This may be of interest. STM RESPONDS TO THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE OXFORD, UK, FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2007 -- STM welcomes the detailed and balanced views expressed by the Council of the European Union in its Conclusions on Scientific Information published today . We are pleased that the Council Conclusions recognise the unique role and extensive investments made by scientific publishers in the organisation of peer review, the management of publication processes, the production, access, distribution, preservation and digitisation of scientific knowledge. STM and its member companies have been at the forefront of experimentation into new forms and models of digital dissemination: we welcome and support the Council's call for more experimentation. As a co-founding signatory of the Alliance for the Preservation of the Records of Science in Europe , STM also supports the Council recommendations on the need for preservation of scientific outputs. Although STM applauds an emphasis in the Conclusions on the need for economic sustainability in respect of new business models, we were disappointed that the clear connection between investment in scientific research, the concomitant growth in the volume of that research and the inevitable need for greater investment in scientific information provision was not made. Throughout the EU, spending on research publications represents less than 1% of the spending on research. Michael Mabe, CEO of STM commented: "I am pleased that the Council Conclusions have acknowledged the unique contribution STM publishers bring to the world of scientific information. Through publishers' investments in digitisation and experimentation with new business models more researchers already have more access to more scientific articles than at any point in the history of science." "STM publishers have been major contributors to the debate generated by the digital revolution and we look forward to continuing a constructive collaboration with other stakeholders." ENDS STM is an international association of about 100 scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishers, collectively responsible for more than 60% of the global annual output of research articles, 55% of the active research journals and the publication of tens of thousands of print and electronic books, reference works and databases. We are the only international trade association equally representing all types of STM publishers - large and small companies, not for profit organisations, learned societies, traditional, primary, secondary publishers and new entrants to global publishing. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/intm/97236.pdf http://www.alliancepermanentaccess.eu/index.php?id3D1 Contact: Michael Mabe, STM, mabe@stm-assoc.org or phone +44 1865 339321