STATUTORY BASIS AND TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY SESSION OF COUNCIL
The European Strategy Session of Council is set up on the basis of the texts and decisions outlined below:
- Article II 2b) of the Convention for the Establishment of a European Organization for Nuclear Research;
- Articles 11 and 12 of the “European Strategy for Particle Physics” adopted by the CERN Council in July 2006 (CERN-Council-S/002);
- The organisational structure for the implementation of Articles 11 and 12 of the “European Strategy for Particle Physics” adopted by the CERN Council in September 2007 (CERN/2732/Rev.) and March 2008 (CERN/2779).
Convention for the Establishment of a European Organization for NuclearResearch
Paris, 1st July, 1953
Ratified by the 20 CERN Member States.
Article II-1 and 2
1.The Organization shall provide for collaboration among European States in nuclear research of a pure scientific and fundamental character, and in research essentially related thereto. The Organization shall have no concern with work for military requirements and the results ofits experimental and theoretical work shall be published or otherwise made generally availble.
2. The Organization shall, in the collaboration referred to in paragraph 1 above, confine its activities to the following:
(a) the construction and operation of one or more international laboratories (hereinafter referred to as "the Laboratories ") for research on high energy particles, including work in the field of cosmic rays
[…]
(b) the organization and sponsoring of international co-operation in nuclear research, including co-operation outside the Laboratories; this co-operation may include in particular:
(i) work in the field of theoretical nuclear physics;
(ii) the promotion of contacts between, and the interchange of, scientists, the dissemination of information, and the provision of advanced training for research workers;
(iii) collaborating with and advising other research institutions;
(iv) work in the field of cosmic rays.
The "European Strategy for Particle Physics" (CERN-Council-S/002)
Unanimously adopted by the CERN Council at its special session in Lisbon the 14 July 2006
Article 11
There is a fundamental need for an ongoing process to define and update the European strategy for particle physics; Council, under Article II-2(b) of the CERN Convention, shall assume this responsibility, acting as a council for European particle physics, holding a special session at least once each year for this purpose. Council will define and update the strategy based on proposalsand observations from a dedicated scientific body that it shall establish for this purpose.
Article 12
Future major facilities in Europe and elsewhere require collaborations on a global scale; Council, drawing on the European experience in the successful construction and operation of large-scale facilities, will prepare a framework for Europe to engage with the other regions of the world with the goal of optimizing the particle physics output through the best shared use of resources while maintaining European capabilities.
The organizational structure for the implementation of Articles 11 and 12 of the "European Strategy for Particle Physics" (CERN/2732/Rev. and CERN/2779)*
*(Note that the Council Strategy Commission, CSC, referred to in CERN/2732/Rev., was replaced by a Secretariat led by the Scientific Secretary (cf. CERN/2779).
Unanimously adopted by the CERN Council on the 20 September 2007 and on 13 March 2008 respectively.
The European Strategy Sessions of Council
Remit
The purpose of these Sessions would be to fulfil the new functions that Council took upon itself when adopting the European Strategy for Particle Physics, namely to update the Strategy and to follow up its implementation.
Update the Strategy
At appropriate intervals, at most every 5 years, the European Strategy Session of Council will re-enact the process aimed at updating the medium and long-term European Strategy for Particle Physics, by setting up a Working Group, the European Strategy Group (ESG), similar to the Strategy Group in 2005/2006. The ESG will be a Working Group of Council which will cease to exist each time Council has adopted the new medium and long-term Strategy.
Follow up its implementation
To enhance the networking and coordination between all the actors in European particle physics by providing a forum for dialogue and interaction between the representatives of the Member States;
to make recommendations to the Member States with a view to harmonising the national and supra-national programmes in the context of the implementation of the European Strategy for Particle Physics;
in accordance with Statement 12 of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, to provide the framework for Europe to engage with the other regions of the world with a view to optimising particle physics output through the best shared use of resources, while at the same time maintaining European capabilities.
Sessions
European Strategy Sessions of Council shall be held at least once a year, in general during a normal Council week.
When considering the report from the European Strategy Group, the European Strategy Session of Council can be held at ministerial level.
Proposals will be prepared and submitted by the Secretariat for decision by the Council.
To ensure that Europe speaks with a single voice in discussions and negotiations with the other regions, the European Strategy Session of Council appoints the European delegations for such negotiations and approves the guidelines for the discussions and negotiations with the other regions.
Composition
Each Member State is represented by not more than two delegates who may be accompanied by advisers.
The President of the CERN Council also chairs the European Strategy Session.
The Director General of CERN attends the European Strategy Session of Council in an ex-officio capacity.
The Scientific Secretary, the chairpersons of FC, SPC, ECFA and one representative of the Directors of the European national laboratories attend the European Strategy Session of Council in an ex-officio capacity.
A representative from each European delegation in forums for discussions and negotiations with other regions attend the European Strategy Session of Council in an ex-officio capacity.
The Scientific Secretary is the secretary of the European Strategy Session of Council.
The European Observer States and the Associate States are invited to attend the European Strategy Session of Council as observers.
The Secretariat of the European Strategy Sessions
The European Strategy Sessions of Council are prepared by a Secretariat led by a Scientific Secretary, and in agreement with the President of the CERN Council.
The Scientific Secretary reports directly and exclusively to, and act as the Secretary of, the European Strategy Session of Council. The Scientific Secretary is appointed by the European Strategy Session of Council, for a period of three years renewable once.
The Secretariat comprises: The Scientific Secretary, the SPC Chair, the ECFA Chair, and the representative of the European Laboratory Directors' meeting elected by the latter to attend the European Strategy Sessions.
The CERN Director-General is closely associated with the Secretariat's work.
The European Strategy Group: a Working Group of the European Strategy Session
At appropriate intervals, at most every 5 years, the European Strategy Session of Council will re-enact the process aimed at updating the medium and long-term European Strategy for Particle Physics, by setting up a Working Group, the European Strategy Group (ESG), similar to the Strategy Group in 2005/2006. The ESG will be a Working Group of Council which will cease to exist each time Council has adopted the new medium and long-term Strategy.
Remit
The remit of the ESG is to establish a proposal for the European Strategy Session of Council to update the medium and long-term European Strategy for Particle Physics.
Composition
The members of the ESG are appointed by Council at its European Strategy Session. It is composed of delegates from the CERN Member States, the Director-General of CERN and the Directors of the major European laboratories.
In the run-up to the five-yearly meeting of the ESG, an ad hoc Preparatory Group will be formed, which comprises four members nominated by the SPC, four members nominated by ECFA and the four members of the Secretariat. The members of this Preparatory Group will also be members of the ESG.
The ESG is chaired by the Scientific Secretary.