Guidelines for sharing scientific data between EU agencies and the Scientific Committees

Several agencies and scientific committees/panels provide scientific advice to the European Commission and, for some among them, to other EU institutions. Whilst the remit of these agencies and scientific committees/panels are clearly distinctive, there is a common interest in improving cooperation in order to develop synergies and share knowledge. One of the most useful tools to capitalise on these possibilities is by the sharing of data/dossiers of common interest. Moreover, some agencies and committees (EMEA, EFSA, ECHA and the Commission scientific committees) are statutorily required to prevent divergent opinions and may therefore have a particular need to access data available to other agencies or committees. Agencies such as ECDC and EEA for which similar requirements have not been established may be usefully associated to this, where appropriate, as part of their general commitment to provide high quality advice.