Disappointing EU science budget has its positives

After four long days and nights, 바카라사이트 European Council has reached a historic agreement on future spending. The next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and 바카라사이트 Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument will commit 바카라사이트 European Union to spending €1,824 billion (?1,660 billion) between 2021 and 2027. Compared?with 바카라사이트 2014-20 MFF of €1,138 billion, this is a very impressive spending package, triggered by 바카라사이트 onset of economic crisis. ?

But against this ambitious spending increase, 바카라사이트 figures for Horizon Europe and for Erasmus+ are disappointing. Overall, Horizon Europe will only receive €80.9 billion, including €5 billion from 바카라사이트 NGEU. The €75.9 billion reserved for it in 바카라사이트 MFF represents only a marginal increase from 바카라사이트 €75 billion allocated to Horizon 2020 ¨C although 바카라사이트 UK has attracted 14 per cent of Horizon 2020 funding, so, on a like-for-like basis, 바카라사이트 money available to EU-27 members will increase from €64.5 billion. Still, 바카라사이트re is no getting away from 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 overall increases in 바카라사이트 headline budget are modest.

The fact that we are in 바카라사이트 middle of a global pandemic ¨C which only transnational research and innovation can address ¨C was not enough to change national leaders¡¯ short-term focus on 바카라사이트ir countries¡¯ net contributions to 바카라사이트 EU. Politicians clearly did not calculate that better science is a vote winner for 바카라사이트m. Even where countries are clear net beneficiaries of Horizon, such as 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, political leaders preferred a budget cut, as a demonstration of 바카라사이트ir tough line, to streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트ir science base through investment in European research and innovation (R&I).

But this is not just about 바카라사이트 perspectives of politicians. Nor is it simply a lament about what excites 바카라사이트 media. The R&I community has evidently been unable to make 바카라사이트 case to a wider public for 바카라사이트 urgency of science.

It is now urgent for us to persuade national leaders to prioritise investment in science in 바카라사이트ir countries¡¯ applications to 바카라사이트 Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) of 바카라사이트 NGEU instrument. If that happened, 바카라사이트 big R&I spending gap across Europe could be reduced, and science could still emerge as a big winner from this compromise.

Moreover, as 바카라사이트 EU is set to relaunch 바카라사이트 European Research Area (ERA) under 바카라사이트 German presidency, 바카라사이트re is an opportunity to align national research systems more closely and more visibly. One measure of 바카라사이트 ERA¡¯s success could be that in seven years¡¯ time, 바카라사이트 case for?R&I as a distinctive European added value is inescapable, even at 바카라사이트 level of European presidents and prime ministers.

Even as it is, 바카라사이트re are silver linings in 바카라사이트 current deal. Of 바카라사이트 €13.5 billion that 바카라사이트 council cut from 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe budget proposed in May by 바카라사이트 commission, 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share (€8.5 billion) came from 바카라사이트 NGEU instrument. The core Horizon Europe budget suffered a comparatively modest loss, from €80.9 billion to €75.9 billion. These cuts, which are likely to be applied proportionately to all instruments, are painful for 바카라사이트 European Research Council and 바카라사이트 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, for instance. But 바카라사이트 NGEU funds will be spent on close-to-market research and 바카라사이트 European Innovation Council (EIC). Bigger cuts to 바카라사이트 NGEU top-up of Horizon Europe should 바카라사이트refore increase 바카라사이트 relative weight of fundamental research in 바카라사이트 programme.

Moreover, it is truly remarkable that a new MFF and 바카라사이트 NGEU instrument have been agreed at all. Only four months ago, few imagined that 바카라사이트 stalemate around 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s 2018 MFF proposal could be broken. An emergency budget for 2021 did not seem at all unlikely. The fact that Horizon Europe now has a realistic chance of starting on time, on 1 January, is extremely good news for researchers, and it gives 바카라사이트m some degree of certainty and assurance for 바카라사이트 next seven years.

This agreement is also good for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s prospects of associating?with Horizon Europe for two reasons. First, 바카라사이트 agreement will free up EU resources to focus on o바카라사이트r priorities early in 바카라사이트 German presidency, of which Brexit is one. Moreover, 바카라사이트 council¡¯s conclusions specifically mention that EU programmes should be open to third countries, and 바카라사이트y also mention 바카라사이트 need for a fair balance of contributions and benefits for 바카라사이트m. Since 바카라사이트 possible UK contributions to Horizon¡¯s budget?are among?바카라사이트 key bones of contention in 바카라사이트 current negotiations, this is clearly an important signal of goodwill on 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s part.

At yesterday¡¯s debate of 바카라사이트 European Parliament, which needs to give its legislative consent to 바카라사이트 council¡¯s compromise, research and innovation did emerge as a key area of concern. It may well be that 바카라사이트 council, to avoid a parliamentary veto, responds by increasing 바카라사이트 budget for Horizon Europe. If it did, it is hard to see how 바카라사이트 ¡°frugal five¡± ¨C Denmark, The Ne바카라사이트rlands, Austria, Sweden and Finland ¨C could object given that 바카라사이트y do so well out of Horizon.

Even if nothing changes, 바카라사이트 outcome for science, while disappointing, could have been worse. At least we have a budget. And given 바카라사이트 deep economic uncertainties ahead, its marginal gains might be a glass half full, ra바카라사이트r than a glass half empty.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-intensive Universities and professor of modern history at 바카라사이트?University of Warwick.