mission
composition
procedure
voting
invitations

aaa
WHEREAS computer communications networks and the services provided through them have become indispensable tools in all areas of technology, research and higher education;

WHEREAS these research networks are key to the development of the Information Highways that are at the heart of the Information Society;

WHEREAS at the national level the availability of these research networks is the responsibility of governments and their agencies;

WHEREAS national organisations have been established for the professional provision of research networking services;

WHEREAS - while national issues in research networking are to be addressed at the national level - at the European level the European Communities have a policy and co-funding responsibility and DANTE has been established as an operational unit of national research networking organisations;

WHEREAS Trans-European research networking services should be available to the national networks with a sharing of costs on an equitable basis;

WHEREAS such international services are provided for research and education but may be made available to other users provided that market distortion is prevented;

WHEREAS the ongoing and accelerating development of these research networks entails issues of an international organisational, financial and legal nature that require co-ordination of the policies of the responsible authorities and interaction with industry;

THE SIGNATORIES to this Memorandum of Understanding,

BEING the national authorities or agencies responsible for the development of policy and funding for research networking in their countries,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Mission:

1.

The signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding will collaborate on European research networking issues and co-ordinate national policies on research networks and services. They will enter into regular consultations in order to monitor, promote and accelerate the development and the expansion of research networking throughout Europe and with other continents.

2.

To facilitate this collaboration and co-ordination, the signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding establish a European Group for Policy Co-ordination for Academic and Industrial Research Networking.

3.

The Group will conduct or organise consultations and the exchange of information between national authorities or agencies, the European Commission and other relevant bodies in order to co-ordinate policies on research networking in the European and intercontinental context.

4.

The Group will liase and interact with industry, and with national and international research networking organisations.

5.

The Group will offer information and advice on research networking policy to national authorities or agencies, the European Commission and other relevant bodies.

6.

The Group may organise or support studies, workshops and seminars that contribute to the formulation and co-ordination of policies on research networking.

Composition:

7.

Each signatory will nominate in writing a high-level official as their Representative in the Group. Each Representative will nominate an alternate from his own organisation.

8.

Procedures:

9.

The Group will meet at least twice a year.
The Group will adopt its Rules of Procedure.

10.

The Representatives will elect from their number a Chairman and two Vice-chairmen for a renewable period of office of two years.

11.

Each signatory to this Memorandum of Understanding will carry the costs of their representation in meetings of the Group.

12.

The Group will seek one or more appropriate legal entities in order to handle any contractual or financial matters on its behalf.

Voting:

13.

In the meetings of the Group each Representative will have one vote.

14.

The Group will decide by a two-thirds majority of those voting except where otherwise required by this Memorandum of Understanding.

15.

The quorum requires that two-thirds of the Representatives be present.

16.

Any decision that will involve direct and unavoidable financial consequences for one or more of the signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding can be taken only with the agreement of their Representatives.

17.

Unanimity of the Representatives is required on inviting and accepting new signatories.

Invitations to Sign:

18.

Invitations to become signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding are extended to the relevant national authorities of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

19.

Whenever appropriate, national authorities or agencies that are responsible for the development of national policy and funding for research networking in other countries in Europe and that can make a substantial contribution to the objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding, will be invited to become signatories to this Memorandum of Understanding.

20.

There shall be only one signatory to this Memorandum of Understanding per country.

21.

Signatories may withdraw from this Memorandum of Understanding by giving two months notice in writing to all other signatories.

Top

Home
Documents: About ENPG • Reports of Meetings • MoU • more documents...
Contacts: ENPG chairman • Secretariat
Links: password protected part • DANTE • TERENA • CORDIS