As presidents of leading research-intensive universities in Europe, we express deep concerns about the lack of consensus within the European Council to give Europe an ambitious budget for the next period 2028-2034. We urge the Heads of State and Government to reconsider the cuts to Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Global Europe proposed in the negotiating box. It is now urgent to reach an agreement by the end of the year to give Europe the financial means to achieve its economic, industrial, social, geopolitical and cultural ambitions.
Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and democratic strength depend on talent and knowledge, which our universities produce through education, research and engagement with society. Three EU programmes make that possible at a scale no Member State can match. As university leaders, we stress their interlinked importance for our institutions, students and researchers, and their unique and critical role in building Europe's resilience to prepare for future and still unknown crises.
As part of Horizon Europe, the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions bring the best researchers to Europe through large-scale excellence-based competition. The framework programme also provides unique support for cross-border research collaboration to develop innovative, promising solutions to our common societal challenges.
Erasmus+ uniquely contributes to social cohesion and a sense of belonging to Europe by supporting cross-border student mobility. It also supports university collaboration that provides high-quality education and ensures young people have the skills and competencies needed to address Europe’s present and future challenges.
Through Global Europe, universities, research, and innovation can be multipliers for investments in mutually beneficial partnerships with fast-growing partners outside Europe and others joining the European Union. The instrument is critical to scaling up the socio-economic impact of our research at home and abroad, projecting Europe’s ambition to become a responsible geopolitical power with a distinctive, equitable offer to our partners.
As the negotiations move forward, we call for an agreement that delivers, for 2028–2034:
- Horizon Europe: €177 billion in constant 2025 prices (€200 billion in current prices)
- Erasmus+: €53 billion in constant 2025 prices (€60 billion in current prices)
- Global Europe (instrument): €177 billion in constant 2025 prices (€200 billion in current prices)
These are investments in the people and knowledge Europe will need for the decades ahead. Any cuts to these investments will generate severe costs for Europe.
At a time when our youth takes to the streets to demand more investment in education, the Council cannot contemplate cuts in Higher Education, or in Global Europe that also affects our capacities to support students and research. It is essential, therefore, to prioritise all areas — Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Global Europe — for our future and resilience.
President of Université PSL, El Mouhoub Mouhoud