Statements

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) co-signs a joint statement with 16 university networks and research organisations calling to preserve and enhance the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), without altering the proven model that underpins the programme’s success. Read more

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) is a global network representing more than 24,000 members from over 155 countries, who currently benefit or have benefited from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) research funding, including researchers, their supervisors and MSCA project managers. The MCAA aims to connect the MSCA community, support career development initiatives for its members, and advocate for research and researchers. 
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The MCAA welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Union (EU) framework for science diplomacy and is pleased to be cited as a relevant network of Union mobility schemes. This initiative marks an important milestone in reinforcing the EU’s strategic, scientific, and geopolitical influence, while advancing multilateralism.
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As a bottom-up, researcher-led community active across the world, the MCAA embodies science diplomacy in practice. Through international mobility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and intercultural engagement, MCAA members demonstrate how science builds trust, fosters shared knowledge, and supports European values worldwide. This is further reflected in its membership in the European Research Area (ERA) Forum Stakeholder Group 4, the International Science Council (ISC), and the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance, which underlines its strong commitment to enhancing global collaboration within and beyond the ERA. These engagements position the MCAA as a key stakeholder in the design and implementation of science diplomacy actions at the European and global levels.
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In light of this commitment, the MCAA supports this unique initiative and calls on Member States to endorse it. Nevertheless, the MCAA believes that the proposed Council Recommendation should be more ambitious to deliver the change the EU needs. In particular, the framework would benefit from clearer implementation pathways, dedicated resources, and stronger integration into existing EU policy instruments.
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This joint statement, submitted by representatives of ERA Forum Stakeholder Group 4 (AERG, Eurodoc, ISE, and MCAA), welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to introduce an ERA Act as a key step toward strengthening Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem, reducing fragmentation, and improving EU global competitiveness. It stresses that the long-term legitimacy and success of the Act depend on meaningful and systematic stakeholder involvement through inclusive ERA governance.
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The statement calls for sustained and enforceable public investment in research and development, highlighting the need for binding national commitments to reach the 3% GDP R&D target, including at least 11.25% GDP in public R&D funding. It supports greater alignment of R&I policies across Member States while protecting bottom-up, excellence-based programmes such as the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
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It also proposes that the ERA Act strengthen academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and transparent governance, including the creation of an independent European ombudsperson for academic freedom. The document emphasises gender equality, inclusive career structures, secure employment standards, and improved mobility conditions (including social security access and reduced administrative burdens). Finally, it advocates for open science, improved research assessment practices, trusted research infrastructures, and balanced knowledge valorisation beyond commercialisation, concluding that the ERA Act can significantly enhance Europe’s scientific and societal impact.
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The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to contribute to the public consultation on the forthcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act. Representing a global network of more than 24,000 researchers across all career stages and research fields, spanning over 150 countries, the MCAA provides its input through the consultation survey, reflecting the perspectives and lived experiences of mobile researchers working across Europe and beyond. Read more

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) and the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc) believe that the upcoming ERA Act is a crucial opportunity to address systemic challenges and make the European Union (EU) an inclusive, fair, and secure environment for researchers. Among these challenges, legal and administrative barriers, such as burdensome visa procedures and the difficulty in recognising scientific career structures, continue to limit researchers’ mobility and work opportunities. These barriers undermine the EU’s attractiveness, despite recent initiatives such as Choose Europe for Science. Addressing them is therefore essential to unlock the full potential of the ERA and ensure that researchers can fully benefit from it, at every career stage and regardless of their origin. Read more

The MCAA welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to shape a bold and forward-looking 10th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MCAA strongly supports the continued focus on excellent science, the standalone nature of FP10, and the increased budgetary envelope of €175 billion. It welcomes the sustained support for the European Research Council (ERC) and the MSCA, as well as the growing attention to researcher careers, inclusion, and simplification.
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However, several concerns must be addressed to ensure FP10’s long-term success. The integration of FP10 within the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and the introduction of the Competitiveness Coordination Tool (CCT) risk undermining scientific independence and bottom-up excellence. The proposed directionality of the MSCA and its potential alignment with “moonshot” projects could dilute its core mission and limit its global appeal. The ERC’s scientific autonomy must be safeguarded in light of changes to its governance, and geopolitical filters in international cooperation raise concerns about openness. Moreover, the proposed FP10 budget, though higher than Horizon Europe, remains below expert recommendations and is insufficient to meet growing demand, especially in light of inflation and the expansion of Europe’s research workforce. To ensure FP10 is fit for purpose and delivers on its ambition, the MCAA puts forward five key recommendations. Read more

