Peter Suber recently analysed the 'new vision' agreed on 15 April 2008 by
the EU-27 research ministers and the European Commission. Prof. Suber
concluded that '... it appears that half-measures (and the publishing lobby)
have prevailed' [1].
It may not be as bad as that. On 10 April 2008, the European Commission
published Recommendation C(2008)1329. Para 15 of Annex II of the
Recommendation says -
"Open access is implemented by public research funding bodies with regard to
peer-reviewed scientific publications resulting from publicly-funded
research".[2]
In other words, public research funding bodies in the EU should implement
open access.
Since the Commission is recommending OA to other public bodies in the EU, I
infer that the Commission has decided to go Open Access.
I cannot believe that the European Commission would recommend to others,
something which it will not do itself.