President of the European Commission Promises to Appoint a Chief Scientist for Europe. (September 18, 2009)

The newly re-elected President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, has promised to create a position for a European chief scientist.

Mr Barroso said: "In the next Commission, I want to set up a chief scientific adviser who has the power to deliver proactive, scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery... [it will ]reflect the central importance I attach to research and innovation."

Alison Abbott of NatureNews makes the point: "European scientists have been quick to approve Barroso's intention, but caution that care must be taken to ensure that the incumbent does indeed have the appropriate power and status to be able to do a successful job."

Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, former secretary-general of the European Research Council who is now secretary-general of the Human Frontier Science Programme Organization in Strasbourg, France says: "The chief scientist should be able to sit in meetings with not only the Commission president and the Commissioners, but also the director-generals who have considerable independence in administering the individual directorates. If the post is created properly it will be a great thing for Europe. Science creeps into all areas of policy and you need a strong personality to ensure that everything can be coordinated."

The European Research Area Board (ERAB) chairman John Wood, head of the faculty of engineering at Imperial College London, says Mr Barroso's proposal is "really pleasing". The EU needs a "strong, identifiable, independently-minded person with the authority to speak for science in Europe".

Professor Wood also told Ms Abbott that such a person should be able to make a television appearance the moment something scientifically important happens — such as an outbreak of infectious disease, or when there is a political debate with scientific content such as genetically modified crops: "In a sense, this person would be the scientific conscience of Europe."

It will be interesting to see whether or not the appointee assumes a role of much more than an ornament.