European Researcher's Charter" and a code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers.

• The initiative to launch a European Year of Researchers to strengthen the public recognition of the profession of researchers and careers in R&D.

• The Commission and Member States are invited to undertake, on a voluntary basis, in particular through the implementation of the open method of co-ordination, as agreed by the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) a series of actions with a view to developing criteria for recording different professional achievements, exchanging good practice on the evaluation and appraisal systems for careers in R&D and removing other obstacles to a career in research or to mobility.

The Commission transmitted, on 25 September 2003, its communication entitled "Researchers in ERA: one profession, multiple careers". This communication is to be seen in the overall context of the Lisbon (2000) goal for the European Union to become the most competitive knowledge-based society by 2010 and the subsequent Barcelona (2002) "3% objective" for the overall R&D funding in the Union to approach 3% of GDP by 2010, as well as the creation of the "European Research Area" (ERA) to contribute to these objectives. In this context it has been acknowledged, in particular, that the development of high level human resources is a key element for the attainment of these goals.

12420/03 RECH 141 14228/03 RECH 188

http:///ue.eu.int/pressData/en/intm/77852 .pdf