Press Release: A step ahead for research: Commission welcomes the Council’s agreement of a legal framework for European research infrastructures

The European Commission welcomed the agreement reached on the 29 May 2009, by the Council of the European Union, on its proposal for a regulation for a community legal framework for European Research Infrastructures consortium (ERIC).

The regulation will make it easier to set up European Research Infrastructures, such as cutting edge installations to test technologies for carbon dioxide capture and storage, data banks in genomics or state of the art large super computers. The proposal was made in response to requests from Member States, who wish to jointly develop world-class research facilities in Europe and were missing a common and ready-to-use legal vehicle. This tailor-made legal framework defines the criteria for a research infrastructure to qualify as an ERIC and their governing rules. Recognised European research infrastructures will be granted the status of international organisations, and the related advantages such as VAT exemption.