Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001625/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nicola Zingaretti (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D)
Since the Trump administration came to power, it has looked as if the US higher education and research system could shrink significantly owing to drastic cuts to public funding. As a result of those policies, the Department of Education’s staff numbers have shrunk considerably and a number of universities have been forced to make plans to axe posts.
At the same time, the executive has put many universities under intense pressure, threatening further cuts to funding in an attempt to influence how they are run and their internal rules.
These dynamics raise serious questions about the protection of universities’ independence and of freedom of scientific research, key principles over which doubt cannot be cast.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission plan to take measures to make European universities more attractive to researchers and scientists who, as a result of the current climate in the US, are looking for new environments in which to continue their work, including Europeans looking to repatriate?
- 2.With a view to making the policies promoted by the EU more attractive to talent globally, what strategies will the Commission follow to bolster existing funding instruments?
Submitted: 23.4.2025