On 8 March 2022, EU ministers for higher education, research and innovation presented the Marseille Declaration on international cooperation in research and innovation (R&I) at a conference, held in Marseille under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The declaration calls for a more holistic approach, recognising the geopolitical and strategic importance of international research, innovation  and higher education cooperation, for the European Union. It sets out nine values and principles – such as the freedom of scientific research, ethics & integrity and open science – shared by the member states and the European Commission, providing a framework for fair, open, inclusive, and participatory science that works for the common good.

The declaration builds on the global approach to research and innovation, adopted by the Council on 28 September to identify key actions strengthening EU’s global role in R&I, with a strong focus on shared fundamental values and principles, cooperation by reciprocity, the need for strategic autonomy and freedom of scientific research and gender equality (for more details, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, September 2021).

Both documents will serve as the basis for dialogue with non-EU countries, especially in a period of turbulent geopolitical developments, showcasing that collaboration, sometimes, needs to be modulated. This challenging period however also highlights the utmost importance of research collaboration with EU’s closest partners, such as Switzerland and the UK, and strongly advocates for their immediate association to EU’s flagship programmes in the field, namely Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.

Read the full declaration here.