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On 27 February 2026, the European Commission (EC) published a package of measures to support research and innovation (R&I) cooperation in the EU. The package includes:
The Proposal for a Council recommendation on a European Union framework for science diplomacy builds on the European framework for science diplomacy, published in 2025, and addresses the need for a cohesive framework on science diplomacy in order to defend the EU’s democratic values and strategic priorities, strengthen the EU’s global position in R&I, and reinforce the EU’s commitment to managing global goods and sustainability, as part of the international dimension of the European Research Area (ERA). The proposal offers some common definitions and points to the relevance of science diplomacy in parallel to efforts on securing R&I. It also highlights relevant events and groups discussing the topic, including the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance and the first UNESCO Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy.
As foreseen in the Council recommendation on enhancing research security (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, May 2024), the Research Security Monitor 2025 aims at raising awareness through highlighting member states’ approaches to research security and the state of play in the EU policy landscape. The report defines research security and proposes principles of responsible internationalisation, outlines an approach to risk appraisals and assesses the threat landscape for R&I, recommends a country-agnostic and risk-based approach to mitigating risk, presents a maturity model in analysing developments on research security between and within member states, and showcases case studies of national approaches, safeguards of research funding bodies, and approaches within higher education institutions. Other activities anticipated for 2027 include an EU Centre of Expertise, a due diligence platform, a critical technologies risk assessment, and further guidance on how to operationalise elements of risk appraisal and risk mitigation for practitioners and policy makers.
The Global Approach Implementation Report 2023-2025 provides an overview of the European Commission’s work on the Global Approach to R&I and related Council Conclusions since 2023. It takes stock of the new and evolving challenges and opportunities and reaffirms the value of the cooperation with EU neighbouring regions and global partnerships, based on the EU’s commitment to protecting academic freedom and ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, equality and non-discrimination as fundamental components of the EC’s approach to science diplomacy.
ACA members addressed these highly relevant EU policy updates in the latest meeting of the ACA Thematic Peer Group “Global Developments” from the national funder’s perspective (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, March 2026).