On Tuesday, 2 March 2021, the first EHRI Board of Governmental Representatives (BGR) meeting took place. The BGR consists of distinguished representatives of decision-making ministries and/or funding bodies. Delegates from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom met online to acquaint themselves with the EHRI project and to discuss how the BGR can contribute to transforming EHRI from a project into a permanent Research Infrastructure.

In this first meeting, the BGR highlighted the importance of EHRI maintaining a global outlook. Ensuring EHRI’s sustainability through the creation of national nodes and collaboration with other organizations were also points of interest.

Reto Speck introduced the EHRI project as a whole. Michal Frankl presented on sustainability and the establishment of national nodes, and Dirk Luyten provided information on the selection of a legal form for EHRI as a permanent Research Infrastructure.

The BGR will be active during the EHRI preparatory phase. During the implementation phase of the long-term Research Infrastructure, the BGR might gradually transform into an interim General Assembly.   

The BGR’s immediate focus is EHRI-RI’s legal form. Together with various EHRI partners, the BGR will craft the documentation required to create EHRI-RI’s legal personality.

The BGR will meet at least twice a year, the next meeting will take place in the fall of 2021. Depending on how COVID-19 is shaping the world at that time, the meeting will either be in person or online.

Countries that express their interest and commitment in joining the long-term EHRI Research Infrastructure can be invited to appoint a representative to the BGR.

Image: Co-Project Director Reto Speck during Zoom meeting