ECORD Council #10 - Summary / Brussels, 27 February 2007

This extraordinary meeting of the ECORD Council was scheduled to discuss the financial situation and strategies for funding, the ECORD review report, and the response to the EC Green Paper “Towards a Future Marine Policy for the Union”. It was hosted by the CNRS Office in Brussels.

ESO reported on the situation for the New Jersey Shallow Shelf expedition, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2007. The platform selected by ESO was unfortunately involved in an accident last December and will not be available this summer. A larger platform was offered to ESO, however it will be more expensive. The ECORD council approved the additional funds requested by ESO to contract this new platform.

The Great Barrier Reef is the next MSP expedition likely to be implemented by ESO.  ESO organized a visit to Australia to meet with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park authorities as a first step. The provisional schedule for the GBR expedition is September-November weather window of 2008.

EMA reported on the funding situation within ECORD and IODP and the possible consequences on the drilling operations. EMA was tasked to organize a meeting with the Lead Agencies before the next ECORD Council meeting, to discuss the general funding situation of the program.
As part as its outreach activities, EMA is organizing an IODP booth at the next EGU meeting in Vienna, April 16-20, in coordination with IODP-MI. A joint IODP-ICDP townhall meeting is scheduled on April 17th.

ESSAC reported on the status of the new “Summer Schools” and  “Distinguished Lecture Programme” funded programmes.
The two summer schools are now advertised :

For the Distinguished Lecture Programme, three lecturers have been selected for each of IODP major themes:

Universities are now encouraged to apply to host a lecture. Universities/institutes from non ECORD European countries are encouraged to apply.

The ECORD review report is now finalized and printed and, besides ECORD, has been distributed to the Lead Agencies and IODP-MI, and to the European Commission. The general outcome is very positive. However, the Council is willing  to consider very seriously the few issues identified by the review committee. The Council reviewed and discussed all the statements, conclusions and recommendations of the report. It decided to write a written response, and to take action when appropriate. A subgroup of the ECORD Council, together with the EMA Director and the ESSAC Chair, is tasked to prepare this response for the next Council meeting.

Soeren Dürr  reported on a meeting of the Deep Seafloor Frontier Steering Committee, which took place in Brussels. The DSF foresight paper is being finalized and will be published by the European Commission. Meanwhile, the Steering Committee is getting organized to submit a proposal to the FP7 call for a coordination action. The maximum level of funding for this project will be 1.2 M€ over three years, to support workshops. ECORD will be involved in this proposal, but not as a leader.

Strategies for funding within FP7
The current ECORD-net is ending at the end of 2007. Soeren Dürr and Catherine Mével reported on a meeting they attended at the European Commission on February 9th, to explore all funding opportunities. It will be possible to resubmit an ERAnet proposal within FP7, or to request  an ERAnet + to support ECORD. ECORD is considered by the Commission as one of the three pillars of the Deep Seafloor Frontier initiative, together with HERMES and ESOnet. It is only during the second half of FP7 that the DSF may be fully funded. Meanwhile, it is important that these three pillars continue to be active. The council decided to aim for an ERAnet +. The work programme for the FP7 call in 2008 is being elaborated by the programme committee. It is important to make sure that ECORD is mentioned is the call. Representatives of the ECORD council will meet key individuals in Brussels.

ECORD response to the Green Paper published by the EC "Towards a future maritime policy for the Union: a European vision for the oceans and seas"
The Green paper is now out and all relevant bodies are asked for comments.
The Marine Board has initiated a process to coordinate a response to the Green Paper. ECORD  has offered to be involved. The Marine Board has already prepared a long document, and a short version will be circulated for comments. The council feels that it is important to use this opportunity. The council tasked a subgroup to prepare a written answer to the Green Paper

The Green Paper will be launched at the EurOcean 2007 meeting, June 22, scheduled in association with the 18-21 June Oceans 2007 conference in Aberdeen. It will be important for ECORD to be represented.

Next Council meeting: Den Haag, The Netherlands, 7-8 June 2007.

Participants
ECORD Council members
Reinhard Belocky
Austria
Jean Pierre Henriet Belgium
Ulla Hansen Denmark
Eija Kanto Finland
Elisabeth Köhler (alternate) France
Sören B. Dürr (Executive, Chair) Germany
Xavier Monteys (alternate) Ireland
Nigel Wardell (alternate) Italy
Raymond M. L. Schorno (vice-Chair)
Netherlands
Annik M. Myhre (alternate) Norway
Severino Falcón Morales (alternate) Spain
Jonas Björck (alternate)
Sweden
Marcel Kullin (vice-Chair) Switzerland
Chris J. Franklin U.K.
Observers
Catherine Mével EMA
Patricia Maruéjol
Dan Evans ESO
Amelie Winkler
ECORD-Net
Stefan Winkler-Nees
Alan Edwards E.C.
John Ludden BGS
Saskia Matheussen NWO
Bernard Avril ESF


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