Legislation decided at EU level can have a large impact on the European research ecosystem. To reinforce Europe’s world-class research, it is essential to have a regulatory framework in place that benefits research excellence, openness, and international collaboration. Science Europe is active on a range of legislation topics that have an impact for research.
The objective of the European Research Area (ERA) is to build a common scientific and technological area for the EU that will help create a more competitive European industry. This area should be based on the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and innovation. The EU frequently implements legislation that (in)directly changes the framework conditions for European research.
Researchers and research organisations need clear rules that help advance research and innovation. EU legislation therefore needs to respond to their evolving needs and practices. To realise ERA, this legislation must promote excellence, openness, and collaboration. When legislation does not aim to regulate research, but does affect it – such as when regulating data and digitalisation, it must build on cross-sectoral synergies to provide the best conditions for high-quality science.
The European Research Area focuses on:
Further crucial priorities in the coming years will be to:
To achieve a well-functioning ERA, coherent policies need to be developed at regional, national, and EU level. European authorities must work closely together with national and pan-European research stakeholders. They must develop forward-looking rules that fit the challenges that the world faces.
Science Europe is a trusted partner of the EU Institutions and regularly shares the expertise and experience of its members with them. It does so in particular in areas related to the Green Deal, digital transformation, societal challenges, and COVID-19. It thereby contributes to the development of a legislative framework that is beneficial to research and helps us to respond to both existing and future challenges.
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This report summarises the High-level Conference on Science Communication organised by Science Europe, FWO, and FNRS. The event emphasised the role of science communication, the importance of integrating it into research programmes and policies, and providing support for those engaging in it.
2023 proved to be another landmark year for Science Europe: building on the achievements of the previous year and setting the direction for new approaches in vital areas of research policy.
Science Europe has joined other research and higher education organisations in a call to increase and strengthen investment for research and innovation at European and national level and protect R&I budgets, as part of the Research Matters campaign.
In the run up to the European Parliament Elections on 6-9 June 2024, Science Europe has launched our 'Vote for Science' Campaign advocating for political support for science research in the EU legislative agenda of the next 5 years. In the interests of securing this support, Science Europe encourages candidates for the European Parliament to consider and commit to 5 pledges to safeguard the future of European research and innovation.
In the run up to the European Parliament Elections on 6-9 June 2024, Science Europe has launched our 'Vote for Science' Campaign advocating for political support for science research in the EU legislative agenda of the next 5 years. As part of our campaign, we've created a factsheet offering a look at the state of science research in Europe, to help voters in understanding how we are doing in supporting science across the areas of our 5 Pledges for Candidates.
The Science Europe campaign 'Vote for Science' advocates political support for science research in the run-up to the 6–9 June European Parliament elections. Under the hashtag #Vote4Science, we encourage the use of informed policy making in forming the EU legislative agenda for the next five years.
This initial position by Science Europe on ‘Dual-Use’ Research, was submitted on 30 April as a response to the European Commission Consultation on the White Paper on ‘Options for enhancing support for research and development involving technologies with dual-use potential’, following a preliminary discussion with our Governing Board and prior to a broader discussion with our Member Organisations in the context of our upcoming General Assembly Meeting.
Science Europe has provided feedback to the European Commission on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through the call for evidence opened for the 2025 GDPR report.
In 2022, Science Europe made significant contributions in various areas, including research culture, research assessment, open science, EU framework programmes, the green and digital transition, and science communication.
