Science Europe calls on European leaders to maintain research commitments
Science Europe has expressed “grave concerns” over the possibility that the EU’s research budget will be reduced next year.
In an open letter to Europe’s leaders, members of the Science Europe Governing Board said they were worried by the Council of the European Union’s move to substantially decrease payments for projects funded by Horizon 2020 during 2015. In the letter, the board said: “It is a matter of grave concern to us that at a time when leaders in Europe speak of investing in knowledge, science and innovation as means to spur growth and prosperity for our economies and societies, once again research budgets at national and EU level are facing the prospect of cuts or stagnation.
“Spending on knowledge, science and innovation is an investment that always pays off,” the letter continued. “Research funding supports the knowledge base of a society, on which its capacity to innovate and to address current and future challenges depends. Science is one of the cornerstones of European culture and civilisation.”
MEPs have also expressed disquiet on the proposed cuts to the budget of Horizon 2020. Last month, outgoing European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said such cuts “would seriously put into question the reputation of the EU as a reliable funder of research”.
Commenting on the letter, Amanda Crowfoot, director of Science Europe, said: “Implementing cuts in 2015 would weaken European research in the short term, but could also have a detrimental effect in the long term by potentially reducing breakthrough discoveries which could lead to major innovations in the future.”
MEPs and EU member states have begun conciliation talks and have until 17 November to reach a compromise on the EU’s budget for next year.
