Academic freedom, a cornerstone principle in the world of scholarship, has faced challenges in recent years. In response to these concerns, the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) published a draft report on September 25, 2023, addressing the promotion of scientific research freedom within the European Union (EU). German Minister of Science Bettina Stark-Watzinger echoed these sentiments in a guest article published the same day in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
On September 19, 2023, the ITRE Committee convened to discuss a crucial initiative aimed at safeguarding academic freedom within the EU. Spearheaded by German rapporteur Christian Ehler, a Member of the European Parliament for the European People’s Party, this initiative underscored the vital role of protecting academic liberty. The discussions were driven by concerns surrounding academic freedoms, particularly in light of incidents such as the expulsion of a Hungarian university. This event highlighted the pressing need to uphold the rule of law and the protection of academic freedom.
Christian Ehler pointed out a concerning precedent set by the expulsion of the Hungarian university, which posed a significant threat to academic freedom. Although the report did not mention the university by name, it is understood that the case referred to is the Central European University (CEU), funded by George Soros, which was forced to leave Hungary in 2017. This case exposed a challenging gap in protections and introduced a novel threat to academic freedom within the EU.
Ehler strongly advocated for robust EU safeguards to ensure that scientists can conduct research and share their findings without fear. He emphasized the complexity of the issue, necessitating delicate negotiations and compromises. Despite the existence of declarations and legal precedents, he called for strong political leadership to enshrine these principles in concrete legislation. Ehler's hope is that the European Commission will promptly present a legislative proposal to solidify the commitment to protecting academic freedom in the EU.
In her guest article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, German Minister of Science Bettina Stark-Watzinger echoed Ehler's position. She highlighted that academic freedom is not only enshrined in Article 5, Paragraph 3 of the Grundgesetz (German Constitution) of the Federal Republic of Germany but is also guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Covenant.
Stark-Watzinger provided examples of threats faced by scientists, including challenges from animal rights activists, opponents of genetic engineering, and attacks from various political spectrums aimed at limiting diversity within the scientific community. She passionately argued that the daily fight for maximum academic freedom should not solely rest with parliaments and courts. Instead, she called upon everyone to join in the effort to regain control of the discourse in favor of freedom.
As a fully open-access publisher, Frontiers wholeheartedly supports the public engagement of Ehler and Stark-Watzinger in promoting the freedom of scientific research within the EU. In a world grappling with global existential challenges such as health crises and climate change, which are intrinsically linked to societal shifts, unrestricted sharing of scientific knowledge becomes paramount. Science thrives when it transcends political influences and financial barriers. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that research findings are not concealed behind paywalls, and high-quality information can be openly shared without the fear of limitations on professional scientific research.
Frontiers welcomes the proposal from Mikuláš Peksa on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group to amend the motion for a resolution to Paragraph 1c. This amendment calls for the efficient and transparent creation of knowledge without artificial barriers hindering access to information and its dissemination. It underscores that publicly funded scientific results should be published in open-access academic journals and be easily accessible to everyone.
Frontiers' commitment to open science extends beyond full-text accessibility. It also includes advocating for unrestricted access to research data following the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and within the framework of individual data protection rights. This approach allows artificial intelligence technologies, a crucial component of academic discourse, to access quality-assured data, enhancing their performance and accuracy.
Frontiers believes that through joint efforts by publishers and researchers, these goals can be realized. Their mission is to champion fully open science, enabling seamless collaboration among scientists and accelerating innovation for the betterment of society as a whole. Today, they affirm that "Science needs to be open," and they add, "researchers need to be free from constraint." This commitment to open science has been at the core of their business since its establishment in 2007, with the ultimate goal of providing the broadest possible access to collective knowledge.
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