A reception was held in Brussels in June 2009 to launch the ESS publication Exploring public attitudes, informing public policy.  The event also celebrated the progress made in securing member state support for future ESS operations as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).  It is anticipated that the ESS will apply for ERIC status in 2010.

Commissioner Potočnik, guest of honour, spoke about the importance of good quality data to support the policy making process noting that ‘The European Social Survey gives us good quality comparable, Europe-wide, data from all 30 countries taking part. And equally importantly, information about how those answers change over time…. You have already come a long way. You have secured funding commitments from 19 countries, as well as from the European Science Foundation…you are a facility that is already providing results and having an impact”. He added that the upgrade of the social science projects on the ESFRI roadmap including the ESS was an ‘urgent priority’.

Other speakers were Robert Jan Smits, European Commission; Marc Heppener, European Science Foundation, Ian Diamond, UK Economic and Social Research Council; Max Kaase, Chair of the ESS Scientific Advisory Board and Roger Jowell, PI, ESS.   The event was held as part of the ESS Infrastructure Preparatory Phase Project, which is supported under Framework Programme 7 and was hosted jointly by the ESRC and the ESS.  Invited guests included key stakeholders from around Europe – representatives from Research Councils, Ministries, scientific institutions and from the Commission.