27/08/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 7 August, the European Commission launched a call for evidence for the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act. Presented in mid-July (see EUROPE 13677/2, 13683/7) as one of the four pillars of the next ‘Horizon Europe’ framework programme, the ERA will address the remaining challenges in establishing a single market for researchers, knowledge and technology, often referred to as ‘the EU’s fifth freedom’. “We must build a true ‘fifth EU freedom’ to drive innovation, secure our position as a global scientific leader, and encourage researchers to choose Europe for their career”, said Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. Legislation on the ERA is expected to be adopted in the second half of 2026. The call will remain open until Wednesday 10 September. For more information: https://aeur.eu/f/i5r (AD)