JRC Ispra and "Dieselgate"
Read the full article (Nature)
On the same topic:
Article from the Italian press (Corriere della Sera)
Article from VareseNews
Article from El Mundo
In our opinion this underlines once again the importance of the independence of our laboratories at the JRC.
R&D analysis of the FP7 ex-post evaluation
The DG of the JRC Mr Sucha has invited staff representatives
and Trade Unions to comment on the findings of the “Ex-post evaluation of
the direct actions of the Joint Research Centre under the seventh
framework programme 2007-2013” (Cunningham
Report).
Despite an extremely tight deadline (four working days..)
R&D has analysed the report and formulated a series of 10 Priority Actions,
which had been proposed to the Management in occasion of today’s Directoire
Meeting.
Although we are
aware such a work would require a larger and longer consultation, we accepted
the challenge launched by the DG. Thanks to the work already anticipated by the
thematic R&D groups, and thanks to the joint effort of the R&D
committee, we believe that the analysis made and the action proposed are in
line with our hearts and brains.
Times are difficult and courage and leadership are
scarce and limited resources in the JRC.
R&D embraces its societal responsibility as trade
union carrying the Renewal and Development in its name. Based on these two
principles, we proactively promote a culture open to change and
innovation, while protecting at the same time staff individual rights in
all relevant areas.
Please participate in this process and make your
voices heard!
Hearsay regarding transfer of activities
Announcements in a chatroom cannot substitute real dialogue in the light of major changes dramatically affecting many of our colleagues!
******
Mr Sucha's reply of 17th September.
******
NEW!!!!!!
Our new letter of 24th September on the subject.
Visit of VP Georgieva to Ispra
As staff representatives we explained to the VP
that, following the outcome of the Staff Satisfaction Survey, particular
attention should be given to “career” and “well-being”.
Specifically, the LSC delegation put forward several concrete ideas to the VP. As the JRC is a very complex DG spread over six sites, having staff naturally predisposed towards innovation, it may provide an ideal environment to become a social and organisational test-bed for the whole Commission to promote innovative and creative solutions in favour of improved well-being and productivity. The LSC delegation advanced two proposals: the “Mobility Market” (i.e., easier staff mobility as a normal practice by means of new rules and tools) and the provision of tools such as cloud storage or Connected to be made available and accessible to all staff anytime/everywhere. The LSC President stressed that too often (cyber)security, safety and data protection are used as insurmountable excuses to block otherwise desirable initiatives: flexibility requires an assumption of responsibility, and sometimes it's much more convenient to simply apply rules in a very restrictive way. This overly strict interpretation of rules often brings to inadequate implementation of IT tools causing inaccessibility - or difficult/limited access - from locations other than a desktop Commission PC.
In addition, the LSC President advanced the
request to support – under the umbrella of the Fit@work programme the VP
launched earlier in May – the construction of a new multipurpose Sports Hall to
replace the current very inadequate and obsolete tensostructure.
It was also
mentioned that, following an explicit request of our Director General, the LSC
is collecting ideas to increase the Ispra site attractiveness - feel
free to send us your own ideas: our staff representatives will bring them
to the attention of the LSC!
Overall, also thanks to the very constructive
dialogue of your staff representatives, we believe that the VP left Ispra with
a good impression of the JRC, its staff, and its activities.
STAFF SURVEY 2014: ALARMING RESULTS
The "Staff Satisfaction Survey
2014" results are more than worrying and confirm the profound demotivation
of the colleagues and the deterioration of the atmosphere within the services. The
message sent by the staff is crystal clear and unambiguous: our institution must
completely change its methods and practices.
R&D invites you to know more and
discuss the results on
Monday 08
June 2015
12.45 -14.30
IHCP room –
101/1302
Videolink with Brussels and other
sites
During the conference Mr Jerome
Maybon (Executive Partner at Agility-Board)
will provide his analysis of the Staff Survey 2014.
New Mechanism For Independent Scientific Advice - and the JRC?
Today Commissioner Moedas announced in a Press Conference about the new mechanism for independent scientific advice in the European Commission.
In an information note addressed to the College of Commissioners - written in agreement with the President and the first Vice-President - he states that ... the new scientific advice mechanism will receive operational support from DG Research and Innovation as the lead service, who will ensure close collaboration with other Commission services, including the Secretariat General, the European Political Strategy Centre, the Joint Research Centre, and those services responsible for existing specialist scientific advisory bodies.
On the same topic, see also the inputs given by Anne Glover and our Director General on Future Directions for Scientific Advice in Europe and the analysis given by ScienceInsider.
R&D has been following the debate that has been going on inside the Commission since the abolition of the Chief Scientific Adviser role last year (see our previous letters sent to his attention).
We are working on our position and welcome any comments you may have on this very important and sensitive topic.
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