Research ministers urged to defend ERC independence and FP10

EU research ministers are being asked to back the independence of the European Research Council (ERC) when they meet in Warsaw on March 10-11, and to acknowledge the value of a standalone EU Framework Programme for research and innovation (R&I). 

These positions are set out in a first draft of the Warsaw Declaration, sent by the Polish presidency to national research ministries for comment in advance of an informal Council meeting in the Polish capital.

The draft text notes the “pivotal” role of the ERC and the European Innovation Council (EIC) in Horizon Europe. “We call upon the Commission to preserve their independence and expand their role in the next Union R&I Framework Programme,” it reads.

EIC work programmes are drafted by the European Commission in coordination with EU member states, but there have been calls to strengthen its independence along the lines of ERC, whose scientific council is fully responsible for allocating grants.

Universities are worried the Commission plans to impose top-down priorities on the ERC, after it said in its Competitiveness Compass that the organisation should operate “along the same strategic interests” as the EIC.

The research community also fears the successor to Horizon Europe, FP10, could be integrated into a future European Competitiveness Fund, concerns which were exacerbated by the Commission’s initial plans for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget.

In the draft Warsaw Declaration, the Polish presidency recalls that the EU treaties foresee a multiannual Framework Programme, “to cover among others the research activities of the Union, the setting up of a minimum overall amount and the details rules for the Union financial participation.”

Horizon Europe and its predecessor Horizon 2020 “have become the world’s major transnational programmes financing science and innovation, enhancing Europe’s competitive edge globally,” the declaration reads.

“We therefore call on the European Commission to further build on the indisputable legacy of self-standing framework programmes for R&I and invite the European Commission to draft its initial proposal in respect of this legacy and in close cooperation with the member states.”

Widespread support

As the Warsaw Declaration is at an early draft stage, it is unclear whether member states will be prepared to endorse the text. The declaration may be watered down ahead of the meeting in order to reach a consensus, but research stakeholders are urging ministers to back the strong statement.

They are also encouraged by the non-binding report on FP10 agreed this week by the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. This also backs a standalone Framework Programme, with increased budgets for both the ERC and EIC. 

“With these two institutions [Parliament and Council] clearly showing the need to preserve FP10 as a standalone programme, we hope the Commission will reconsider its current approach,” Kamila Kozirog, policy analyst at the European University Association, told Science|Business.

The first draft is “extremely promising,” said Julien Chicot, head of research and innovation policy at the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.

“At a time of high uncertainties regarding the implications of the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass on EU R&I policy, we need the strong support from the Council to ensure a ‘self-standing’ and excellence-focused FP10 with an ambitious budget in the next MFF,” he added.

While he is pleased by the show of support for the ERC and EIC and their independence, Chicot would like to see Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions added to the list of instruments which should be expanded.

“We also welcome the Council’s relevant support for collaborative research and innovation, the importance of international scientific collaboration, and measures aimed at addressing the R&I gap within Europe,” he said.

Not just competitiveness

At a time when R&I funders are coming under pressure to contribute more to economic competitiveness to justify their continued funding, the draft declaration notes that the Framework Programmes also play an important role in “safeguarding democracy, strengthening common European values, and protecting academic freedom,” and have “supported human wellbeing.”

Assets such as Europe’s social welfare systems, academic freedom and research excellence must not be taken for granted, and require continued investment, said Silvia Gomez Recio, secretary general of the Young European Research Universities Network. “Europe is much more than just competitiveness,” she said.

“I strongly welcome the commitment to maintaining ambitious Framework Programmes that support groundbreaking science and innovation, address societal challenges, foster cross-border and cross-sector collaboration, and uphold academic freedom,” she said. “These principles must remain at the core of Europe’s research and innovation.”

Budget proposal

The European Commission will present its draft proposal for the next MFF in July. The proposal will clarify key priorities for funding, including how the budget will be structured. A draft for a research Framework Programme usually follows the MFF.

The draft Warsaw Declaration argues for an “adequate budget” for FP10, but does not advance a figure. It does though stress that “none of the future instruments based on R&I capacity, or supporting beneficiaries from R&I, should be funded at the expense of the framework programme.”

The Polish presidency text also calls for action in FP10 to tackle fragmentation of the European Research Area and to support member states with less developed R&I systems. “We believe that closing the innovation gap between the Union and global leaders also requires efforts towards decreasing the R&I gap within Europe,” it says.

Member states are currently divided over whether Widening measures should remain within the scope of the Framework Programme, or should be financed by cohesion funds.

The text also highlights a few specific research and innovation fields that FP10 should support, including the development of social and environmental technologies, and civil security research.