A word from the DG: Decisions affecting CERN's future

I would like to inform you of the important issues affecting our Organization that were debated at the Council Session in March. Firstly, on the President's initiative, the Council set up a Working Group to review the way it oversees the Organization's activities. The Council is considering a new approach to governance of the Laboratory that would focus on projects and activities rather than on the organisational structure of Departments as at present.

A second important topic related to the Council's future role in the European particle physics strategy. Last July, I reported to you that the Council had taken on a broader role that would involve defining and promoting the major strategic choices for particle physics in Europe. A new structure is required to assist the Council in this role, and it is envisaged that the basic components of this structure would be a Working Group on Strategy and a Commission responsible for the promotion and follow-up of the European particle physics strategy. Work on this subject continues with a view to a decision in June. The governance structure of the Pension Fund was also discussed at the March Session, and these discussions will also continue at the June session.

Finally, the Management outlined to delegates the main components of the Organization's 2008 Budget, along the lines of the White Paper presented in October last, which described the activities to be carried out and financed in the medium term (2008 to 2010). Additional resources were requested, inter alia, to exploit the full potential of the LHC, to initiate the essential renovation of the injector chain and to undertake a minimal R&D programme. The Council received the preliminary proposals for the 2008 Budget--notably an additional allocation on top of the 2007 figure--favourably on average, with full agreement on the scientific programme and with some delegations expressing difficulties with regard to increased budgets. The aim is to secure additional allocations amounting to 240 MCHF over four years. The Council will deliberate and vote on this question at its June Session.

Another issue for the June Council will be further information on changes that might be needed in the LHC start-up schedule to take account, among other things, of the repairs to certain magnets supplied by Fermilab. No stone is being left unturned, however, in the search for solutions to avoid any impact on the current schedule. Fermilab has undertaken to provide every possible assistance to settle the problem as quickly as possible.

Robert Aymar