Recently, the EU Commission endorsed Commissioner Moedas' recommendation to set up a mechanism for the “best possible evidence-based policy”, coordinated by a group of high-level independent scientists and an in house Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) group.

Dr Mark Downs FSB, chief executive of the Society of Biology said:
“We would welcome plans from the EU Commission to set up a transparent, efficient and independent mechanism to ensure that scientific evidence is effectively communicated to the heart of EU policy making.

"Science advice remains vital for the development of evidence-based resilient policy decisions that will meet the needs of the European people and address societal challenges.

"Ensuring that the repository of knowledge within the National academies and learned societies is channelled and available to this proposed process will be fundamental to its success.”

After the mandate of the Chief Scientific Advisor Prof Anne Glover came to an end last year, scientists across Europe urged EU President Juncker to maintain this post in order to provide the best route for independent expert advice on any aspect of science, technology and innovation to reach the EU President.

“We are delighted to hear that the EU President now clearly recognises the necessity and value of scientific advice”, Professor Dr Bernd Müller-Röber, president of the German Life Science Association (VBIO) said.

“The idea that the EU Commission was going to make very long-term policy decisions, without considering scientific evidence, was very difficult to understand for many scientists.”

VBIO is now hoping for a quick implementation and a smart as well as transparent selection of high-level scientists for the proposed expert panel.

Read more on the VBIO website.