On Tuesday 23 May in Brussels, European ministers sought to strike a balance between the pursuit of a responsible global approach to research and innovation (R&I) and the preservation of academic freedom, on the one hand, and the need to protect Member States’ research and innovation from foreign interference by foreign states or non-state actors on the other.
The ministers exchanged best practices already implemented at national level and stressed the need, in a tense geopolitical context, to raise awareness of existing or potential threats and risks among the R&I community.
However, participants recognised that there is no single instrument to address this challenge.
The Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, who is responsible for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, mentioned that certain tools exist to support efforts in this area: The Global Approach to R&I, adopted in 2021 by the Commission, and the Pact for R&I in Europe (see EUROPE 12765/9).
For Maroš Šefčovič, the desired open and protective approach to international R&I cooperation is reflected in the Horizon Europe framework programme. The Commissioner highlighted that the programme allows, for the first time, the participation of third countries sharing European values and that Horizon Europe also includes the possibility to limit international participation, where duly justified, in sensitive R&I areas.
Furthermore, Mr Šefčovič pointed out that the Commission had developed a toolkit for research institutions to deal with foreign interference and initiated a mutual learning exercise.
Swedish Minister for Research and Education, Mats Persson, speaking on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, also called for greater awareness and preparedness of stakeholders to deal with interference while preserving academic freedom, integrity and autonomy of research.
Minister Persson called on the EU to develop capacities to counter malicious interference while preserving its values and fundamental rights.
He also considers it important for the EU to establish a structural process to identify and manage the opportunities and risks of international R&I cooperation.
In this perspective, the Minister hoped that this ministerial exchange of views would feed into further efforts on this issue. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)