The European Commission closed the public consultation on the European Research Area (ERA) Act on 23 January 2026.
The consultation drew strong interest from across Europe and beyond. In total, 735 contributions and 117 position papers were submitted, with responses coming from all 27 EU Member States, 8 Associated Countries to Horizon Europe and 15 non-EU countries. Participation was particularly high among academic and research institutions (45%), followed by EU citizens (24%).
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, said:
“Europe cannot afford a research system that is fragmented or held back by borders. Our goal is to give researchers and innovators the freedom and the conditions they need to succeed anywhere in Europe. The strong response to this consultation shows clear support for this direction and will directly shape the next steps of this initiative.”
The ERA Act
The European Research Area (ERA) Act is a response to longstanding challenges in the EU’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, including fragmented regulatory frameworks, uneven R&D investment, and barriers to knowledge sharing. It builds on the successes of the revamped ERA since 2021, in particular the progress made through the ERA Policy Agendas.
Key aspects of the proposed ERA Act include:
- national commitments to increase investment in research and development, with the aim of reaching 3% of GDP
- better coordination of research and innovation policies and investments between the EU and Member States
- improved conditions for researchers, including better career paths, mobility across countries and sectors, and support for open science
- strong protection of core values such as scientific freedom, research ethics and integrity, gender equality, and equal opportunities
The ERA Act Consultation
A first look at the contributions shows strong support for the ERA Act and sends a clear message from stakeholders:
- the EU should do more to help national research systems work better together and reduce barriers between countries
- public investment in research and innovation should be clearer, more predictable and supported by concrete national commitments
- researchers need stronger and more consistent protection of their freedom to conduct scientific work across the EU
- moving and working across borders should be easier for researchers, including through simpler recognition of academic qualifications obtained in another EU country
Next steps
The Commission will now proceed with a thorough analysis of the contributions received, which will inform the next steps in the preparation of the ERA Act, ahead of the presentation of the Commission proposal expected for Q3 2026.
Background
The European Research Area (ERA) is a vision for a single, borderless market for research, innovation, and technology across the EU. It enhances the coordination of EU research efforts, boosting the circulation of researchers and knowledge, building critical mass, and promoting excellence.
Although the ERA has been in development since 2000, the European Commission injected the ambition with a new lease of life in 2020. This initiative led to a new ERA governance framework shaped by the Pact for Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe and the ERA Policy Agenda.
Barriers remain however for the full implementation of the ‘fifth freedom’ and the achievement of an integrated and competitive EU Research and Innovation ecosystem. The ERA Act will address these remaining challenges for the full implementation of the ERA and will support the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology in the EU single market.
The results of the consultation are available on the Have your Say Portal.
More information
ERA Act
ERA Policy Platform
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
