Commission Implementing Decision of 22 November 2013 on setting up the European Social Survey as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ESS ERIC) (2013/700/EU)

CHAPTER 1 U.K. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 U.K. Name, seat, location, headquarters, setting up and working language

1. There shall be a European Research Infrastructure called the European Social Survey, hereinafter referred to as ‘ESS’.

2. The name of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) — European Social Survey shall be ESS ERIC.

3. The statutory seat of the ESS ERIC shall be located in the Host Country. Within such country the statutory seat shall normally be hosted at the host institution as may be determined by the General Assembly when necessary.

4. The first statutory seat of the ESS ERIC shall be located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The first Host Country shall be the United Kingdom (UK). The first Host Institution shall be City University London. The statutory seat, Host Country and Host Institution shall be reviewed by the General Assembly every 4 years.

5. The ESS ERIC shall make an arrangement with each Host Institution specifying the terms upon which the Host Institution may deliver any such services or products or make available such personnel to the ESS ERIC at its headquarters (which shall be the central offices of the ESS ERIC at which the Director and one Deputy Director shall be located) (‘Headquarters’). In the event that following the termination of a Host Institution acting as such and that Host Institution suffers any costs, claims or other liabilities then the ESS ERIC shall indemnify that Host Institution against such costs, claims or liabilities (save to the extent caused by the default of the Host Institution).

6. The Headquarters shall normally be established at the Host Institution. Unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly, the ESS ERIC shall normally enter into arrangements for the provision of Headquarters for periods of 4 years. 12 months prior to the expiry date of its then arrangement with the Host Institution regarding the Headquarters, the General Assembly shall either renew the arrangement for another period of 4 years or establish the Headquarters elsewhere by way of an arrangement with a third party.

7. The first meeting of the General Assembly shall be called by the Host State as soon as possible but no later than 45 days after the Commission decision to set up the ESS ERIC takes effect.

8. The Host State shall notify the founding Members of any specific urgent legal action that needs to be taken on behalf of the ERIC before the constitutional meeting is held. Unless a founding Member objects within 5 working days after being notified, the legal action shall be carried out by a person duly authorised by the Host State.

9. The working language of the ESS ERIC shall be English.

Article 2 U.K. Tasks and activities

1. The principal object and task of the ESS ERIC shall be to establish and operate a research infrastructure with the following main objectives:

(a) assembling, interpreting and disseminating via the European Social Survey or otherwise rigorous data on Europe’s social condition, including the shifting attitudes, values, perceptions and behaviour patterns among citizens in different countries;

(b) providing free and timely access to its accumulated data to professional users and members of the public;

(c) furthering the advancement of methods of quantitative social measurements and analysis in Europe and beyond.

2. The ESS ERIC shall pursue its principal object and task on a non-economic basis. However, it may carry out limited economic activities, provided that they are closely related to its principal task and that they do not jeopardise the achievement thereof.