Sittings · Document
Question for oral answer O-000007/2026
to the Council
Rule 142
Eszter Lakos, Sofie Eriksson, Ivars Ijabs, Ville Niinistö on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Subject: Upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act
The European Parliament recalls that Article 179 TFEU sets out the Union’s objective of establishing a European Research Area (ERA) in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely, enabling the Union to strengthen its scientific and technological bases and enhance its global competitiveness. A fully functioning ERA is essential for Europe’s long-term strategic autonomy, its ability to attract and retain scientific talent, and its capacity to deliver high-quality research supporting innovation, prosperity and European leadership.
Despite progress in recent years, the Union continues to face persistent structural obstacles preventing the full realisation of the ERA. Fragmented national rules, insufficient coordination and cooperation among Member States, uneven research performance, underinvestment in R&I, administrative complexity and barriers to researcher mobility undermine the coherence and effectiveness of the European research and innovation landscape and weaken the free circulation of knowledge that lies at the heart of the ERA.
Parliament considers the ERA Act a crucial opportunity to address shortcomings, strengthen governance, elevate European research, provide greater clarity and reinforce the “fifth freedom”. It should complement the voluntary coordination of the ERA Policy Agenda with a more consistent, results-oriented and future-proof governance framework supporting research excellence and Europe’s innovation capacity and creation of quality employment.
In this context:
1. What mechanisms does the Council envisage to encourage coordinated national R&D strategies and to improve the overall efficiency and complementarity as well as stimulate private investment into the European R&I funding landscape?
2. What measures will the Council propose to improve the attractiveness, stability, mobility and overall quality of research careers in Europe, while also safeguarding the freedom of scientific research and institutional autonomy as core values of the ERA? Specifically, how does the Council envisage these measures to promote up- and re-skilling, decrease the gender pay gap, and support early-career researchers?
3. Does the Council plan to propose measures that promote the free circulation of knowledge and technology across the Union, while ensuring responsible knowledge valorisation, intellectual property rights protection, research security, ethical standards, and effective dissemination of publicly funded research?
4. Would the Council be in favour of an independent legislative proposal with its own distinct legal basis protecting the fundamental freedom of scientific research, complementing the ERA Act?
5. What measures does the Council foresee to contribute to achieving the Union target of at least 3 % GDP investment in R&D by 2030? How would the Council support the public and private investment of 3 % GDP in R&D in each Member State?
Submitted: 23.2.2026
Lapses: 24.5.2026