13 Apr 2026
Joint statement of rectors' conferences of European universities calls for ambitious Horizon Europe budget
In a joint statement published on 7 April 2026, the rectors' conferences of seven EU Member States call for a strong Horizon Europe (2028-2034) with a €220 billion budget, and a €60 billion budget for Erasmus+. The signatories of the joint statement are the German Rectors’ Conference (DE), France Universités (FR), Universities of the Netherlands (NL), the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (PL), the Flemish Interuniversity Council (BE), the Rectors’ Council of the French-speaking universities of Belgium (BE), and the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (ES).
In their statement, they point out that no Member State can address today’s scientific, technological and societal challenges alone, and that therefore a strong and coherent European commitment is essential to safeguard excellence, maintain global competitiveness, and ensure that knowledge remains a common good that serves society as a whole.
With regard to the next Framework Programme for Research, the statement calls, amongst other issues, for:
- a well funded, autonomous programme, with a budget of € 220 billion, that is firmly anchored in excellence that provides continuity and predictability;
- The social sciences and humanities should be an integral and well-funded part of such collaborative ecosystems and FP10 as a whole.
- FP10 should remain the key source of European funding for research and innovation, while the ECF will translate these innovations into concrete applications that enhance Europe’s well-being, economic strength, and independence.
- a governance structure in which FP10 remains shaped, governed, and operated by the R&I community across all its pillars.
The joint statement also refers to the importance of education for European solidarity, cooperation and long-term economic resilience. It therefore calls for a significant increase of the next Erasmus+ programme budget to €60 billion.
With regard to the ERA Act, the joint statement emphasises the importance of a culture of openness, academic freedom and trust-based cooperation, and therefore sees the ability of researchers, students and ideas to move freely across borders, and the free circulation of knowledge in all its forms, as core conditions for excellence, creativity, and innovation. It also emphasises the values of openness and international collaboration; international collaboration – including with associated and partner countries beyond the EU; the role of the ERA Act in strengthening mutual trust among Member States, reducing structural barriers to cooperation, protect researchers’ ability to work freely across borders, and realise a “fifth freedom”. In this context, the joint statement highlights the potential role of the European University Alliances as a link in this knowledge chain, deepening the goals of the ERA, the European Education Area (EEA), and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), adding a call to give the alliances perspective and long-term investment to become pioneers and share their knowledge with other European stakeholders.