17/01/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 17 January, the European Parliament adopted by 461 votes to 34, with 140 abstentions, the draft resolution prepared by Christian Ehler (EPP, German) recommending a European legislative initiative to protect freedom of research (see EUROPE 13252/12, 13303/15). During the debate, Mr Ehler pointed out that, as MEPs had spoken about respect for the rule of law in the morning (see other articles), this text was the Parliament’s first proposal to ask the European Commission to establish a framework to protect freedom of research. Mr Ehler added that the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) panel and the European scientific community had produced a report on the subject for the first time this year, going well beyond the political arena, because “things are not going well”. For further information, visit https://aeur.eu/f/aez (ÉV)