ISSN 1022-6559 Based on information from CORDIS News available on the Web at http://www.cordls.lu/news Commission comments on research infrastructures and the ERA Europe will need to take action on co-ordination, funding and usage guidelines, according to a CERN's LEP electron-positron collider ring frank appraisal document on Europe's requirements in research infrastructures published by the © CERN Geneva European Commission. The working document of the Commission Fragmentation, both geographic and discipliservices, entitled 'A European research area for nary, of funding and policy decisions, should infrastructures' addresses the fact that there give way to greater coordination at European IN THIS ISSUE are several problems with the existing struc level. This would mean two key changes: firstly ture of research infrastructures in Europe. Al that independent scientific advice would underFrance and Denmark comment on though there are successful examples, such as pin infrastructure and, secondly, a recognised the Commission's proposals for an CERN and the ESA, there have been no success mechanism to support infrastructure policy deERA and the next Framework stories in the last ten years. cisions should be instituted, taking in all parlies Programme pages 5 and 7 involved in decision making and funding issues.