BBC News - Researchers ’appalled’ as EU chief scientist role is axed
▻http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30037531
“I am appalled at the abolition of the CSA post,” said Prof Nigel Brown, president of the Society for General Microbiology.
“Many of the major challenges facing Europe - climate change, food security, healthy ageing, disease control - require scientific input to policy at the very highest level. This is disastrously short-sighted.”
Some British members of the European Parliament were angry about the closing of the post, when they believed they had received assurances from the incoming President that the role would be preserved.
“I am deeply disappointed by this news. I wait to hear the details but on the face of it this looks like a complete volte face by Mr Juncker,” said Julie Girling, Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar.
“I fear Mr Juncker has caved in to the green lobby.”
Environmental groups though were keen to stress that the closing of the post wasn’t a victory for them. They argue that the EU already has a formal system in place gathering evidence and assessing risks. They believe the CSA role distorted the process.
They pointed to a dispute over endocrine disrupting chemicals, so called gender-benders. According to campaigners, the involvement of the CSA added to confusion over the role of these agents.
“Scrapping the CSA post was about the integrity of science advice, the clarity and independence and it’s about getting the science right,” said Doug Parr from Greenpeace.
“Those critical of the decision are misunderstanding what’s going on in Brussels - they think that somehow a CSA equals integrity of the scientific process and good advice, I don’t think it does.”
Greenpeace share concerns with other researchers that the row may damage the overall role of science within Europe.
It remains unclear as to what President Juncker will now do, though there are rumours he may appoint advisors across five key areas of policy.
This might lead, according to Prof Alberto Alemanno, from HEC Paris, to a broader definition of what science means.
“We only had the chief scientist represent the hard sciences, but not the social sciences,” he said.
“If we are going to have five policy areas perhaps we will adopt a broader perspective towards the sciences, it is also possible to interpret the Juncker decision in a more positive way.”