Universities still not satisfied with European Research Area role

Commission’s lack of confirmation on whether institutions can join stakeholder forum “unfortunate”, says university head

Heads of university groups have again expressed their dissatisfaction with their role in shaping the renewal of the European Research Area—the longstanding suite of EU policies to integrate and improve Europe’s national research systems.

In a 22 June tweet, Kurt Deketelaere, the secretary general of the League of European Research Universities, said it was  “unfortunate” that at a meeting with the EU R&D commissioner Mariya Gabriel earlier that day, there had been “no confirmation” that stakeholders would be part of the ERA Forum for Transition, a new body for shaping the governance and implementation of the ERA.