Europe Launches Drive For U.S.-Based Scientists Frozen Out By Trump’s Anti-DEI Moves | EUROtoday

PARIS (AP) — The European Union launched a drive on Monday to draw scientists and researchers to Europe with provides of grants and new coverage plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. authorities funding linked to range, fairness and inclusion initiatives.

“A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program,” French President Emmanuel Macron stated on the “Choose Europe for Science” occasion in Paris.

“No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,” Macron stated. “But here we are.”

Taking the identical stage on the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU’s govt department would arrange a “super grant” program aimed toward providing “a longer-term perspective to the very best” within the subject.

She stated that 500 million euros ($566 million) will probably be put ahead in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers.” It could be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a price range of greater than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027.

Von der Leyen stated that the 27-nation EU intends “to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law” with a brand new authorized act. As “the threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles,” she stated.

Macron stated that the French authorities would additionally quickly make new proposals to beef up funding in science and analysis.

Last month, a whole lot of college researchers within the United States had National Science Foundation funding canceled to adjust to U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to finish help to analysis on range, fairness and inclusion, in addition to the research of misinformation.

More than 380 grant tasks have been reduce to date, together with work to fight web censorship in China and Iran and a venture consulting with Indigenous communities to grasp environmental modifications in Alaska’s Arctic area.

Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the variety of individuals finding out science, know-how and engineering. Scientists, researchers and medical doctors have taken to the streets in protest.

While not mentioning the Trump administration by title, von der Leyen stated that it was “a gigantic miscalculation” to undermine free and open analysis.

“We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,” she stated. “We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.”

Von der Leyen’s drive to advertise alternatives in Europe within the subject of science and benefit from U.S. coverage shifts dovetails with the best way that she has performed up the potential for commerce offers with different nations since Trump took workplace in January and sparked a tariff warfare final month.

The former German protection minister, and skilled physician, vowed that the EU would additionally tackle a few of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers face, notably extreme pink tape and entry to companies.

Macron stated that science and analysis should not “be based on the diktats of the few.”

Macron stated that Europe “must become a refuge” for scientists and researchers, and he stated to those that really feel underneath menace elsewhere: “The message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free, to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.”

Lorne Cook reported from Brussels.