Dear list members,

Insert usual apology for cross-posting.

As many of you know, last year Elsevier were sub-contracted to help out with the EU's Open Science Monitor. There was a lot of kerfuffle about this, some of which is still ongoing. At the time, we drafted a formal complaint to the EU Ombudsman about Elsevier's role here, which gathered more than 1100 signatories at the time.

However, to better represent these signatories, as well as for additional reasons, I submitted a request for a formal petition on this matter to the European Parliament. Finally, they have got around to looking at this, and today I am happy to announce that the European Parliament launched an open petition to have Elsevier removed as the sole subcontractor for the Open Science MOOC - https://petiport.secure.europarl.europa.eu/petitions/en/petition/content/0667%252F2018/html/Petition-No-0667%252F2018-by-Jonathan-Tennant-%2528British%2529-on-a-sole-subcontractor-for-the-EU-Open-Science-Monitor

Anyone can of course sign this, should they wish. They summarise it here:

The petitioner denounces the award to a subcontractor to monitor the future progress of Open Science in Europe, as well as the fact that the opportunity to raise a formal appeal was denied to him and others, due to the late notification of the award. He claims that the process of the subcontract award will have a detrimental impact on the future of Open Science and innovation in Europe, the livelihoods of European citizens, and the legitimacy of the European Commission as an institution. He denounces the lack of sufficient care and transparency with the process of the contracting procedure. Second, and as a consequence of this, there would be a clear conflict of interest (COI) as the subcontractor would be monitoring and evaluating the very same science communication that they, and their competitors, sell as their primary products.

Probably the last chance I'll get the chance to do something like this as a soon-to-be-Brexited citizen, so, enjoy!

Jon