LERU: Horizon 2020 budget cuts unacceptable

The League of European Research Universities (LERU) has called for the respect of European Commission’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme budget, following the announced budget cuts.

The organisation made the statement as the Council prepares to formally adopt its position on the 2016 EU draft budget.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) ministers are expected to endorse an agreement by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) that sees cuts of €73.2 mln to the Horizon 2020 budget in commitment appropriations, and €205.2 mln in payment appropriations, LERU’s press release reads.

LERU says that it ‘strongly rejects the ECOFIN’s position’ and describes such a move as ‘unacceptable’ for a Union that ‘prides itself on supporting competitiveness and research’.

The development comes after an agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union that saw €2.2 bln drawn from Horizon 2020 for the new European Fund for Strategic Investments, it is stated on Horizon2020’s official site.

Alain Beretz, LERU Chair Professor, said: “The cuts deriving from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) are already harmful enough for the Horizon 2020 budget (in 2016 and later) and further cuts would be unacceptable. Policy makers seem oblivious to the fact that with each new attack on the Horizon 2020 budget, they seriously erode the credibility of the EU´s and member states´ commitment to research.”

During the ongoing budgetary procedure, LERU calls upon the other EU institutions to strongly oppose the cuts in the Horizon 2020 budget for 2016, as suggested by the Council, and to prevent the introduction of further cuts.

LERU is an association of twenty-one leading research intensive universities that share the values of high-quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research.

Image: flickr/Martin Clavey