Public Consultation Launched on the European Research Area (ERA) Act

  • 07 November 2025

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act, a cornerstone initiative of the EU’s Competitiveness Compass revealed in January 2025. The proposed legislation aims to reinforce Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem by introducing a clear framework to promote the “fifth freedom”, the unrestricted movement of researchers, knowledge, and technology throughout the EU.

Inspired by the 2024 reports from Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, the ERA Act seeks to bring research and innovation more deeply into the EU Single Market, narrow performance gaps among Member States, and strengthen the continent’s position in global science and technology.

 

Why This Consultation Matters

The consultation welcomes contributions from everyone with an interest in R&I (from researchers and universities to businesses, policymakers, and citizens). The goal is to collect insights on how EU-level legislation can better:

  • Increase public and private investment in research and development;
  • Improve coordination between national and EU research strategies;
  • Uphold academic freedom, inclusion, and ethics in research;
  • Enhance working conditions and mobility for researchers while fostering open science and career opportunities.

 

Main Areas of Focus

The consultation questionnaire highlights several key themes:

  1. Investing in Europe’s R&D Future
    • Advancing towards the 3% of GDP R&D target.
    • Reducing funding and performance disparities between countries.
    • Leveraging joint public-private financing.
  2. Coordinating R&I Policies and Programmes
    • Tackling fragmentation across EU and national research systems.
    • Updating European Partnerships for greater transparency and impact.
  3. Empowering Researchers and Safeguarding Values
    • Promoting academic freedom, gender equality, and diversity.
    • Supporting researcher mobility, fair employment, and open access to knowledge.
    • Creating EU-level principles for ethical AI in research.
    • Enhancing research security and fostering responsible international collaboration.

 

Timeline and Next Steps

The consultation is open until 23 January 2026. The European Commission will publish a summary report of responses and use the feedback to shape the impact assessment for the ERA Act proposal.

Stakeholders are encouraged to share their views and upload position papers via the European Commission’s “Have Your Say” platform:

Join the consultation on the European Research Area (ERA) Act