Press Release: Preparatory work underway for a European Research Council

The first meeting of the Identification Committee convened by the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik took place on 25 January 2005 to recommend the composition of the governing body of a future European Research Council. The Commissioner was keen to ensure that the European Research Council would remain scientifically independent, which is why he had asked Lord Patten, former European Commissioner for External Relations and current Chancellor of Oxford University, to chair a group of experienced and respected scientists to identify possible members of the governing body.