Can Eurosceptics make a deal on R&D? Not on past form

Despite the centre-right European People’s Party winning a clear majority, public attention is focusing on the increased political leverage of Eurosceptics and the far right, following their surge in the European elections.

There is much speculation on the likely impact on future EU policies, especially in fields such as research and innovation, one of the few areas on which there was a broad cross-party consensus among outgoing MEPs.

To get an idea of what the future holds, Science|Business analysed the voting patterns of outgoing Eurosceptic and populist MEPs on research-related legislation, such as Horizon 2020 and the Single European Patent, passed in the last Parliament.

While at first glance, the increase in the number of populist and Eurosceptic MEPs might be expected to undermine the previous consensus, past voting form indicates the parties they represent have little common ground.

The Eurosceptics are coming, but do they agree?  

Outgoing MEPs are worried that Eurosceptics will have a harmful effect on research and innovation policy. “A greater number of Europhobic members [...] in the European Parliament would certainly have negative consequences on the idea of turning scientific research and innovation into a great European policy, as we have done for agriculture,” says Jean-Pierre Audy, an EPP parliamentarian from France who lost his seat.

But the preliminary distribution of seats in the European Parliament indicates the only way Eurosceptic MEPs can influence EU’s policies is to find some common ground. Otherwise, they will have difficulties in pushing their own agenda and it will be quite hard for them to oppose and/or overturn any of the ongoing research and innovation policies.

In order to see whether the radical parties are likely to reach an agreed view, Science|Business analysed the voting patterns of outgoing Eurosceptic and populist MEPs on twelve piece of legislation, which were essential in strengthening the EU’s research and innovation policies.

The UK Independence Party (UKIP), whose members consistently voted against many research and innovation policies in the last Parliament, gained 11 extra seats. Meanwhile, in France, the Front National (FN) gained 20 seats more, compared to 2009. But, unlike UKIP, FN’s voting history shows that its MEPs were more engaged with the EU’s research and innovation policies, and more likely to support than oppose them.

In common with UKIP, the Dutch Party for Freedom (DPF) constantly opposed research and innovation legislation. But, parties like FN, Northern League, Jobbik and Freedom Party of Austria had more nuanced voting strategies for research and innovation policies.

In fact, it turns out that UKIP and DPF do not have much in common with FN and other radical parties. FN, Northern League and the Flemish Interest party constantly supported research and innovation policies, while UKIP and DPF opposed them, no matter what the specific topic of the legislation.

Given this, it seems highly unlikely that the populists and Eurosceptics will be able to influence and affect policies such as Horizon 2020, the Joint Technology Initiatives, the European Unitary Patent, and the Energy Roadmap 2050, that were put in place through broad cross-party consensus.

To see the Science|Business analysis of how Eurosceptics voted on key legislation on research and innovation click here.