On 20 February 2025, several rectors of LERU, the League of European Research Universities, met with MEPs and MEP assistants, and the Polish Minister for Industry, Marzena Czarnecka, at the European Parliament for a LERU Lunch event to discuss the EU research, innovation, and education policy agenda for 2024-2029. The event was hosted by MEP Dr Christian Ehler.
LERU speakers emphasised the following issues, amongst others:
- the need for the European Union and Member States to invest more in both research and innovation, and that a balanced long-term top-down and bottom-up approach to research funding;
- the importance of a standalone FP with a ringfenced budget;
- the need for funding, time and more support for European University Alliances.
LERU Secretary-General Prof. Kurt Deketelaere also presented LERU’s views on the European Research Area Act and stressed the urgent need for such an ERA Act which aims at anchoring the basic elements of EU R&I policy and allows eliminating national obstacles to the free circulation of knowledge in the EU.
https://www.leru.org/news/leru-and-meps-discuss-eu-research-innovation-and-education-policy-agenda