06/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 30 May on the sidelines of the Competitiveness Council, the president of the Scientific Council of the future European Research Council (ERC), Fotis Kafatos, lunched with research ministers. The meeting provided him with an opportunity to reassure ministers of the independence of this new structure that will be responsible for selecting exploratory research projects at the frontiers of knowledge. The European Research Council is expected to have a staff of 80 by the end of the year, with the complete staff of 120 to 150 being reached in due course. The deadline set for applications for the post of secretary general expired on 31 May. Meeting in Copenhagen on 29 and 30 May, the ERC Scientific Council defined the terms and procedures for the selection of projects that will be based on an assessment procedure in two stages 4 to 6 weeks apart at most. The assessment will be made by high level scientific panels designated with the help of national research agencies and European scientific organisations.