Call for expression of interest in membership of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency

Call For Interest Published 08 Apr 2004

This call is addressed to scientists wishing to be considered for membership of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency (EEA) established by the Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 (1) as amended by Council Regulations (EC) No 933/1999 of 29 April 1999 and No 641/2003 of 22 July 2003. The Agency is located in Copenhagen.

The Scientific Committee assists the EEA Management Board and the Executive Director in providing scientific advice and delivering professional opinion on any scientific matter in the areas of work undertaken by the Agency.

The European Environment Agency

The EEA main objective is to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the public.

The Agency both gathers and distributes its data and information through the European environment information and observation network (Eionet). Eionet is a collaborative network of the EEA and its 31 member countries, connecting National Focal Points (NFPs) in the EU and third countries, including accession countries, European Topic Centres (ETCs), National Reference Centres (NRCs).

The work of the Agency includes collecting and analysing shared environmental data from the European Commission services, EEA member countries, international organisations, conventions and agreements, producing policy relevant advice and making this information widely available.

The role of the EEA Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee (SC) assists the EEA Management Board and the Executive Director in providing scientific advice and delivering professional opinion on any scientific matter in the areas of work undertaken by the Agency.

The EEA Scientific Committee was set up by Article 10 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network (Eionet). The functions of the SC include: delivering an opinion on the multiannual and annual work-programmes, on the recruitment of scientific staff, and on any scientific matter concerning the EEA's activities.

The below fields are recognized to be currently needed in the expertise of the Scientific Committee, subject of the present call:

political science,
monitoring systems based on spatial application,
chemicals,
energy and environment.

Composition of the EEA Scientific Committee

The EEA Scientific Committee is composed of independent scientists from EEA member-countries, covering all environmental fields relevant for the Agency's areas of activity. The SC members are identified through an open selection process. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Scientific Committee are elected from amongst its own members.

The number of members in the Scientific Committee shall not exceed 20 experts.

Attending meetings

Members should be prepared to attend meetings of the Scientific Committee on a regular basis - at least three times per year. Meetings of the Scientific Committee shall normally be held at the Agency's venue.

The members of the Scientific Committee are not to be remunerated but will be entitled to an indemnity for each full day meeting. Members will also receive travel and subsistence allowance in accordance with the scales laid down by the Agency's Regulations. The chairman and rapporteurs are entitled to an indemnity to defray costs related to the coordination of draft opinions.

Eligibility

Applicants for Scientific Committee members in the above areas must have:

a university degree in a relevant scientific area, preferably at postgraduate level,
at least 10 years' professional experience at a level to which the qualifications give admission,
be a national of one of the member-countries of the EEA.

Selection criteria

Preference will be given to applicants who posses:

experience in carrying out scientific assessments and/or providing scientific advice in the required areas of competence and expertise,
experience in peer reviewing scientific work and publications, preferably related to the fields of interest of EEA,
ability to analyse complex information and dossiers and to prepare draft scientific opinions and reports,
ability in quality assurance process,
proven scientific excellence in the area covered by the applicant,
professional experience in a multidisciplinary environment, preferably in an international context.

Good knowledge of English would be an asset. An ability to use modern, electronic means of document exchange and communications would be an advantage, given the Agency's intention to make best use of these techniques.

Independence and declarations of interest

The members of the Scientific Committee will be appointed on a personal basis. Applicants will be required to declare that they will undertake to act independently and outside any influence in the work of the Scientific Committee.

Selection process, appointment and term

Applications meeting the eligibility requirements will be submitted to a comparative evaluation carried out by the Agency on the basis of the selection criteria given above.

The Executive Director can call on a panel to assess the professional experience of applicants.

Applicants meeting the requirements for membership but who are not designated may be invited to be placed on a reserve list in case vacancies occur.

The office is for a four years term, renewable once.

Equal opportunity

The Agency applies the EU policy of equality between men and women and well-balanced geographical representation in the Scientific Committee across the EEA member-countries.

Application procedure

The Agency encourages the submission of applications by e-mail. However, applications sent by post will be accepted.

Interested candidates should mail a letter of interest together with a detailed curriculum vitae, containing a list of the applicant's scientific publications, preferably in English.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to: sc.com.call04@eea.eu.int, or by post to the following address:

Human resource management group/SC.com.call04
European Environment Agency
Kongens Nytorv 6
DK-1050 Copenhagen K

Supporting documents may be requested at a later stage.

All applications will be treated as confidential.

Closing date

Applications should be sent by e-mail to: sc.com.call04@eea.eu.int, or by post to the above address not later than 14 May 2004.

The Agency reserves the right to disregard any expressions of interest sent after that date.

Language versions

Links to language versions ( PDF document), as published in Official Journal C 88 Volume 47 8 April 2004