The Commission presented a plan to open access to EU project results to boost research in Europe and to help researchers to maximise their impact by disseminating their results to the widest possible audience. It also hopes to trigger increased business interest for the development and commercialisation of practical applications based on the results of scientific research. The Commission referred to  “a fair return for the public on research funded with taxpayers’ money”. The open access pilot scheme would cover some 20% of the EU’s €50 billion budget for the 7th Research Framework Programme from 2007-2013, mainly in the areas of health, energy, environment and ICT.
Under the plan peer-reviewed scientific journal articles resulting from EU-funded research would have to be made fully accessible to everyone over the internet, free-of-charge, following an initial embargo period of six to twelve months. The EHA has been lobbying for more access to the EU (publishable) project results and is maintaining a database of the results of projects since 2002.