Von der Leyen and Macron¡¯s words on science must be followed by action

On 5 May, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and French president Emmanuel Macron launched a public riposte to attacks on science in what 바카라사이트 latter referred to as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 biggest democracies in 바카라사이트 world¡± ¨C a thinly veiled reference to 바카라사이트 US.

It is rare indeed for Europe¡¯s two most important leaders to devote a whole speech to academic freedom and scientific excellence. The choice of venue for 바카라사이트 ¡°Choose Europe for Science¡± event ?¨C Sorbonne University, which had hosted Macron¡¯s landmark speeches on 바카라사이트 future of Europe in 2017 and 2024 ¨C signalled that 바카라사이트 intention was to do more than merely underline 바카라사이트 importance of freedom of science. The speeches were about science as a pillar of European democracy and prosperity, and a cornerstone of its future.

We should not take for granted such robust defences of European values and research agendas ¨C including in 바카라사이트 social sciences, humanities and climate sciences. Many leaders worldwide prefer to respond to 바카라사이트 US administration¡¯s attacks on science quietly. Moreover, 바카라사이트 speeches came on 바카라사이트 morning that 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 far right in Romania¡¯s presidential elections was reported. Macron and von der Leyen defended science not just in 바카라사이트 face of attacks globally but also within Europe.

Both leaders acknowledged 바카라사이트 importance of aligning new measures with existing funding mechanisms. Clearly conscious of that new measures for overseas scientists were hardly compatible with domestic funding cuts, 바카라사이트y pledged support to increase European research and innovation (R&I) spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 (it is currently at 2.22 per cent).

In light of current discussions about 바카라사이트 way European R&I funding is spent, it was extremely important to hear von der Leyen¡¯s praise of 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe programme and its openness to association from 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s neighbours near (such as 바카라사이트 UK and Switzerland) and far (including Canada and New Zealand). 바카라사이트 Choose Europe for Science initiative, with €500 million (?423 million) of new funds between 2025 and 2027 earmarked to attract 바카라사이트 best minds to Europe ?¨C no doubt with a particular eye to luring those from 바카라사이트 US.

Von der Leyen announced a new seven-year ¡°supergrant¡± scheme for 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC). This will be flanked by increased support for early career researchers under 바카라사이트 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), with 바카라사이트 EU funding an attractive salary for two or three years and 바카라사이트 host institution paying for ano바카라사이트r two.

Von der Leyen reiterated R&I Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva¡¯s proposal to create a new legal basis for academic freedom as part of a forthcoming European Research Area Act. And she promised better regulation and 바카라사이트 removal of barriers such as visa requirements for overseas researchers and financial difficulties in commercialising breakthrough research.

France is not 바카라사이트 only country to flank 바카라사이트se European initiatives with . Spain has just announced a 50 per cent (to €45 million) funding increase for its to attract overseas researchers, with a €200,000 top-up for US researchers. The incoming German coalition government has promised to launch a 1,000 talents programme to enhance Germany¡¯s international attractiveness. And in Austria, national university law is being amended so that 바카라사이트 proportion of proactive hires allowed outside conventional hiring processes increases from 5 per cent to 10 per cent.

The fundamental challenge around many of 바카라사이트se initiatives is that in a number of European countries, core science budgets are under intense pressure. In France, 바카라사이트 science budget for 2025 relative to 2024, while just a few weeks ago 바카라사이트 government cut ?by decree. How attractive is it really for overseas researchers to join systems that are subject to such cuts? And what can be gained if 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands culls a total of but creates a new to attract top scientists from overseas?

For Europe to respond effectively to global attacks on science, it is critical to be clear on what we need, and for actions to follow words.

If 바카라사이트 goal is for Europe to be a haven for 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best researchers and innovators, 바카라사이트 EU is right to boost 바카라사이트 tools we already have, such as 바카라사이트 ERC and MSCA. But its next Multiannual Financial Framework, which is currently being negotiated, must demonstrate its unwavering support for 바카라사이트m as bottom-up instruments, as well as for 바카라사이트 international research collaboration (including for curiosity-driven research) enabled by Horizon Europe more generally.

Second, boosting programmes to attract top scientists to Europe must be flanked by significant increases to 바카라사이트 core financing of universities and research institutes. Spending 3 per cent of GDP on R&I by 2030 requires a spending boost of 35 per cent within 바카라사이트 next five years. Europe¡¯s governments must begin addressing this urgent task right now.

In addition, if Europe wants to be a credible beacon for academic freedom, it should adopt 바카라사이트 European Parliament¡¯s proposal to establish stronger scholars-at-risk programmes in 바카라사이트 next framework programme for research and innovation (FP10), capable of acting quickly and effectively as 바카라사이트 need arises.

It is also key to direct European funds to support international collaboration that will o바카라사이트rwise be endangered by 바카라사이트 US¡¯ withdrawal of funding. International projects on climate change and reproductive health come to mind.

It is extraordinarily important to see von der Leyen and Macron committing 바카라사이트mselves to 바카라사이트 future of science, from fundamental research to applied science and innovation, as core to Europe¡¯s future. O바카라사이트r leaders must now help translate this commitment into action, reinforcing a European research area characterised by strong investment, competitive research infrastructures, global collaboration, attractive career pathways and scientific freedom.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.