Strengthening CERN’s international relations
Council’s decision in June to open membership of CERN to the world in a clear and well-defined way means that it’s time to strengthen our international relations. Non-Member State interest, and participation, in CERN has been rising for many years, and with the LHC running smoothly that trend is continuing.
It was with these developments in mind that I established the External Relations Office under Felicitas Pauss at the start of my mandate last year. Council’s decision underlines the need for that office, and clarifies its liaison role of with Member and non-Member States.
Clarity of function demands clarity of name, so from now on, the Office will be known as the Office for International Relations. It will continue to be headed by Felicitas Pauss. The Office’s main role is to coordinate our relations with Council delegations, governments and funding agencies. With five candidates for accession to CERN already on the table, Observer status being phased out in favour of a new and more equitable form of Associate Membership and expressions of interest in closer collaboration with CERN coming from several non-Member States, the Office will have no shortage of work over the coming months and years.
Rolf Heuer
Read more about the geographical enlargement of CERN in the interview with Felicitas Pauss.
