Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our mailing list
On 13 February, the European Commission published an expert report titled A European Framework for Science Diplomacy. The report relies on a thorough co-creation process involving 130 scientists, diplomats and other science diplomacy experts, with the aim to develop recommendations for a future European Framework for Science Diplomacy.
The agreement to develop a European Science Diplomacy Agenda and a European Framework for Science Diplomacy was reached by EU Research Ministers at the informal Competitiveness Council (Research) in July 2023, in line with the Council Conclusions on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation adopted in September 2021 (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, May 2021). It also builds on member states’ individual efforts to evaluate the context and the needs of science diplomacy in their specific country settings (e.g., Finland and Germany).
The report reviews the state-of-the-art of European science diplomacy and discusses its mission, objectives and values. Its recommendations include proposals for strategic, operational and enabling instruments and related actions, as well as better coordination to address existing gaps and act more strategically on the global stage.
As a guiding principle, European science diplomacy needs to be rooted in the principles and values that make Europe a trustworthy partner and provide both a foundation and signposts for navigating the complexities of a changing political world order.
The objectives of European science diplomacy are identified as follows:
©European Commission
ACA members are among key actors of science diplomacy in Europe, being instrumental in both developing strategic frameworks at the national level and implementing the objectives together with higher education institutions and research organisations from their countries.