The implementation of the European Commission recommendation on open access to scientific information: Comparison of national policies

Abstract

Two years after the publication of the European Commission recommendation on open access to scientific information, the critical threshold of accessibility to fifty percent of papers has been crossed. However, this figure is an average and the implementation of the EC recommendation varies from one country to another. The topical issue now is to observe the different steps of implementation and to wonder about the reaseons of such a disparity. In order to suggest many elements of the response, this research compares the different levels of implementation in the EU28. Contrary to what the European Commission might expect further to its communication [ 1 ] and its recommendation [ 2 ] (concerning open access to and preservation of scientific information within the framework Horizon 2020) after being published dated 17th July 2012 its implementation by national governments and EU research funders have not led to a standardization of open access policies. This recommendation has undergone all manner of implementations concerning the level of incentive, the contents which are concerned, the embargo periods, etc. First and foremost this paper propose doing a comparison between the national implementations of the CE recommendation in the EU28. The suggested analysis is a good example of its various interpretations and implementations. We compare the adopted action plans and their methods : mandatory deposit and national recommendation, delegation to each institution and research funder, national consultation of stakeholders'opinion, no policy at all.