By adopting the draft recommendation on the subject on Thursday 23 May, the ministers drew up an initial common definition for strengthening the security of research (see EUROPE 13406/27), based on a European Commission proposal that was part of a legislative package on economic security (see EUROPE 13335/4).
The main objective,as Belgian minister Willy Borsus emphasised, is to help Member States and research or funding bodies to deal with certain risks inherent in international cooperation.
The Presidency had identified risks in three areas: unwanted knowledge transfer, foreign interference, and breaches of ethics or integrity.
Mr Borsus stressed that the text was a priority for the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council in terms of research and innovation, particularly in view of the changing economic context which requires a joint response, with the scientific community also expecting guidelines.
On the whole, the Member States felt that the text was balanced.
Denmark in particular, insisted on the need for consistent application at all levels of governance.
Lastly, French minister Sylvie Retailleau pointed out that this text would make it possible to create a minimum level of coherence in terms of research security in the EU, while respecting institutional autonomy and scientific freedom. She hoped that decision-makers would focus on implementing this recommendation.
The Netherlands emphasised the Commission’s central role in risk assessment and called for “the risk of naivety and paranoia to be avoided”.
Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/c3w (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)