How we work

The Council is EASAC's governing body.  A representative from each member academy sits on Council, though acting in their personal capacity.  Council sets EASAC's direction, agrees the initiation of projects, appoints members of project groups, reviews and approves reports for publication.  The Bureau (the President and Vice-Presidents) is responsible for taking operational decisions between the six-monthly meetings of the Council.

Central to the success of EASAC is close contact with the target policy-making parts of the EU - Parliament, Council and Commission - and familiarity with current policy developments, as well, of course, as expertise in the relevant science. In order to facilitate this, we establish small 'strategy networks'. The role of these groups is to advise EASAC about potential projects and to help build relations with key people within the EU. Each group is supported by experienced staff.

The networks' role is to identify opportunities and create openings. When a project has been developed and approved by the EASAC Council, a specific working group is appointed to carry it out; working groups are dissolved when the project is complete.

Reports are written by working groups whose members are nominated by the academies.  The experts selected to participate are chosen solely on their field and level of expertise and experience.