http://ec.europa.eu/research/eurab/pdf/eurab_scipub_report_recomm_dec06_en.pdf
Recommendations
The European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) has recommended that the European
Commission should promote open access publication policies for all their
publicly funded research. EURAB was invited by the Commission to examine the
issue of scientific publication with particular reference to policy
recommendations regarding open access for Framework Program 7 (FP7). It has
recommended that a clear policy at European level is required which sets out
a number of key high level principles. The Commission can play a role in
three respects: as a funding body, as a policy body, as a supporting body.
1. The publication policy should not compromise the freedom of scientists to
publish
wherever they feel is most appropriate.
2. The effect of the policy should be to
increase the visibility
of and improve access to the research funded by the Commission.
3. The policy should be based on recognized best practice
4. EURAB recommends that the Commission should consider mandating
all researchers funded under FP7 to [deposit] their publications resulting
from EC-funded research in an open access repository as soon as possible after
publication, to be made openly accessible within 6 months at the latest.
a. The repository may be a local
institutional and/or a subject repository.
b. Authors should deposit post-prints (or publisher's version if permitted)
plus metadata of articles accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals
and international conference proceedings.
c. Deposit should be made
upon
acceptance by the journal/conference. Repositories should release the metadata
immediately, with access restrictions to full text article to be applied
as required.
Open access should be made available as soon as practicable
after the author-requested embargo, or six months, whichever comes first.
d. Suitable repositories should make
provision for long-term preservation of, and free public access to, published
research findings.
5. Given the complexity of the issues involved, the Commission should
consider implementation of this policy on a phased basis, starting with
research funded by the European Research Council.
The Commission should strongly encourage all Member States to promote open
access publication policies for all their publicly funded research.
