Division

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ‘THE MEMBERS’,

and:

THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE SWISS CONFEDERATION,

THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY,

HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ‘THE OBSERVERS’.

WHEREAS the Members are convinced that biological human samples including associated medical data and biomolecular research tools are a key resource in unravelling the interplay of genetic and environmental factors causing human diseases and impact on their outcome, identification of new biomarkers and targets for therapy as well as contributing to reduce attrition in drug discovery and development.

WHEREAS the biomolecular resources include antibody and affinity binder collections, cell lines, clone collections, siRNA libraries and other research tools needed for analysis of biobanked samples. Also repositories of model organisms are considered biomolecular resources when relevant to human diseases.

WHEREAS the pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) will build on existing sample collections, resources, technologies and expertise, which will be specifically complemented with innovative components and properly embedded into European scientific, ethical, legal and societal frameworks.

CONSIDERING that the Members seek to increase the scientific excellence and efficacy of European research in the biomedical sciences as well as to expand and secure competitiveness of European research and industry in a global context and to attract investments in pharmaceutical and biomedical research facilities, by establishing the Biobanking and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure — European Research Infrastructure Consortium —hereinafter referred to as ‘BBMRI-ERIC’.

EMPHASISING the Members’ commitment to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as proclaimed by the Council and European Commission in Nice in December 2000 and in particular European and national data protection legislation.

WHEREAS the Members request the European Commission to set up BBMRI according to the ERIC Regulation as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) legal entity.

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: