Activities of Christian EHLER related to 2023/2184(INL)
Plenary speeches (1)
Promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU (A9-0393/2023 - Christian Ehler) (vote)
Reports (1)
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU
Amendments (14)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recognises, in line with the Bonn Declaration, that freedom of scientific research stands for openness, exchange, excellence, internationalism, diversity, equality, integrity, curiosity, responsibility and reflexivity. It is therefore a pillar of any democracy;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Takes note of the definition of the freedom of scientific research under point 2 of Annex II of the proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 3
Annex I – point 3
3. The proposal should build on the definition of the freedom of scientific research as set out in the Bonn Declaration and under point 2 of Annex II of the proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe.
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 4
Annex I – point 4
4. Scientific researchers should be defined broadly in line with the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe1a. It should not extend to researchers performing research in circumstances where the freedom of scientific research can clearly not apply, such as scientific research for a private, for-profit company where such research is conducted to give the company a legitimate competitive advantage compared to its competitors. . In specific circumstances, in particular for research conducted within the private sector, the freedom of scientific research must be carefully balanced with other legitimate interests, such as obtaining legitimate competitive advantages. _________________ 1a Proposal tabled by the Commission on 13 July 2023.
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 5
Annex I – point 5
5. The freedom of scientific research ientails the right for individual researchers to freely define research questions, to employ sound scientific research methods, to challenge conventional wisdom and to propose new ideas and theories.
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 6 – point b
Annex I – point 6 – point b
(b) the right to access information, public or private, needed for scientific purposes, which is to be balanced with the rights of information holders and the nature/sensitivity of information;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 7
Annex I – point 7
7. Individual researchers should be able to enjoy these individual rights without fear of reprisal. The exercise of those rights since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary. To ensure that any such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties enacted by law are not misused to improperly limit enjoyment of these rights, the formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties enacted by law must be subject to challenge as to its necessity and impartiality in independent legal proceedings.
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 8
Annex I – point 8
8. In order to guarantee the freedom of scientific research for scientific researchers, scientific research organisations should enjoy effective institutional autonomy. While institutional autonomy is a prerequisite for the freedom of scientific research for scientific researchers, it is not by definition subordinate to the rights of individual researchers. Beyond its role to protect the freedom of scientific research, institutional autonomy is required for the proper functioning of the scientific sector. Therefore, the proposal should strike a carefully balance in order to harmonise the individual rights with institutional autonomy.
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 8 a (new)
Annex I – point 8 a (new)
8a. Within the framework of their institutional autonomy, research organisations have to provide transparent, fair, and excellence-based procedures for academic advancement and the competitive allocation of funding.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 10
Annex I – point 10
10. Institutional autonomy is highly contextual and can be achieved in many different ways with different combinations of autonomy. For effective institutional autonomy to exist, not all these different aspects of institutional autonomy need to be uniformly fulfilled. Therefore the definition of institutional autonomy in the proposal should not be static, but rather should allow adaptation to different national, regional and institutional contexts in particular by allowing for emphasis to shift between different aspects of institutional autonomy by incorporating a gradual rather than binary appreciation of the different aspects.
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 11
Annex I – point 11
11. Institutional autonomy can legitimately exist only if the research organisation provides some form of self- governance and, including through participation in decision- making for its scientific researchers.
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 14
Annex I – point 14
14. Respect for the freedom of scientific research means that governmental bodies refrain from arbitrary interferences in and imposing undue restrictions on the freedom of scientific research, as well as refrain from active or complicity participation in violations of the right. Public authorities have the responsibility to investigate alleged violations and to hold perpetrators of violations accountable.
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 16
Annex I – point 16
16. Ensuring the freedom of scientific research means that governmental bodies have to actively create all the preconditions needed for the exercise all aspects of the freedom, including institutional autonomy. This includes policies for sustainable research careers at all career stages as well as long term, reliable and stable institutional financing.
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 19
Annex I – point 19
19. The legislative proposal has to recognise that there are cases where scientific research and education overlap, such as while the freedom of scientific research has its independent value, within the framework of amodern university professor or in the management of a department of a university. Gies the freedom of scientific research is inseparable from the freedom to teach. This means that, given the legal basise of the proposal, as well as the verynd the core competences of the Union on research, and with due respect to the limited competences of the Union to legislate on education, the proposal should aim to protect the freedom of scientific resullest possible scope of intramural dissemination, particularly with regards to tearching.