The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the European Research Area (ERA) Act, a flagship initiative under the Competitiveness Compass for the EU (January 2025). The ERA Act aims to establish a legislative framework that strengthens Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem and promotes the so-called “fifth freedom”, the free circulation of researchers, knowledge, and technology across the EU.

Building on the 2024 reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, the ERA Act seeks to deepen the integration of research and innovation within the EU’s Single Market, bridging gaps between Member States and boosting Europe’s global competitiveness in science and technology.

Purpose of the Consultation

The consultation is addressed to all stakeholders involved or interested in R&I, and its objective is to collect feedback on the key challenges and potential policy solutions that could be addressed through EU-level legislation. The European Commission is particularly seeking input on how to:

• Achieve EU-wide public and private R&D investment targets;
• Better align national and EU research policies and programmes;
• Support the fundamental values of academic freedom, inclusiveness, and ethics in research;
• Improve framework conditions for researchers and innovators, including mobility, open science, and career development.

Main Themes of the Consultation

The questionnaire focuses on several priority areas for the ERA Act:

1. Strengthening R&D Investment
   – Raising EU R&D intensity towards the 3% GDP target.
   – Reducing disparities between Member States.
   – Mobilising coordinated public and private funding.
2. Alignment of R&I Policies and Programmes
   – Overcoming fragmentation of national and EU research strategies.
   – Reforming European Partnerships to enhance transparency and alignment.
3. Improving Framework Conditions for Research and Researchers
   – Upholding Fundamental Values: Protecting academic freedom, gender equality, and inclusiveness.
   – Free Circulation of Researchers and Knowledge: Tackling precarious employment, promoting open science, and improving mobility and data sharing.
   – Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Research: Developing EU-wide principles on responsible AI use.
   – Research Security and International Cooperation: Ensuring consistency in EU research security standards amid geopolitical challenges.

Next Steps

The consultation will close the 23^rd January 2026. The European Commission will summarise the results in a public report and integrate the findings into the impact assessment for the ERA Act proposal.

Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their feedback and, where relevant, upload detailed position papers to support their contributions.

Have Your Say: Participate in the consultation on the European Research Area (ERA) Act via the European Commission’s “Have Your Say” portal at this link here.