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having regard to Articles 49, 56 and 179(1) and 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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having regard to Articles 12 and 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

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having regard to the Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research adopted at the Ministerial Conference on the European Research Area on 20 October 2020 in Bonn (the ‘Bonn Declaration’),

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having regard to Commission communication of 30 September 2020, entitled ‘A new ERA for Research and Innovation’,

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having regard to Commission communication of 18 May 2021 on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation, entitled 'Europe's strategy for international cooperation in a changing world',

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having regard to the European Research Area Policy Agenda, Action 6,

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having regard to Commission communication of 3 December 2020 on the European Democracy Action Plan,

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having regard to recital 72 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013 (1),

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having regard to the 2023 European Added Value Assessment on Promotion of the freedom of scientific research presented by the European Added Value Unit to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy on 18 September 2023,

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having regard to Rome Ministerial Communiqué of 19 November 2020 by the European ministers responsible for higher education, in the framework of the European Higher Education Area, in particular Annex I on Academic Freedom,

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having regard to the SFIC Opinion on the implementation of the Bonn Declaration in International Cooperation in Research and Innovation (ERAC-SFIC 1356/21) (2021),

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having regard to the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017),

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having regard to the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), at its 29th session from 21 October to 12 November 1997,

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having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

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having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

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having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

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having regard to Rules 47 and 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

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having regard to the recommendations of Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation,

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having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A9-0393/2023),

A.

whereas the freedom of scientific research, which is an essential element of democracy and one of the constituent parts of academic freedom, is under pressure in the Union and is gradually eroding (2), which is exemplified by the fact that on the Academic Freedom Index all Member States had a score above 0,85 on the index in 2008 while in 2022 some Member States have dropped significantly, the lowest score for 2022 being 0,34;

B.

whereas restrictions to the freedom of scientific research have negative impacts for the Union economy by stifling innovation, slowing scientific progress, and reducing Europe's global competitiveness;

C.

whereas erosion of the freedom of scientific research contributes to brain drain of top researchers, self-censorship among academics, less critical analysis on social and political issues, less interdisciplinary collaboration, less public discourse and debate;

D.

whereas job insecurity affects the ability to fully enjoy the freedom of scientific research; whereas thousands of researchers work with limited-duration project funding, by way of individual or project research grants, fixed-term employment contracts or by performing specific tasks as self-employed persons, and have poor job security and labour protection;

E.

whereas the Bonn Declaration includes a definition of the freedom of scientific research and recognises the responsibilities for both governments and research organisations to promote the freedom of scientific research;

F.

whereas defending the freedom of scientific research ensures that scientific research contributes to the public interest and contributes to development and improved living conditions for people;

G.

whereas the Bonn Declaration lacks implementation instruments at European level;

H.

whereas a solid body of case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on academic freedom, including the freedom of scientific research, exists which sets out a number of legal standards and principles for the protection and promotion of academic freedom;

I.

whereas, in its judgement of 6 October 2020 in Case C-66/18 (3), the Court of Justice found that Hungarian Law on national higher education deprived the affected organisations of the organisational structure that is necessary for conducting their academic research, illustrating the erosion of academic freedom in Hungary;

J.

whereas specific Union legislative acts limit the freedom of scientific research by submitting the academic sector to regimes primarily designed for regulating the internal market;

K.

whereas Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, prior to her confirmation by Parliament, pledged in the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2019-2024 to support a right of initiative for Parliament and committed to respond with a legislative act when Parliament adopts resolutions requesting that the Commission submit legislative proposals;