Call for expression of interest in membership of the Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA

The EMCDDA Scientific Committee is set up by Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (as amended by regulation (EU) 2017/2101).

The task of the Scientific Committee is to assist the Management Board and the Director of the EMCDDA by delivering an opinion on any scientific matter concerning the Centre's activity which the Management Board or the Director may submit to it.

In addition, the risk assessment of new psychoactive substances is carried out by the Scientific Committee, in accordance with Article 5c of Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 (as amended by regulation (EU) 2017/2101). In carrying out the risk assessment of new psychoactive substances, the Scientific Committee (extended, as required) needs to be able to assess public health and social risks posed by new psychoactive substances.

The rules applicable to the EMCDDA Scientific Committee require that its members are nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or of a Country which has concluded an agreement with the latter for the purpose of the participation in the work of the EMCDDA. This requirement is a condition of eligibility for the selection and the appointment of the members of the EMCDDA Scientific Committee. If this condition is not met, this will determine the exclusion of the concerned person from the selection process and/or the termination of his/her appointment as member of the EMCDDA Scientific Committee, from the moment when the above referred condition is not met.

With regard to the above, and by taking into account the on-going process concerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU (Brexit), United Kingdom’s nationals will no longer satisfy this condition as of the date of this withdrawal, to be determined in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union (TFEU). However, if at this date the Agreement to be concluded between the EU and the UK on this withdrawal (Withdrawal Agreement, as endorsed by the European Council on 25 November 2018) enters into force, United Kingdom’s nationals will be considered to meet the aforementioned condition of nationality during the transition period established by this Agreement.

The Scientific Committee consists of, at most, 15 well-known scientists appointed by the Management Board in view of their scientific excellence and their independence. The members of the Scientific Committee shall be appointed for a three-year period, which shall be renewable, in a personal capacity and shall give their opinions completely independently of the Member States and the European Union Institutions. They shall possess proven scientific excellence, both in terms of experience and expertise, in relation to the fields of the mandate of the EMCDDA, namely:

1. Basic biological, neurobiological and behavioural research (including aetiological and addictive behaviour research, pharmacology and toxicology);
2. Population-based research and epidemiology (including surveys and ethnographic studies);
3. Demand reduction (including prevention, treatment, harm reduction and reintegration);
4. Supply, supply reduction and crime;
5. Drug policy (including laws, economic issues and strategies).

Meetings of the Scientific Committee are generally held twice a year at the EMCDDA premises in Lisbon. The vehicular working language of the Scientific Committee is English. Members are expected to attend these meetings, as well as risk assessment meetings in accordance with Article 5c of Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 (as amended by regulation (EU) 2017/2101). If a member does not attend two consecutive regular Scientific Committee meetings, the membership may be withdrawn.

Members of the Scientific Committee will be entitled to an indemnity for each meeting day. Members will also receive travel and subsistence allowance in accordance with the EMCDDA’s policy for the reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses.

Upon appointment, each member of the EMCDDA Scientific Committee shall sign a declaration of independence in relation to the performance of his/her duties in and for this body and shall fill in and sign a written declaration of interest covering current and past interests up to five years before the date of the declaration. These declarations will be made available for public scrutiny on the EMCDDA website, with due respect to EU rules on protection of personal data.

1. Please read carefully the complete information on this call:

• Announcement/notice and corrigendum
• Procedures and arrangements for the selection and appointment of the members of the Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA
• Privacy Statement on personal data protection for the selection and appointment of EMCDDA Scientific Committee members

2. Fill in the application form

3. Write a short introduction letter, stating your interest in membership in the EMCDDA Scientific Committee

4. Send the filled-in application form and the short introduction letter to SciCom19@emcdda.europa.eu

Closing date
The closing date for submission of applications is 24.05.2019 at 23.59, Lisbon time (date and hour of e-mail). The EMCDDA reserves the right to disregard any expressions of interest sent after that date.