Doc. 8412
10 May 1999

Co-operation in the standardisation of evaluation systems in science and research in central and eastern Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Matějů and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly is aware of the importance of science and technology for the further development of countries of central and eastern Europe and for their full integration into the community of advanced European countries.

2.       Important conditions for research in these countries are not only ensuring an adequate budget for science, research and development but also the adoption of internationally agreed criteria for the assessment and evaluation of research proposals and of the scientific production of individual scholars and institutions.

3.       Assessment and evaluations of scientists, researchers as well as institutions in former communist countries using peer review was not the normal process used in allocating resources. Though the political situation has changed significantly and many formally objective measures have been adopted, it is necessary to ensure that well developed, transparent, universal and widely accepted systems of criteria for evaluations in science and research are established in these countries.

4.       Scholars, researchers as well as institutions from transition countries will increasingly need to compete for funding of their research proposals in national and international science schemes (for example, the European Commission’s Framework Programme and the activities of the European Science Foundation).

5.       In order to promote opportunities for scientists, researchers and research institutions from transition countries in international competitions, the Assembly calls on member states with proven assessment/evaluation systems:

i.       to provide assistance to new member states in their efforts to adopt international criteria of assessment and evaluation in science and research and to monitor their applications in the most significant national science foundations and grant agencies;

ii.       to urge new member states to ensure that when peer review is operated by the most significant national science foundations and grant agencies in transition countries, the use of both domestic and foreign reviewers for the assessment and evaluation of submitted research proposals is a sine qua non;

iii.       to urge researchers as well as research institutions from Western Europe to willingly accept requests for peer reviews of research proposals, important publications, etc, and in doing so to apply the same standards that they use in peer reviews requested by prestigious international journals and their own national science funding agencies;

iv.       to urge new member states to choose members of committees of the most significant national and international science foundations and grant agencies from the most competent, respected and productive scientists and researchers;

v.       to urge new member states to consult international science organizations and national agencies in Western Europe for advice as to those scientists and researchers who meet the highest standards of performance in their fields to act as reviewers;

vi.       to monitor the process of building an internationally acceptable system of assessment and evaluation in science and research, particularly in new member states, where although formal new procedures have been adopted some residues of corrupted criteria from the past, false collegiality and biased selection of reviewers may still be present.

Signed : ¹

Mateju, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

Barsony, Hungary, SOC

Bartoš. Czech Republic, EDG

Begaj, Albania, SOC

Behrendt, Germany, SOC

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Borowski, Poland, SOC

Dokle, Albania, SOC

Gelderblom-Lankhout, Netherlands, LDR

Gligoroski, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", EPP/CD

Glotov, Russia, UEL

Gusenbauer, Austria, SOC

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group