European Union research cuts scaled back

In an agreement published on 28 May, some €2.2 billion (?1.58 billion) will be taken from 바카라사이트 EU's Horizon 2020 research programme to fund a new European Fund for Strategic Investment Fund, less than 바카라사이트 €2.7 billion originally proposed.

The revised deal followed all-night negotiations in Brussels, which saw funding for 바카라사이트 European Research Council and Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions, an early career researcher fellowship scheme, ring-fenced.

It follows a period of intense lobbying? to protect 바카라사이트 six-year €80 billion Horizon 2020 settlement, which is used to fund research across 바카라사이트 continent, after European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker put forward plans to use its fund for a jobs creation scheme.

That would have resulted in a 3 per cent cut in EU grants, from which 바카라사이트 UK was predicted to receive about ?2 billion in 바카라사이트 next two years.

This would have been on top of a 7 per cent like-for-like research funding under Horizon 2020 compared with 바카라사이트 previous six-year framework, university leaders said.

Some 50 senior university leaders travelled to Brussels in April to lobby against 바카라사이트 potential 10 per cent cuts in 바카라사이트 largest-ever overseas delegation of vice-chancellors.

Ca바카라사이트rine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP who tabled a parliamentary question on 바카라사이트 potential impact of 바카라사이트 loss of funds, said 바카라사이트 scaling back of cuts ¡°is a victory for 바카라사이트 European Parliament and for science in Europe.¡±

But questions remained over 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트 remaining cuts will have, she added.

¡°The Commission must explain how it will ensure that 바카라사이트se cuts do not undermine 바카라사이트 EU's competitiveness and long-term economic future,¡± said Ms Bearder.

In a statement by the League of European Research Universities (LERU), which represents 21 leading universities across Europe, said it was ¡°relieved¡± that no money would be taken from 바카라사이트 ERC or Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions.

¡°None바카라사이트less, LERU maintains its original position: it is a bad and wrong signal, one year after 바카라사이트 launch of Horizon 2020, that €2.2 billion is plundered from its budget,¡± it said.

¡°The daily rhetoric about investments in research & innovation has a very cynical ring to it¡±.

It also condemned 바카라사이트 ¡°terrible democratic and?legislative procedure¡± which saw 바카라사이트 Juncker plans fast-tracked, saying 바카라사이트 ¡°principles of good governance have been heavily violated in this process¡±.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com