Expert committee to advise on SAM
The European Commission has announced the formation of an independent identification committee to assist in finalising the composition of the High Level Group of the new Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM).
Former UK Chief Scientific Advisor Sir David King, the chair of the Dutch Royal Young Academy of Sciences Rianne Letschert, and former European commissioner for justice and internal affairs António Vitorino, will provide their thoughts and recommendations to the EU institution as it selects the seven members of the SAM committee.
Commenting Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, who is holding a working lunch on Monday with the identification committee, said: “With the … committee in place, we are now looking to have the High Level Group of the new SAM set-up by autumn. I am delighted that we have such renowned experts to help us select the best people to give the European Commission high-quality, independent scientific advice.”
According to the Commission, King, Letschert and Vitorino have ‘expertise in a range of scientific disciplines and knowledge of EU policy making that will allow them to make an objective assessment of the needs for the membership of the High Level Group’.
The Identification Committee will assist in ‘defining the criteria and method for identifying members’ as well as ‘recommend potential candidates for selection’. The Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, announced the new SAM in May in order to provide the EU institution with ‘high quality, timely and independent scientific advice for its policy making activities’.
