Results from the 7th eLTER Interim Council in Paris

From 25 to 26 June, France hosted the 7th eLTER Interim Council (IC) in Paris. The various eLTER thematic teams submitted all materials on time, in accordance with the IC work programme. In a collegial and productive atmosphere, a record number of eight decision items were on the agenda.

The Heads of 17 of the 19 eLTER partner countries with permanent delegations to the IC (overall, eLTER has political support from 21 countries) agreed by consensus on the revision of the eLTSER Platform categories and their expansion to two categories, the formal eLTER Site Labelling process, the start of the Host Selection process for eLTER services and Topic Centres, additional elements of the eLTER ERIC Statutes, eLTER Integrated Governance, and the final Framework of Standard Observation variables. 

After discussions on the principles of the eLTER Funding Model, one of two key decisions were taken: The costs for services provided by individual countries are split 50:50 between the eLTER ERIC Members and the respective hosting country. With regard to the second decision item, the calculation of Membership Fees for the eLTER ERIC budget, the highly collaborative working style of the eLTER IC once again proved its worth: because no final choice could be made between the options presented, the IC proposed organising a series of webinars for small groups of country delegates over the summer to facilitate informal exchange and develop a solution that receives consensus support. A final decision on membership fees will be made at an ad-hoc IC meeting on 9 October 2024.