EFSA chief zeroes in on budget

- Published: 05 May, 2006

THE INCOMING head of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has signalled she will rationalise the organisation's work, taking account of a potential budget freeze for the next seven years.

Following her appointment as executive director, Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle said: "Streamlining the authority's work will be a key focus. Much can be gained for the European public by networking with EU member states to handle the heavy scientific workload and potential budgetary constraints."

This contrasts starkly with EFSA board statements this year calling for the agency's budget to be increased, to cope with all its allotted tasks. Funding for 2007-13 is still under negotiation.