Most EU citizens believe that responsibility for research and development should be shared equally between Brussels and national governments, according to a new survey.
A special edition of the Eurobarometer poll shows that there is some support for the federalisation of R&D, although not as much as for other issues like fighting terrorism, managing migration and refugees, and the environment and climate change.
One in four say R&D should be dealt with “only” or “mainly” at the EU level. About one in eight want it to be a largely or exclusively national matter.
Younger people, and those with higher levels of education, are more in favour of Brussels taking on responsibility for R&D.
In a separate question, citizens also were asked about the EU’s main assets.
11% chose “the EU’s capacity for research and innovation”. But a much greater proportion mentioned issues like respecting democracy and human rights, the EU’s industrial and trading power, and solidarity between member states.
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