What changed

(2023/2184(INL))

P9_TA(2024)0022

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

Promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU

with recommendations to the Commission on promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

(2023/2184(INL))

PE751.835

– having regard to Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

European Parliament resolution of 17 January 2024 with recommendations to the Commission on promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU (2023/2184(INL))

– having regard to Articles 49, 56 and 179(1) and 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Articles 12 and 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

– having regard to Rome Ministerial Communiqué of 19 November 2020 by the European ministers responsible for higher education, in the framework of the European Higher Education Area, in particular Annex I on Academic Freedom,

– having regard to the SFIC Opinion on the implementation of the Bonn Declaration in International Cooperation in Research and Innovation (ERAC-SFIC 1356/21)(2021),1356/21) (2021),

– having regard to the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017),

5. Emphasises the particularly precarious situation for early-career researchers and that, in order to increase the number of early-career researchers, clearer and more structured career opportunities should be established; stresses that this should also be guaranteed through fostering transparent recruitment procedures, free from any biases, and providing appropriate social security coverage to all researchers, including doctoral candidates who are engaged in remunerated research activity;

6. Notes that it is the management bodies of scientific research organisations that set those institutions' scientific research priorities; acknowledges that instances of degradation of democracy in scientific research organisations undermine the freedom of scientific research; emphasises therefore the importance of academic self-governance which should include the right of scientific researchers to have a say on the governance of their scientific institution, including on the labour conditions at the institution; emphasises that scientific researchers are entitled to all the rights under Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;

7. Believes that scientific research organisations should be encouraged, while fully respecting their institutional autonomy, to engage in international cooperation to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations to further develop a strong science diplomacy component addressing the freedom of scientific research and possible consequences in case of breaches;

9. Recognises, in line with the Bonn Declaration, that freedom of scientific research stands for openness, exchange, excellence, internationalism, diversity, equality, integrity, curiosity, responsibility and reflexivity and that it is, therefore, a pillar of any democracy;

10. Takes note of the definition of the freedom of scientific research in Annex II, point (2) of the Commission proposal of 13.13 July 2023.2023 for a Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe;

11. Believes that freedom of scientific research must come with the responsibility to respect highest ethical standards and integrity in scientific research and should foster Open Science; emphasises that integrity of scientific research requires transparency of funding, and that the freedom of scientific research brings a responsibility towards society to provide this transparency; strongly supports, therefore, the common practice of transparent communication on sources of funding for research activities and calls on the scientific sector to safeguard this practice;

12. Emphasises the decisive role of a properly designed and well implemented enabling framework to effectively protect and promote freedom of scientific research throughout the Union, taking into utmost account of available public support to facilitate production, sharing and spreading of knowledge, as a public good, and to avoid any risk of interference or undermining of independence of scientific research;

13. Insists on the relevance of open knowledge to ensure the freedom of scientific research; calls for efficient and transparent creation of knowledge without artificial barriers hindering the access to information and its dissemination; estimates that sharing results of scientific research for non-commercial purposes must be protected by Union law and actively promoted; stresses that publicly funded scientific results shallmust be published in open-access academic journals and the results shallmust be accessible for everyone in an easily accessible way;for everyone;

14. Is concerned about the recent backsliding of this fundamental right in the Union, which is essential for political freedom and social participation and threatens to undermine the development of a functioning and competitive European Research Area (ERA);

23. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote public awareness of the importance of freedom of scientific research through education, public outreach, and support for science journalism;

24. Requests that the Commission submit, on the basis of Article 182(5), in conjunction with the Article 179(1), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a proposal for an act on the freedom of scientific research, following the principles and aimsrecommendations set out in the Annex heretohereto, to guarantee, protect and promote this freedom at the level of research organisations and of researchers all along their careers;

25. Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the accompanying recommendations to the Commission and the Council, and to the national parliaments.

ANNEX TO THE MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION: RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO THE CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL REQUESTED

Defining the Freedom of Scientific Research

24. The proposed act should be legally binding across the Union. The proposal should aim to create a legal framework which offers sufficient flexibility to balance the rights and obligations on a case-by-case basis and can be applied throughout the Union despite the vast diversity in the national and regional scientific research systems. It should create a starting point for the development of legal minimum standards for the freedom of scientific research through case-law from European courts, including the Court of Justice of the European Union.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, until the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

European University Association

League of European Research-intensive Universities

Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research

The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities

Scholars At Risk

Eurodoc

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM)

German Research Foundation

Frontiers Media SA

Federation of European Publishers

Coimbra Group

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

RELX

ScienceEurope

Leopoldina

German Rectors Conference

All European Academies

Wissenschaftsrat

Prof Liviu Matei (personal capacity)

Max Voegler (personal capacity)

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

28.11.2023

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

43

3

8

Members present for the final vote

Nicola Beer, Tom Berendsen, Vasile Blaga, Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, Jerzy Buzek, Ignazio Corrao, Beatrice Covassi, Ciarán Cuffe, Josianne Cutajar, Nicola Danti, Valter Flego, Niels Fuglsang, Lina Gálvez Muñoz, Jens Geier, Nicolás González Casares, Bart Groothuis, Christophe Grudler, Robert Hajšel, Ivars Ijabs, Romana Jerković, Iskra Mihaylova, Angelika Niebler, Mauri Pekkarinen, Morten Petersen, Clara Ponsatí Obiols, Sara Skyttedal, Maria Spyraki, Riho Terras, Patrizia Toia, Henna Virkkunen, Pernille Weiss

Substitutes present for the final vote

Pascal Arimont, Franc Bogovič, Paolo Borchia, Marc Botenga, Damien Carême, Francesca Donato, Matthias Ecke, Izabela-Helena Kloc, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Georg Mayer, Marina Mesure, Alin Mituța, Johan Nissinen, Jutta Paulus, Mikuláš Peksa, Robert Roos, Massimiliano Salini

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

Carmen Avram, Peter Jahr, Virginie Joron, Ljudmila Novak, Milan Zver

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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