In its 25 years of existence, the European Research Area (ERA) has contributed significantly to strengthening the region’s competitiveness. However, there are still significant discrepancies throughout the region. In this statement, the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc) and the MCAA comment on the upcoming European Research Act (ERA Act) and how it can help reduce these disparities and further increase the ERA’s competitiveness. Read more

As the European Union sets out new proposals for the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), the MCAA joins 11 other leading research organisations in urging the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Member States to reaffirm and strengthen the key role of early-stage collaborative R&I funding within FP10. Read more

The MCAA co-signs a joint statement with 16 other leading research organisations opposing the proposed introduction of directionality in the draft of the MSCA Work Programme 2026–2027. The organisations share their concerns about the European Commission’s proposal to establish targeted calls aligned with the EU's political priorities and use top-down funding to fund projects in strategic fields. Read more

On 5 May 2025, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented the first elements of the new Choose Europe initiative. Initially proposed in the Heitor Report as an initiative under the MSCA programme to attract and retain outstanding young researchers in Europe, the version presented by President von der Leyen has evolved in scale and ambition, covering several actions and programmes beyond the MSCA. The MCAA strongly supports the Choose Europe initiative, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to research, innovation, and international collaboration. Read more

In light of the European Commission's ongoing work towards shaping the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the MCAA provides input into the public consultation process. Through this consultation, the MCAA highlights key areas where EU funding can better support advancing scientific excellence, inclusivity, and the long-term sustainability of Europe’s research ecosystem. Read more

The MCAA and the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc) respond to the Horizon Europe interim evaluation report in this joint statement. Both organisations welcome the independent expert group’s recommendations to strengthen the current and future framework programmes. Read more

On 17 September 2024, the MSCA Unit of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport of the European Commission presented the consultation outcomes on the future of the MSCA. As a result, the MCAA and various organisations in the European research and innovation landscape issued a joint statement expressing concern over the lack of recognition for the MSCA in key policy documents and calling for increased budget and support for the programme. Read more

In response to the European Commission's consultation on the future of the MSCA, the MCAA developed recommendations for the upcoming FP10. These aim to enhance the MSCA's effectiveness, inclusiveness, and impact, ensuring it remains a pillar of excellence in the European research landscape. Read more

During the MCAA Annual Conference 2023 in Córdoba, Spain, discussions focused on the challenges in research assessment, sustainable development, and stability of early career researchers. Building on the sessions and key points made during the conference, a policy brief was developed to set out the MCAA’s recommendations for evaluating the first results of Horizon Europe's Research & Innovation Actions funded by the EU in 2021–2023. Read more

As part of the Research Matters Campaign, the MCAA joined over 80 organisations in raising awareness and advocating for increased investment in R&I to tackle current challenges and ensure Europe’s future prosperity. The campaign calls for increasing fundin for research and development (R&D), reaching over 3% of GDP in the EU and European countries, and doubling the budget for the next EU Framework Programme for research and innovation (R&I) and protecting the budget by ring-fencing it. Read more

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) expresses its support for the public statement issued by members of the Albanian academic diaspora in solidarity with the peaceful citizen protests in Albania. The Association reaffirms the importance of investing in education, research, and innovation as essential pillars of democratic resilience, sustainable development, and Albania’s European future.
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The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) recognises the importance of the European Research Area (ERA) Act in advancing a single, borderless market for EU research, innovation, and technology, where researchers, knowledge, and ideas can move freely, and collaboration, competitiveness, and excellence are fostered. In this statement, ISE summarises its key observations and recommendations on the topic.
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Science Europe's position paper provides recommendations for preserving academic freedom, promoting open science, and increasing investment in R&I within FP10. Read more

In this op-ed, CESAER leaders call for unleashing the full potential of the MSCA to provide more opportunities for research careers in Europe. Read more

CESAER's position paper outlines recommendations to boost the MSCA's funding and capacity, supporting collaborative research and innovation across Europe. Read more

Young European Research Universities (YERUN) proposes key priorities to make FP10 an attractive, impactful, and inclusive R&I programme, focusing on collaborative research, coherence, and inclusiveness. Read more

The European University Alliance (EUA) outlines its vision for FP10, focusing on strategic enhancements to the framework programme's budget, structure, and core principles to maximise impact. Read more

EU-LIFE outlines its vision for enhancing MSCA in FP10, emphasising budget increases, support for early-career researchers, and fostering mobility and interdisciplinarity. Read more

The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) highlights the significant challenges facing FP10, such as geopolitical changes, climate impact, technology gaps, and demographic shifts. Their statement also stresses the importance of addressing academic freedom, collaborative research, and better conditions for researchers within FP10. Read more

The ISE emphasises the importance of shielding the budget for the MSCA and the European Research Council from cuts. It calls for boosting collaborative basic research to complete the R&I cycle and simplify access to funding mechanisms for widening participation across Europe. Read more