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2023/2184(INL) Legislative initiative First reading

Promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU

Parliament asks the Commission to propose a law and says what it should contain.

Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 17 January 2024. This is its final position on the matter.

  1. ✓ Referred to committee 12 July 2023
  2. ✓ Committee work Report adopted 28 November 2023
  3. ✓ Tabled for plenary 5 December 2023
  4. ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 17 January 2024
  5. ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
ITRE — Industry, Research and Energy
Rapporteur
Christian EHLER PPE
Shadow rapporteurs
Alex AGIUS SALIBA S&DMEP #221463 ECRIvars IJABS RenewMEP #197539 Verts/ALEMEP #96820 The Left

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Adopted by Parliament · latest Adopted text TA9-0022/2024 17 January 2024 ✦ Parliament's resolution asks the Commission to propose a legally binding act on the freedom of scientific research, based on Article 182(5) and Article 179(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.⇄ what changed Tabled for plenary Report A9-0393/2023 5 December 2023 ✦ Parliament's resolution asks the Commission to propose a binding act on the freedom of scientific research, based on Article 182(5) and Article 179(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, following the principles in the Annex.⇄ what changed Committee draft Draft report (ITRE) 25 August 2023 ✦ This is a draft report by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy asking the Commission to propose an act on the freedom of scientific research in the EU.

Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.

Timeline

  1. Plenary stage
  2. 17 January 2024 Plenary vote
    Sitting of 17 January 2024 📄 Report A9-0393/2023📄 Adopted text TA9-0022/2024
    Adopted Adopted by a large majority
    For 461 Against 34 Abstained 140

    Final vote — text as a whole at 12:29 · 73% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

    How the vote unfolded · 6 ballots

    adopted rejected lapsed square = amendment circle = part of the text decisive vote Solid = roll call (click for every MEP’s vote); faded = no individual positions

    Show all 6 ballots in voting order
    1. Amendment 1, adding text after paragraph 14 12:28 A9-0393/2023 – Christian Ehler – After § 14 – Am 1
    Rejected
    2. Separate vote on Annex I, paragraph 3, subparagraph 2
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    3. Separate vote on Annex I, paragraph 3, subparagraph 2
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    4. Amendment 2 to Annex I, after point 23 12:28 A9-0393/2023 – Christian Ehler – Annex I, after point 23 – Am 2
    Rejected
    5. Separate vote on recital I
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
    6. Final vote — text as a whole 12:29 A9-0393/2023 – Christian Ehler – Motion for a resolution (text as a whole)
    Adopted
  3. 5 December 2023 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    📄 Report A9-0393/2023
  4. Committee stage
  5. 28 November 2023 Committee vote: report adopted

    ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  6. 25 August 2023 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    📄 Draft report (ITRE)
  7. 12 July 2023 Referred to the ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) committee

    The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.