Approval of research organisations
Article 9
1. Member States may decide to provide for an approval procedure for public and/or private research organisations wishing to host a researcher under the admission procedure laid down in this Directive. 2. The approval of the research organisations shall be in accordance with procedures set out in the national law or administrative practice of the Member State concerned. Applications for approval by research organisations shall be made in accordance with those procedures and be based on their statutory tasks or corporate purposes as appropriate and on evidence that they conduct research. The approval granted to a research organisation shall be for a minimum period of five years. In exceptional cases, Member States may grant approval for a shorter period. 3. A Member State may, among other measures, refuse to renew or decide to withdraw the approval where: (a) a research organisation no longer complies with paragraph 2 of this Article, Article 8(2) or Article 10(7); (b) the approval has been fraudulently acquired; or (c) a research organisation has signed a hosting agreement with a third-country national fraudulently or negligently. Where an application for renewal has been refused or where the approval has been withdrawn, the organisation concerned may be banned from reapplying for approval for a period of up to five years from the date of publication of the decision on non-renewal or withdrawal.