The European Commission (EC) will reinstate the post of chief scientific adviser according to information from the Brussels office of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and various tweeted messages from several MEPs.
A NFUs in Brussels tweet reported the reinstatement pledge, basing its input on earlier tweets from Scottish MEP Ian Duncan and English West Midlands MEP, Dan Dalton. They were commenting on an exchange this week between East of England MEP, Vicky Ford, and EC vice-president Frans Timmermans.
During a meeting of the European Conservatives & Reformists group, Ms Ford “reminded” the vice-president of a pledge by EC president Jean-Claude Juncker that he would “keep a chief scientific advisor” during his term in office.
The reply led Ms Ford to issue her own tweet declaring “we will have a chief science advisor” basing her comment on Mr Timmermans promise on the issue.Â
The EC’s decision to “scrap” the role of chief scientific adviser, Professor Anne Glover, in November last year was roundly criticised by industry leaders, including NFU president, Meurig Raymond, who described the move as “deeply troubling”.