Brussels, 16/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - Three European personalities have undertaken to assist the European Commission in identifying the best European experts to form the advisory European Research Area Board (ERAB). Those chosen to assist the Commission in its task are: Claudie Haigneré, former astronaut and former French Research and Europe Minister, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former Latvian President, and Dr Andrew Dearing, Secretary General of the European Industrial Research Management Association (EIRMA). The creation of ERAB had been announced during publication last April of the Green Paper entitled “The European Research Area: New Perspectives” (EUROPE 9401). The new committee will replace the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB). The expert group is expected to state, by January 2008, the names of 22 persons that have acknowledged experience in research management and policy on the basis of suggestions from European organisations. (B.C.)