Joint statement on the European Research Area Act. Ensuring a researcher-centred European Research Area

This joint statement, submitted by representatives of ERA Forum Stakeholder Group 4 (AERG, Eurodoc, ISE, and MCAA), welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to introduce an ERA Act as a key step toward strengthening Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem, reducing fragmentation, and improving EU global competitiveness. It stresses that the long-term legitimacy and success of the Act depend on meaningful and systematic stakeholder involvement through inclusive ERA governance. The statement calls for sustained and enforceable public investment in research and development, highlighting the need for binding national commitments to reach the 3% GDP R&D target, including at least 11.25% GDP in public R&D funding. It supports greater alignment of R&I policies across Member States while protecting bottom-up, excellence-based programmes such as the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). It also proposes that the ERA Act strengthen academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and transparent governance, including the creation of an independent European ombudsperson for academic freedom. The document emphasizes gender equality, inclusive career structures, secure employment standards, and improved mobility conditions (including social security access and reduced administrative burdens). Finally, it advocates for open science, improved research assessment practices, trusted research infrastructures, and balanced knowledge valorisation beyond commercialisation, concluding that the ERA Act can significantly enhance Europe’s scientific and societal impact.