The ministers responsible for research and innovation from the EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland held an informal meeting in Budapest (Hungary) on 16 and 17 September 2024. At the invitation of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the ministers discussed (1) the implications of the European degree and held an exchange on European competitiveness (2) from an R&I perspective and with a view to reducing fragmentation in the European Research Area, and (3) discussed how freedom of scientific research can contribute to it. The meeting was chaired by Balázs Hankó, Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation. The European Commission delegation was led by Director General Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen (DG EAC) on day 1 and Director General Marc Lemaître (DG RTD) on day 2. In the evening, the ministers were invited to a gala dinner at Várkert Bazár, a cultural centre originally constructed for the 1873 World Fair in Budapest.
In the background paper for the first plenary session on the implications of the European Degree, the Hungarian Presidency recalled that in 2021 the Council had invited Member States to explore joint European Degrees, leading to the European Commission’s 2022 Communication on this issue, and proposing a strategy for higher education that included common criteria for joint programmes. In March 2024, the Commission published a Communication on a blueprint for a European Degree which includes two entry points: a preparatory European Label and a full European Degree. The European Degree would simplify collaboration and mobility between universities by harmonising national regulations. It would also offer students more opportunities for study across Europe, enhancing their employability, while simplifying processes for universities. However, challenges include the diversity of national education systems, mutual recognition of qualifications, and financial sustainability. The discussion focused on how to ensure that the proposed European Degree respects the diverse educational traditions and national competences of Member States, while promoting deeper integration and balanced brain circulation among higher education institutions. Furthermore, delegations exchanged views on how preventing institutions unable to issue joint degrees from facing competitive disadvantages.
The second plenary focused on strengthening European competitiveness through research and innovation (R&I) and reducing fragmentation in the European Research Area (ERA). “Research and innovation is crucial to boost Europe’s competitiveness and is a main driver of productivity growth and living standards. Nevertheless, recent trends are worrying in this field”, the Presidency states and cites the following figures in the background document: In 2021, R&D spending in the EU reached 2.3% of the GDP, compared to 3.3% in Japan, 3.5% in the US, 4.9% in South Korea and over 2.4% in China. Therefore, decisive policy actions are needed to boost Europe’s R&I performance and raise its global competitiveness while maintaining the commitment to the concept of “sustainable competitiveness”, the Presidency stresses.
Another aspect of the debate was the innovation divide, where first and foremost, Member States need to strengthen national and regional innovation ecosystems by boosting their R&I capacity through increased and sustained investments as well as pro-innovation reforms. “In addition, boosting innovation creation and diffusion will also require stronger R&I collaborations across and within Member States, creating thicker links between ecosystems, within and across existing innovation hubs”, says the background paper. Another aspect of the debate was the next ERA Policy Agenda (2025-2027), which is currently being discussed. Ministers exchanged views on what the next ERA Policy Agenda should focus on to achieve impact.
The third plenary was dedicated to the contribution of freedom of scientific research to the competitiveness of the EU, where the Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research (drawn up in 2020 during the German EU Council Presidency and unanimously signed by all Member States) provides a very solid foundation. Most recently Enrico Letta’s report on the Future of the Single Market emphasised the importance of the autonomy of researchers and called for protecting their right to pursue curiosity-driven inquiries free from undue political or commercial pressures. Therefore, the Presidency sees “a good moment to consider how, in order to develop the ERA, we can further promote and protect the freedom of scientific research in Europe” and “how freedom of scientific research as a pivotal value contributes to strengthening the European competitiveness”, also against the background of developments in the area of research security.
The formal EYCS Council (education) will take place on 25 November 2024 in Brussels, the formal COMPET Council (research) on 29 November 2024 in Brussels.