EUA warns against cuts to European research

Following the presentation of its Investment Plan at the end of last year, on 13 January the European Commission released its proposal on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). This is the first step of the legislative process which the Commission hopes to complete by next June.

The proposal highlights the details of the amounts that would be set aside in the EU’s 2014-2020 financial framework to support the new fund. In a statement released on 18 December, the European University Association (EUA) welcomed the principal goal of the initiative to support projects in key areas such as infrastructure, education, research and innovation, but insisted that the Horizon 2020 budget should be protected, a view shared by a number of its member National Rectors’ Conferences. EUA therefore expresses its strong disappointment as it becomes clear that Horizon 2020 funds would make up a third of the €8 billion mobilized for the EFSI.

In particular, the European Research Council and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT), two core components of the EU research policy, would be heavily hit over the whole period. EUA also notes with concern that the EIT budget would already be reduced this year, despite the recent approval of the 2015 budget which as a consequence would need to be amended.

The European Commission expects that the leverage effect of the EFSI will result in more funds being channeled into research and innovation through large-scale projects financed by the new scheme. This is however an uncertain gain, while the €2.7bn cut in Horizon 2020 would be a real loss for Europe’s universities as key actors contributing to Europe’s competitiveness, growth and employment. EUA therefore calls on legislators to oppose in particular the removal of funds from the Excellent Science Pillar of Horizon 2020.

EUA’s next newsletter will feature a dedicated article including further details about the potential impact of the EFSI on universities.

More information on the Investment Plan is available here.
EUA’s Statement on the Investment Plan, released in December 2014, can be viewed here.
Link to EUA statement
Link to NRC statement

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