L-użu ta’ esperti għall-evalwazzjoni tal-offerti
Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea taħtar esperti indipendneti u imparzjali biex jevalwaw proposti u jimmonitorjaw proġetti appoġġjati minn finanzjament tal-UE.
Pereżempju, fil-kuntest tal-Programm Orizzont 2020 il-Kummissjoni tippubblika lista annwali ta’ esperti (għalkemm ma tispeċifikax liema esperti ħadmu fuq liema proposti).
L-esperti jiġu offruti kuntratt li jiddefinixxi d-drittijiet, l-obbligi, it-termini u l-kundizzjonijiet, u huma ta’ spiss remunerati għas-servizzi tagħhom.
Kodiċi ta’ kondotta għall-esperti
Skont kull sejħa, l-esperti jistgħu jiġu rikjesti biex jiffirmaw dikjarazzjoni li huma se jirrispettaw il-kodiċi ta’ kondotta għall-esperti. Eżempju ta’ dikjarazzjoni simili jinsab fil-Portal tal-Parteċipanti, fl-Anness 1, il-kuntratt mudell għall-esperti.
Kunflitti ta’ interess
L-esperti għandhom jiddikjaraw li ma jeżisti ebda kunflitt ta’ interess u li huma se jinfurmaw lill-Kummissjoni jekk ikun hemm tali kunflitt matul il-qadi ta’ dmirijiethom.
Jekk ikun hemm bżonn, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea tista’ tirtira l-esperti mid-dmirijiet tagħhom ta’ evalwazzjoni jew monitoraġġ.
Eżempju ta’ x’jikkostitwixxi kunflitt ta’ interess jinsab fil-Manwal ta’ Orizzont 2020 fil-Portal tal-Parteċipanti. Ċerti sejħiet għall-esperti jista’ jkollhom regoli differenti. Nirrakkomandaw li tiċċekkja kull sejħa partikolari u r-regoli u l-kundizzjonijiet tagħha.
Sottomissjoni ta’ proposti meta taħdem bħala espert
Għal ċerti programmi u azzjonijiet (eż. Orizzont 2020) l-esperti jistgħu jissottomettu l-proposti ta’ riċerka tagħhom stess waqt li jagħmlu evalwazzjonijiet bħala esperti - sakemm ma jkun hemm ebda kunflitt ta’ interess. L-esperti mhux se jiġu mitluba jevalwaw il-proposta tagħhom stess jew kwalunkwe proposti oħrajn li jikkompetu magħha.
Responsabbiltà
Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea tista’ titlob lill-esperti biex jipprovdu rekords u dokumenti ta’ appoġġ bħala evidenza li l-kuntratt twettaq b’mod korrett u li kwalunkwe spejjeż ikklejmjati huma ġenwini.
Code of conduct for experts
According to each call, experts may be required to sign a declaration that states that they will abide by the code of conduct for experts. An example of such a declaration is available on the Participant Portal, in Annex 1, the model contract for experts.
Who can become an expert?
Experts are employed to assist in evaluating tenders and proposals, reviewing projects and monitoring programmes or policies. In order to be selected, experts must
- have a high level of expertise in their relevant fields
- be available for occasional, short-term assignments
- have good knowledge of English and French and/or German
- be able to use IT tools
Anyone can register their interest to become an expert, but please note that most experts selected will come from EU countries and associated countries.
The evaluation and review work may be carried out fully or partially at expert's home or place of work, or on the Commission premises.
Conflicts of interest
Experts must declare that no conflict of interest exists and that they will inform the Commission if any such conflict should arise in the course of their duties.
If necessary, the European Commission may withdraw experts from evaluation or monitoring duties.
An example of what constitutes a conflict of interest is available in the Horizon 2020 Manual on the Participant Portal. Certain calls for experts may have different rules. It is advisable to check each particular call and its rules and conditions.
Submitting proposals while working as an expert
For certain programmes and actions (e.g. Horizon 2020) experts may submit their own research proposals while performing evaluations as an expert - provided there is no conflict of interest. Experts will not be assigned to evaluate their own proposal or any proposals competing with it.