Last updated: 14/03/2020.
Due to the evolving situation and uncertainty regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the #COST Association has taken the decision to suspend the COST physical meetings: https://www.cost.eu/who-we-are/about-cost/coronavirus-covid-19/
By thinking ahead, the EuNet-INNOCHRON Action Chairs, the Local Organizers, the Grant Holder and the Management Committee (MC) had already planned a Video-Tele conference approach for Monday's meeting. Therefore, the MC and WG Meetings will take place as a one-day event as already announced.We are looking forward to seeing you “on line” on Monday 16 and having interesting presentations and fruitful discussions. More..
Last updated: 08/03/2020.
Dear Action members,
The EuNET-INNOCHRON Meetings (2nd Management Committee Meeting and 1st Working Groups Meeting) will be held in Cambridge as scheduled.
The organisers of the Meetings are monitoring the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) closely.
We are working with our hosts at Clare College to ensure that the Meetings run as safely as possible.
We are committed to go ahead and have no plans to cancel. For any updates you will be notified accordingly. COST Association has also compiled a FAQ on Coronavirus and Force majeure that can be found here.
Please, read below the message from Dr Primož Pristovšek, Head of Science Operations, COST.
Dear COST Action Chair,
Following the communication released on Tuesday 24 February 2020, COST follows the advice of public health authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and national Ministries.
The COST Association is fully dependent and bound to the contractual agreement with the European Commission. As per rules in this agreement, cases of force majeure will be applicable only where participants are forced to cancel their travel due to circumstances out of their control (e.g. national decisions to quarantine specific areas, block borders...). In such cases, "force majeure" will be used to cover otherwise non-refundable amounts.
Decisions to cancel travels due to fear of infection, may not be considered as force majeure.
Should the instructions from public health authorities evolve and the European Commission (our funder) make a general decision to cover globally the current situation under force majeure, then force majeure will apply to all cancellations. This is not the case as of now.National authorities do provide instructions on how to handle suspicious cases. Those instructions must be followed in all cases.
With regards to the conduct of activities in the frame of the COST Action, common sense prevails to decide to continue with an activity, to modify its venue or to postpone it. For the moment, there is no provision to suspend activities or extend period nor to carry forward unspent funding due to potential cases of COVID-19.
Please check regularly the information and advice given on the respective national Ministries' websites.
Kind regards
Dr. Primož Pristovšek | Head of Science Operations