The European Commission is calling on European countries to expedite visa procedures in an effort to attract researchers from the United States. The bloc’s research ministers are set to convene on May 23 to discuss initiatives aimed at drawing U.S.-based researchers who may be seeking to leave due to budget cuts in science and research implemented by the Trump administration.
Research Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva expressed the Commission's plans to enhance coordination among EU member states regarding visa processing. “For example, visas, how fast we issue visas,” she stated, emphasizing the need for member states to utilize existing tools more efficiently. “We want to motivate the member states to use the tools that we have faster, because the speed also matters.”
In addition, the Commission intends to enshrine scientific freedom into law as part of the forthcoming European Research Area Act, which Zaharieva is expected to propose in 2026. "Let's use this momentum, and this opportunity, and attract the brightest and best talents of the world," she urged.
Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a half-billion-euro plan designed to attract U.S. researchers, which will include grants aimed at supporting researchers who wish to relocate to Europe.
Zaharieva referred to the recent U.S. crackdown on universities as a justification for securing sufficient funding for science and research in the upcoming EU seven-year budget, set to commence in 2028. This topic was addressed in a college meeting of all commissioners on Wednesday. “We know that, speaking about science, that for our transatlantic friends science is not that important anymore,” Zaharieva remarked. “That's why the next budget is really important.”
The Commission's proposed blueprint for the next budget, released in February, suggests merging the bloc’s research and industrial programs into a single “Competitiveness Fund.” This proposal has sparked controversy among researchers. Zaharieva stated, “The goal is really to boost our competitiveness” and emphasized that the next EU budget “should be much more simple, much more focused.”
