The general purpose of the contract is to provide independent scientific advice, analysis and information to the Commission that is of quality and reliable to serve as input and support its policy-making in the disability field. The information relates to national disability policies and legislations, their link with the EU level as well as information about the situation of persons with disabilities. In order to have a wide European coverage, it is necessary to establish and maintain a European network of academic experts in the field of disability. Given the diverse topics to be covered, it shall include experts not only in social matters in the disability field but also in disability-related issues in EU policies that are relevant for people with disabilities as identified in the strategy and the UNCRPD. More specifically, the contractor shall:

— provide the Commission with informed analyses of national situations and policy developments with regard to disability-related issues in relevant policy areas to be agreed upon with the Commission among those proposed by the contractor on annual bases. In addition, every year an informed analysis should be provided on the national policy situation and developments in relation to the areas covered by Europe 2020 contributing to the European semester. The contractor is expected to produce national reports covering policy themes agreed upon at the beginning of the contractual year with the Commission. The contractor is also requested to produce annual synthesis reports,

— provide the Commission with advice in the fields identified above in strategy and the UNCRPD. The advice shall be based on scientific evidence, data and statistics, and shall aim to support the Commission policy and decision-making processes in the field of disability,

— provide the Commission with informed analyses, information, data, statistics and independent advice from the 28 Member States and, to some extent from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia and Turkey,

— establish a network of academic disability experts to cover the abovementioned countries.