UK university leaders lobby Brussels on research cuts

A delegation of over 50 UK university leaders met with European policy-makers and influencers in Brussels on the 13 April 2015 to discuss important European Union (EU) policy developments that would affect UK universities.

The university leaders sought dialogue on a range of EU policy areas in various meetings. These included calling for a reversal of the proposed cuts to Horizon 2020 to finance the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). UK universities also proposed a formal guarantee that an adequate proportion of EFSI funding was channelled directly into research and innovation and that funding to research and innovation projects would be allocated competitively and on the basis of excellence.

In March 2015, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, had told an audience at the Royal Society in London that the Investment Plan for Europe would bring 'more money for European research and innovation, not less'. However, this had not allayed the fears of many universities in the UK and other EU countries.

ESO: Background information: Project financing: Council agrees negotiating stance on European fund for strategic investments http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-project-financing-council-agrees-negotiating-stance-on-european-fund-for-strategic-investments/

ESO: Background information: Horizon 2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/horizon-2020/

Universities UK: Press Release, 13.04.15: University vice-chancellors lead delegation to Brussels http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Pages/delegationtoBrussels.aspx#.VSvcDxCuR8E

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