Six EU research organisations warn of growing threats to academic freedom and call for protective actions

Six major EU research organisations have warned that growing political and financial pressures threaten academic freedom and called for stronger safeguards. They argued that the European Research Area can only succeed if all member states uphold and enforce minimum standards of academic freedom.

The G6 of science published on 12/06/2026 a statement emphasising the crucial importance of academic freedom for democracy and the EU's competitiveness and expressing concerns about the threats it faces. "The implications of these threats [political, financial and societal pressures] touch upon the very core of the European project, which is founded on shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Protecting academic freedom in all its dimensions is therefore a shared responsibility involving the EU, national authorities, and the scientific community," said the research organisations.

The G6 of science are Italy's Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Spain's Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)…