Commission Decision of 12 May 2021 establishing the European Research Council for Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and innovation and repealing Decision C(2013)8915 2021/C 234 I/03

The European Research Council (‘ERC’) is established for the period from 12 May 2021 to 31 December 2027.

1 The Scientific Council shall be composed of the president of the ERC (‘ERC President’) and 21 other members. The 21 persons listed in Annex I are appointed as the other members of the Scientific Council for the term of office laid down therein.

2 Members shall carry out their tasks independently of any outside influence. They shall inform the Commission immediately of any conflict of interests which might undermine their objectivity.

3 Members shall be appointed for a term up to four years, renewable once. A member may be appointed for a period of less than the maximum term to allow a staggered rotation of members.

4 In duly justified cases, in order to maintain the integrity or continuity of the Scientific Council, the Commission may terminate the term of a member on its own initiative.

5 Where a member resigns or his/her term is terminated by the Commission, a new member shall be appointed. In the case of resignation or termination of the term of the ERC President, the Commission may appoint another member of the Scientific Council or a former ERC President as ERC President ad interim, for a limited period of time necessary for appointment of a new ERC President.

1 The Scientific Council shall adopt its rules of procedure, as well as a code of conduct on confidentiality, conflict of interest and processing of personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

2 The Scientific Council shall meet in plenary as required by its work. Summary minutes of the plenary meetings shall be published on the ERC’s website.

3 The chair may decide to hold meetings in closed session in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Scientific Council.

4 The Scientific Council may set up, from amongst its members, standing committees, working groups and other structures addressing specific tasks of the Scientific Council.

5 The preliminary positions of the Scientific Council set up by Decision C(2013) 8915 on the measures to be adopted in accordance with Article 9 of Decision 2021/764/EU shall be endorsed or rejected by the Scientific Council established under this Decision.

The Scientific Council and the dedicated implementation structure shall ensure coherence between the strategic and operational aspects of all the ERC’s activities. The ERC President, the vice-chairs of the Scientific Council and the Director of the dedicated implementation structure shall hold regular coordination meetings to ensure an effective cooperation.

1 The Commission and the dedicated implementation structure shall provide the Scientific Council with the documents, data and assistance necessary for its work allowing it to operate under conditions of autonomy and independence, in compliance with Regulation (EC) No 2018/1725.

2 Where documents and data or access to personal data cannot be provided for reasons related to the protection of personal data, confidentiality, security or public interest, the Commission or the dedicated implementation structure shall provide the Scientific Council with a written statement of those reasons, as well as any information on the topic in question that they consider possible to provide within the provisions of the regulations.

Rules on the honoraria for the tasks performed by Scientific Council members other than the ERC President and the reimbursement of their travel and subsistence expenses are set out in Annex II. Decision C(2013) 8915 is repealed.