FP10: "Europe cannot celebrate scientific breakthroughs and undermine the conditions that enable them"

A leading European research representative has stressed the need for greater investment in research, citing this week’s Nobel Prizes as a reminder of the importance of long-term funding.

Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General of LERU, said on 09/10/2026: "Europe cannot celebrate scientific breakthroughs one day and undermine the conditions that make them possible the next," referring to the scientists who were honoured with the Nobel Prize since 05/10.

The Irish presidency of the Council of the EU will present its negotiating box, the member states’ position on the budget of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, on 10/10/2026. The Cypriot Presidency presented its first ‘negobox’ on 11/06/2026, setting out figures since the Commission’s proposal in July 2025, cutting 4% from this proposal for Horizon and Erasmus+.

"The Nobel Prizes remind us why patient investment in research matters. The Commission’s own performance report shows why Europe urgently needs to increase that investment. The next MFF must act on both messages," Deketelaere added.

He was commenting on the joint…