Brussels, March 20, 2025 – The Europe Today: A coalition of twelve European governments is calling for a strategic initiative to attract researchers from the United States in response to substantial cuts in education and research funding by the U.S. government.
In a letter to EU Innovation Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, the governments emphasized the need for an “attractivity boom” to bring over international talent facing research interference and financial instability. The letter, which was not dated, was signed by France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, according to media reports,
French Research Minister Philippe Baptiste underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “It is urgent … to organize ourselves to welcome talents who would like or need to leave the United States.”
While the letter did not directly name the U.S., it made explicit references to risks facing scientific freedom, stating, “The current international context reminds us that freedom of science can be put at risk anywhere and at any time.”
Since Donald Trump’s return to office in January, the U.S. research and education sectors have faced severe budget reductions. The U.S. Department of Education has initiated workforce cuts, and several leading universities, including Johns Hopkins University, have reduced staff due to funding losses.
The European governments proposed several measures to attract displaced researchers, including dedicated funding programs, a tailored immigration framework, and strengthened partnerships with other leading scientific nations. The letter also called on the European Commission to convene a meeting of EU research ministers in the coming weeks to formulate a comprehensive strategy.
In response to the funding crisis in the U.S., some European universities have already launched recruitment efforts targeting American researchers. Belgium’s Free University of Brussels (VUB) recently announced twelve new positions specifically for international scholars, with a focus on those from the U.S. Similarly, Aix-Marseille University in France introduced a “Safe Space for Science” program to provide a secure research environment for scientists facing constraints abroad.
The initiative underscores Europe’s commitment to upholding scientific freedom and attracting top-tier global talent amid shifting geopolitical and financial landscapes.
