Last week, the European Parliament, the Competitiveness Council of EU member states, and European academic leaders issued a strong warning to the European Commission. They opposed its unprecedented plan to discontinue 40 years of dedicated research and innovation (R&I) framework programs in favor of a centralized EU competitiveness fund. This shift would prioritize industrial competitiveness, putting at risk both Europe’s frontier science and collaborative university research.
On March 11, all 27 EU Member States endorsed the Warsaw Declaration, calling for a bold and well-funded R&I budget to drive scientific progress, economic growth, and breakthrough innovations. European science ministers stressed the need for strong and independent research funding as essential to Europe’s competitiveness, security, and technological sovereignty. That same day, the European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a report assessing Horizon Europe’s implementation and outlining recommendations for the 10th Framework Programme for R&I. Meanwhile, European university leaders have been rallying behind an open letter from The Guild and LERU, urging the European Commission to safeguard and increase investment across the entire research and innovation continuum.
Together, the Council’s unanimous endorsement of the Warsaw Declaration, the European Parliament’s resolution, and the Open Letter from European Rectors send a clear and unified message: the European Commission must not compromise the independence of Europe’s R&I programs. Continued investment in excellent and collaborative research is vital for Europe’s scientific leadership, societal progress, and global competitiveness.
For more information: please reach out to Meri Georgievska-van de Laar via georgievska@eur.nl.
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