Facilitate Open Science Training for European 
Research
Directorate General European Programmes, 
Coordination and Development
Directorate General European Programmes, 
Coordination and Development
National Open Access Policy
• Ioanna Cleanthous
Director of Planning
• Savvas Zannetos
Planning Officer
National Open Access Policy
• Introduction
• The current European Framework for Open Access
• Definitions
• The aim of the Open Access Policy and its benefits
• Provisions for implementation of the Open Access 
policy
• Implementing Tools
• Support and Monitoring
Introduction
Introduction
• Cooperation with the National Documentation Centre 
(Greece) through PASTEUR4OA (www.pasteur4oa.eu)
• Aligned with best practices of Horizon 2020
• Based on 
• UNESCO and MEdOANet guidelines
• RECODE recommendations
• OpenAIRE practices and support actions
The current European 
Framework for Open 
Access
The current European Framework for 
Open Access
The European Commission supports  Open Access as the 
established way of diffusion of publicly funded research in the 
European Union:
•  Open circulation of knowledge is one of the six priorities of the 
European Research Area.
• Commission Recommendation of 17th July 2012 on access to 
and preservation of Scientific Information.
• Providing open access is mandatory for all publications (peer-
reviewed publications) resulting from projects funded by 
Horizon 2020.
Definitions
Definitions
Open Access
Open Access = free, direct, constant and free of fees and most 
of the copyright restrictions online access to digital academic 
and scientific content. Readers can use freely the available 
material for research, educational and other purposes. 
Based on 2 models:
• Green Route
Publication in a scientific journal with parallel filing of the final quality-
assured version in an open access repository with the article being 
accessible by all interested persons – potentially after an embargo period if 
required.
• Gold Route
Publication in open access journals through which the final quality assured 
version is immediately available free of charge. The relevant cost is covered 
through Author Publication Charges, per article. 
The aim of the Open 
Access policy and its 
benefits
The aim of Open Access policy and its 
benefits
The aim of the policy is the alignment with EU 
policies and existing best practices, thus 
participating, in a meaningful way, in the research 
and academic ecosystem under development, 
whereby access to research should be direct and 
open. 
It is recognized that knowledge is a public good 
generating social and economic benefits at 
national, European and international level.
The objective of Open Access policy and 
its benefits
• Collection, preservation and dissemination of the 
publicly funded research. 
• Possibility of indexing and tracking scientific work 
by international search engines on the internet.
• Provision of data and indicators on research 
development.
• Facilitation of the  internal and external 
evaluation of institutions and the dissemination of 
their scientific production.
• Possibilities of recognition and utilization of 
scientific works.
• Promotion of international cooperation, etc…
Provisions for 
implementation of the 
Open Access policy
Provisions for implementation of the 
Open Access policy
• The researchers submit to a repository:
- the necessary metadata (for example: title, abstract, authors, title, 
name of journal that has accepted the publication etc)
- digital copy of their publications (final quality assured version).
• Articles are allowed to be “closed” until the end of the embargo 
period imposed by their publishers
- Nevertheless, the abstract of the “closed” publications must be 
submitted in a repository in order to enhance awareness.
• Researchers are encouraged (but not obliged) to submit to a 
repository the datasets that support their publications.
• Researchers are encouraged to make use of Creative Commons 
licenses.
• Researchers are encouraged not to transfer exclusive rights to 
publishers, but only the rights necessary for each publication. 
• Researchers are encouraged to file in a repository previous 
work as well.
Implementing Tools
Implementing Tools
• Electronic infrastructure (repository).
• Creation and implementation of appropriate rules 
and internal procedures for the implementation of 
the Open Access policy by research organisations 
and academic institutions.
• Training of researchers on:
- Repositories
- Open Access and copyrights
- Negotiating with publishers and other issues.
• A Monitoring Mechanism.
Support and 
Monitoring
Support and Monitoring
• Open Access Policy will be promoted by:
• the organisation of seminars, events and other activities 
to raise awareness
• Other actions for education / training on issues of Open 
Access.
• A special Monitoring Mechanism will be 
established to monitor the implementation and 
the  compliance with the policy.
Thank you!