The Research Ministers of the Member States reached political agreement on an EU Council recommendation to adopt the European Research Area (ERA) policy agenda for the period 2025-2027 on Friday 23 May (see EUROPE 13646/5). During the public debate, they defended academic freedom.
The ERA policy agenda is a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, addressing key challenges like knowledge mobility, sustainability and international competitiveness, while ensuring measurable outcomes and broad voluntary participation by Member States and stakeholders. “The Policy Agenda for 2025–2027 will be the roadmap to navigate this common space: a true liberty of movement for researchers in the biggest research and innovation ecosystem of the world”, emphasised Marcin Kulasek, the Polish minister.
Many of his counterparts also expressed their concern at the repression of universities, students and researchers, particularly in the United States. They reaffirmed their willingness to welcome them to Europe.
Over lunch, the ministers also discussed the ‘Choose Europe for science’ initiative aimed at attracting researchers (see EUROPE 13646/17). Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva presented a snapshot of the more than 60 regional, national, and EU funding and support schemes that help researchers advance their careers in Europe.
See the presentation: https://aeur.eu/f/h0p (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)