European Research Infrastructure Consortium ERIC: legal framework

The Council held an exchange of views on a draft Regulation on a Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure (ERI). It decided to return to the draft during the next Presidency.

The exchange of views focused mainly on the legal status which ERIs should have and on the possibility of applying tax exemption schemes to them.

At its meeting on 30 May 2008, the Council referred to the need to develop research infrastructures at European level based, inter alia, on effective coordination and an appropriate legal framework.

Ministers also discussed the major research infrastructures and, more particularly, the implementation of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) list, regarding which they acknowledged the added value contributed by the relevant Working Party.